Wild Kingdom 1 & 2

[Michshnly]

This cam on 7pm Sunday nights..

[lcowles]

As a little kid, I thought for years that the actual name of the show was "Mutual of Omaha".  LOL

[pbanta62]

I remember when Johnny Carson had Jim Fowler on his show he'd joke about how Marlin would narrate from his tent about how Jim was up the river in the jaws of an alligator while he was sipping a hot rum toddy... LOL!

[theeuprise]

wild kingdom was staged using tamed animals. if you don't believe me google or youtube the fifth estate documentary "cruel camera". learn the truth about so-called wildlife shows.

[JackFlanders]

We got him!

"All scenes whether actual or created, depict authenticated fact." Remember that line?

[soulburst]

Stan Brock badass All the rest a don't compare.

[TheGringoLoco]

I got caught wearing one of my grandmother's girdles in the early 70's during one of these episodes. I don't have fond memories of Marlin Perkins. : (

[brooke050870]

@TheGringoLoco OMG....HAHAHAHAHA....I can't stop laughing at what you said! Seriously, seeing the old Wild Kingdom intro takes me back to the early 70s, when I was a toddler and used to watch it with my grandfather. Good times.

[BoomBoomStockings1]

Man! What happened to telvesion now! I remembered this show when I watching this when I was a kid and I look foward to see this on Sunday nights even with the Wide World of Disney! Brings memories!

[dumpstermower]

Thanks for posting. This brings back wonderful memories of the early 1970's. I'm 47 now. Every Sunday evening I watched Wild Kingdom from 7:30 to 8:00 and then Wonderful World of Disney from 8:00 to 9:00. Great times. I miss them so much.

[peditmd]

@dumpstermower I have the exact same memories. I miss those times too.

[ayla8251]

I WATCHED THIS AND jACQUES COUSTEAU.LOVED NATURE SHOWS.MEMORIES

[dvideto]

Iam 49 and grew up in rural Canada.Its funny we looked forward to Sunday evenings too.thanks for the post.

[moboutmen]

The only show on which I looked forward to the segment breaks: "The Cheetah can run 80 miles an hour. And speaking of car insurance..."

[bjroberts65]

This is when television was good....Today it's horsecrap!!!

[shield400]

Oh my, I remember looking forward to watching this with my family. I remember watching Family Classics with Frazier Thomas as well. These are great memories, wish I could go back and appreciate those times more.

[Sheri451]

Whe I was little, I used to watch this every Sunday afternoon at 5:30. I also used to love watching the weather report for some reason, maybe deep downI wanted to be a meterologist, I also wanted to go and see all the animals too. I 've never been to a zoo and I guess Wild Kingdom was the next best place to the zoo.

[Lalo3001]

I am 41 years old and love this crazy old show. I used to watch it growing up.

Thanks for posting.

[kingofallwhites]

Do any of you remember another wildlife tv program from the early 70's that was usually focused on Africa? I can still remember the marimba them song. I think it was on CBS - maybe ABC- maybe Sunday nights?

[rolex452]

This is the greatest wildlife series ever. This marked the beginng of Sunday night viewing for my entire family.

[oakandwillow]

I used to make fun of this when I was a kid, but now I miss it terribly.

[lowfuellevel]

I am 48 and this brings back very happy memories of being in my parents den, I'd give anything to be able to go back to those simpler times...every weekend I watched the Wild Kingdom, the Wonderful World of Disney and ABC Wide World of Sports...

[judsonkr]

WOW. Many memories associated with this show. Almost brings a tear to my eye.

[moniquedmoreland]

I am 48 years old, and this always brings a tear to my eye. Miss those times, when we looked forward to Sunday nights and Mututal of Omaha's Wild Kingdom...

[Thebigbadwoof]

I agree. Seems like yesterday. For whatever reason shows today feel more contrived and less personal. I miss those Sunday night shows.

[MPL029]

@moniquedmoreland Im 45 and remember it well too...I remember watching disney hour (or whatever it was called) and then this show.

[Sheri451]

@MPL029 I'm 46 and LOVED Wild Kingdom too. I also used to come home from church on Sunday nights and watch Lassie, and Gentle Ben too.

[UnseenCaller]

@moniquedmoreland I'm 54 and sometimes long for those late '60s and early '70s. The one that really brings back memories for me is the 1970 or so ABC Tuesday Night Movie intro.  TV today is crap and I don't watch it. The only recent series I've watched is Monk. Most of TV today has hidden and not so hidden political messages embedded in it. It is all about multiculturalism and the erosion of society (in support of it).

[callscott1]

@UnseenCaller what is your message to the world on youtube?  You miss being young or you quit watching tv?

[UnseenCaller]

@callscott1 Re-read the post, try again.

[callscott1]

@UnseenCaller Oh ok I re-read it. I see it now! There was a hidden message that I didn't see the first time. Sorry, my fault!

[dLimboStick]

@moniquedmoreland: This and "The Wonderful World of Disney" every Sunday night.

[duequesne]

@moniquedmoreland I'm from the same era, I do miss those times.

[spahnman]

Poor fucking Jim I can't believe he's still alive I would have bet a lion would have mauled him to death why marlin would have repoprted it.

[vanparty]

"See Jim wrestle the alligator, while I watch safely from the jeep".......i use to crack up when Marlin would make comments like that.

[shatzi]

I always remember those guys in tan clothes running for their lives from one thing or another.

[getula64]

this intro must've been a little before my time. can anybody tell what the year is at the bottom of the screen at :06? it looks like 1961, but i'm not sure.

