[1][2] Kokomo Jr. replaced J. Fred Muggs as the animal mascot of the Today Show in 1957, and was known for his ability to "talk", being able to pronounce the word mama on demand.
Kokomo Jr.'s handler, Nick Carrado was a stage magician who discovered him while touring at an animal farm in Cape Cod circa 1956.
Carrado initially used Kokomo Jr. as part of his magic act and taught him to perform simple stage illusions.
Carrado brought Kokomo Jr. to audition, and the chimpanzee was hired to be the show's mascot.
[4] In 1972, The New York Times described Kokomo Jr. as a "5-year‐old, 2½-foot-tall, 65-pound chimp", and revealed that there had been a previous chimpanzee with the same name.