Citrus Park Tutors

About Citrus Park

Citrus Park is home to the very well loved chimpanzee J.Fred Muggs. If you are unfamiliar with J.Fred Muggs, it is likely because he was the popular television Mascot in the 1950s through to the 1970s, and appeared on many well-liked shows including the Perry Como Show and The Today Show.

Citrus Park tutors say that J.Fred Muggs and his girlfriend Phoebe B. Beebe moved to Citrus Park in 2012, and are taken care of by Gerald Preis, who is the son of Carmine “Bud” Menella, the man who in his youth as an NBC Page bought J.Fred Muggs from Henry Trefflich’s pet store in Manhattan, New York City.

At the turn of the 1900s there were not such strict rules and regulations as there are today regarding the import of live animals. German, Henry Trefflich specialized in procuring animals from across the globe and would supply circuses, zoos and even Hollywood Studios with these animals. He made contacts worldwide in exotic continents like Africa and Asia, and the animals were sent to the U.S. via ship and then airplane. Trefflich’s father was responsible for getting his son interested in nonnative animals; In Germany Trefflich had grown up on his father’s zoo grounds he had also traveled with his father on safari in Africa to procure animals. Through a stint in the army Trefflich traveled and was able to build a network of traders in various ports and when he returned home he set up his very own zoo. Trefflich then moved to India where he supplied dogs to India’s elite courts and he also helped the British authorities with a police dog training program, this was up until the first World War when the British had wanted him to train dogs for combat, when he refused he was placed in an internment camp. Trefflich had relatives in New York, and eventually relocated to the U.S where he opened his business with the help of a loan from a dear friend. His store received great praise and he was well known as a sound businessman who ethically sourced his animals. He was best known for his monkeys, he even supplied NASA with monkeys for their space program.

When Carmine “Bud” Menella purchased J.Fred Muggs and trained him, his first television appearance would be on the Perry Como Show. Menella who worked as an NBC Page secured an audition for J.Fred Muggs with NBC executives. Initially they decided to bring him onto the Today Show (that had had poor ratings) and he was a big hit. Muggs’ appearances increased viewership dramatically, and due to that this increased advertising revenue. The NBC executives were undoubtedly very pleased. Citrus Park tutors say although it is not uncommon given the capacity of a chimpanzee, it was still impressive that J.Fred Muggs could perform on camera and use over 500 different words. During his time on air he would read the day’s newspapers and sometimes play piano.