Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom provided audiences with a fresh and exciting look at animals. While plenty of fictional stories utilized animals' more violent tendencies to strike fear into viewers, Wild Kingdom took a more straightforward approach. The series worked to educate audiences on the reality of animals, as well as the importance of nature conservation.

These wonderful goals were erected in part by Marlin Perkins, who hosted the series from 1963 until 1985. A zoologist with a love for any animal, Perkins actually began his television career in Chicago. There, he hosted Zoo Parade, a program featuring various animals from the Lincoln Park Zoo.

“I was asked to do a direct pickup from the zoo,” Perkins said of the show’s beginnings during an interview with The Reporter. “It features Bushman, our famous gorilla. They liked it well enough that I was asked to do more. At first, the program was called Visit the Lincoln Park Zoo. Later, I came up with the name Zoo Parade.”

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Although Wild Kingdom began six years after Zoo Parade had ended, Perkins acknowledged that the later series served as a successor of sorts. “Zoo Parade went off the air in September,” said Perkins. “You know the rest with Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom.”

While Perkins remained the focus of the show for many years, he was appreciative of the production crews who made the series so unforgettable.

“The support of all the television people, the managers, program directors, and production people, has made our 21st year possible,” said Perkins. “I’m excited about doing a new show today, as I was when we first started in 1962. It’s been a lot of work, a lot of fun, and worth every minute of it.”