NextStop Blog

Were you able to guess when this week’s Flashback Friday photo was taken?

This early-1960s promo shot of Forest Park’s “Park Loop Bus” was taken at Kingshighway and Lindell. The buildings across the street are, of course, the Chase Hotel and Park Plaza.

Boarding the bus is none other than Mr. Moke, The World’s Only Talking Chimpanzee, and his trainer Mike Kostial of the St. Louis Zoo.

Mr. Moke was the star of a popular St. Louis Zoo show during the early 1960s, where he would make sounds that resembled “Mama”, “no” and “goodbye”. Mr. Moke, who once did the Sullivan Show, also could write “Mama” on a blackboard. When his trainer, Mike Kostial, asked him if he loved Papa, Mr. Moke would say, “No,” and shake his head.

Photo courtesy of Joe Sonderman.

And here’s a recent shot of the current day ‘park loop bus’, the Forest Park Trolley. Don’t forget to take advantage of the Trolley when visiting Forest Park through October. During LouFest in a few weeks, the trolley will extend to 11 pm each night and is free after 5 p.m.

Have a great weekend!