[Thebigbadwoof]

This show premiered in 1963. Not sure if this is the original into but is is one of the earliest. My family and I used to look foward to watching it every weekend. FYI...unlike today...the Mutual of Omaha sponsor/ association was as memorable as the show itself.

[getula64]

ohhh, ok. ;) i watched it alot in the 70's as a kid. i agree with you, too!

[wmbrown6]

@Thebigbadwoof - I think the newer opening theme (and title sequence) may have debuted in 1968; that was the year the episode "Tuskers Below" (which had the newer open) was first aired - although "Wolf Pack" was from a few years later. As was noted in the earlier posts, while the original theme was from the show's 1963 debut, the "Chase By Copter" installment was from '67. Also, Marlin Perkins retired as director of the St. Louis Zoo in 1970 and was referred to as "Director Emeritus" thereafter.

[brooke050870]

@Thebigbadwoof The first one they showed (where you can't hear the announcer's voice all that well) is the one I remember from when I was very little, in the early 70s. I wish someone could find an old clip of the Mutual of Omaha commercial..."Mutual of Omaha is people," etc. That was as much of a part of Wild Kingdom for me as the actual show, just as you said in your post above.

[skylek]

Marlon Perkins never seemed to be in any danger. He would say something like:" While Jim is out in the field with his ass in a Hippo's mouth, I'll be in the tent with steak and lobster and a couple of sluts."

[Thebigbadwoof]

Funny...but true

[ossarider]

@skylek that's the funniest thing I've heard in 78 years.

[pbanta62]

@skylek Reminds me of the times Jim Fowler was a guest on The Tonight Show and Johnny would introduce him with a similar line.

[UnseenCaller]

@skylek sounds like mostly a delusion on your part.

[undurground]

Does someone know how to find show themes? CTV had a show called UNTAMED-WORLD later called UNTAMED-FRONTIER it had THE best theme; as kids we'd do tribal dances to it then sit and watch in awe of different cultures, it was sooo cool.

[talon115]

I loved this show!

[Xkursion2009]

Dang that brought back memorys , I use to love watching this show as a kid .

[StukInBuf]

My folks would watch this on Sunday Nights at 6:30, and then "60 Minutes."

[johnnyinavl]

Wow, I just got dragged back to my childhood.

If memory serves, The Wonderful World of Disney came on either just before or right after Wild Kingdom.

[Thebigbadwoof]

You are correct. Sunday nights were great.

[LosAngeleno1959]

It came on after this and then after Disney was Bonanza. I always dreaded school the next day.

[highlife66]

Yes, right after...

[joebradio]

I was always amused at how Marlin Perkins would someone segue the animal feature back to buying insurance .. "just like those cubs out in the wilderness, you family also needs protection and can get it from a policy with Mutual of Omaha."

[LosAngeleno1959]

Hey joebradio, you are so right! " It looks like Jim's in a pickle with that alligator and you'd be too without insurance from Mutual" LOL That old guy made those dudes do all the dirty work. What a great time to be a kid when these shows were on.

[ronyboy40]

sound track brings back alot of memories

[emerytownblues]

"Welcome to Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom"! I think that is how Marlin Perkins used to say it. I loved this show as a kid, and I would so hope that my family was not going back to church on Sunday night so I could watch this.

[sexymama1966]

the second one was very familiar....saturdays at 630p/central..this is what we watched at my uncle's house.

[tricianfred]

thank you for sharing this really takes me back to my childhood, I can remember the entire family sitting around the t.v. having dinner and watching this show, every since then I've loved nature shows, and of course the Disney show that came on right after was always really good for us kids anyway, this has brought back some awesome memories of the good ol' days....

[GEMINITREKKER]

Thank You for posting this.Yes,alot of good memories. But I was always more excited about Disney right afterwards..of course being a kid! But I would have loved the Discovery Channel in the 1970's too!lol.

[bintoss]

wolf pack, chase by copter

[crispycritterz]

The second one was one of the most beautiful themes ever. Very smooth classy and elegant.

[Cino1]

Simple, dependable every Sunday night. Most kids in America couldn't wait for this show to come on.

We NEVER missed it in my house. The only time the whole family sat and watched TV...Sunday evening.

Warm and fuzzy feeling of yesteryear.

Thanks for posting!

[BisonAP]

Every Sunday night, just before "Wonderful World Of Disney", wow, these themes bring back some totally wonderful memories for me, I was less than 10 years old at the time, this show & its' humble, amazing host was the first to teach me to appreciate the wildlife in our world...I loved both theme variations, the seconed one's the most endearing, where I'm concerned. What I wouldn't give to have the entire series with Mr. Perkins on home video, as it stands, I only have one volume, which I cherish

[abcstardust]

Reason being I just loved the way the end theme rolled off Marlin Perkins' final thoughts of the show.

[abcstardust]

Thanks for posting. These openings bring back memories from waaaay back! lol

Can you post the End themes from these time frames too?

Thanks!

[loveisok]

take me back! take me back! please take me back!

[abcstardust]

Huh

[fromthesidelines]

The first opening is from 1967, when the series was on NBC late Sunday afternoons; the second is from early in the syndication run (after it left the network) around 1973; the slogan Mutual used at the beginning of the first-run syndicated era in '71 was "The Company That Pays"- later, it became "The People Who Pay".

[musicom67]

I was thinking the same thing, remembering this show on NBC in the early 70's.. "People you can count on when the going's rough", or so went the jingle.... Guess they didn't want to 'pay' anymore.

[soln4suhreborn]

look at how old and primitive the first mutual of omaha logo looks compared to the one i grew up seeing on the show,the second one. i remember them being "people you can count on",but that must've been after they were "the people that pay".