In December 1959, Robert Tomarchin, a former trainer at the St. Louis Zoo, kidnapped Mr. Moke, a chimpanzee famous for his ability to say “no” and “mamma.” Mr. Moke had been a star attraction at the zoo after appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show. On the night of December 21, Tomarchin broke into the zoo, freed Mr. Moke, and left a $1,000 cashier’s check along with a note claiming the chimp wanted to be free. Tomarchin and Mr. Moke fled to Miami, where he was later arrested. Despite being convicted of theft, Tomarchin initially kept the chimp, sparking a long legal battle between him and the zoo.
After multiple delays and a trial in Miami, Tomarchin arranged to quietly return Mr. Moke in September 1961. The chimp was flown back to St. Louis and received a warm welcome at the zoo. Mr. Moke continued performing until 1971 when he was transferred to the Knoxville Zoo, where he lived until his death. The “monkey show” was phased out by the St. Louis Zoo in 1982.
Tomarchin received 18 months of probation for the theft. He later moved to Australia, where he worked as a dog trainer, and passed away in 1995. The zoo’s director, George P. Vierheller, retired in 1962 after 36 years of service.
