Samson and the Zoo

[Rudy228]

The picture of Samson in the 'Places to See' section brings back memories. He was a baby at the Zoo in Washington Park and it was to see him because of the crowds. So I skipped school one day and spent the entire morning watching his handler care for him. A real cutie. Of course, thinking of that zoo reminds me of Cracker Jack and ice cream on Sundays when my mother would take my brother and me to spend the day.

As an adult, I used to enjoy taking a look at Samson and it was the practice of most of the visitors to stand and stare at him and he returned some of the stares with a very angry expression. All of us learned later that gorillas (and other animals) do not appreciate being stared at any more than people do.

[chuck]

Wasn't there one time when Sampson actually cracked the glass?
As I recall, some kid was teasing him and he took a run at the
glass and this one time it cracked and scared the bejeezuss out
of everyone!

I distinctly remember the sign:

"Do Not Tease Gorilla"

[Roadsnakes]

I think he broke the glass more then once. I was on a field trip with my grade school class when he shattered it once.
I believe The Milwaukee Public Museum had Samson "stuffed" . I saw him there a few years ago.
http://www.mpm.edu/samson

[claudester]

When I was a youngster, A friend of our family was a zoo keeper at Washington park zoo and part of his area was the Sampson cage. One day he took my older brother out to
the zoo to tag along with him while he did his work schedule. Well, he told my brother to go into a closet to get whatever and when my brother opened the
door it lead right to the gorilla cage and scared the you know what out of him. There was a Gated door beyond but he was real  close. The zoo keepers name was Wally. Nice man

[sourpuss]

When I was a youngster, A friend of our family was a zoo keeper at Washington park zoo and part of his area was the Sampson cage. One day he took my older brother out to
the zoo to tag along with him while he did his work schedule. Well, he told my brother to go into a closet to get whatever and when my brother opened the
door it lead right to the gorilla cage and scared the you know what out of him. There was a Gated door beyond but he was real  close. The zoo keepers name was Wally. Nice man.

**********************************************************************************************


When Samson resided at the 'new zoo' on Bluemound Road, Sam LaMalfa was his main keeper.  Sam is still alive and can be met at his usual coffee time of 5 AM, (when they open) at the McDonalds on Oklahoma Avenue at 76th. Street.  He helped to publish a book about the life of Samson.  A copy of this book can be purchased from the gift shop at the Milwaukee Public Museum.  As the other reader mentioned, they have "Samson" stuffed and placed in a glass enclosure, at the museum.  Sam LaMalfa can be seen giving talks on many occasions, next to Samson's display case.  Contact the museum for dates and times when Sam will be there.  He has other Samson related artifacts to show, and is glad to answer questions.