Primates on Prime Time: The story of Lancelot Link, Secret Chimp, the wildest show of the 1970s

The series had audiences going ape!

Everett Collection

If you've ever watched a television series and gone, "It would be better with a bunch of monkeys," then boy, do we have the show for you.

Those who grew up in the Seventies might remember the series Lancelot Link, Secret Chimp.

The story followed Lancelot Link, an agent belonging to A.P.E, otherwise known as The Agency to Prevent Evil. With fellow chimp Mata Hairi, Lancelot worked to save the world from evil do-ers who, yes, were also monkeys. While the cast was entirely full of primates, they were voiced by human actors. While the monkeys opened and closed their mouths, the actors would speak.

If you're having trouble picturing this, we're begging you to watch an episode. If you don't have time, many have described the series as Get Smart, but with monkeys.

In between those adventures, there were also musical numbers featuring the all-monkey band, "The Evolution Revolution," as well as a few comedy routines and magic acts.

"It's really too good for kids," said one of the show's producers, Allan Sandler, during an interview with the Fort Lauderdale News.

Of course, animal handlers were brought in to work with the cast, with each monkey being assigned a handler who was able to communicate with them using a series of gestures and noises. Each monkey also received a salary for their hard work, like any good actor.

"They're cast just like humans, even the makeup is the same as on humans."

Of course, working with animals comes with its own unique set of challenges. "We use older and bigger chimps," said Sandler. "Lance weighs 140 pounds and is about four feet tall."

This sort of show might never be made in this day and age, though Sandler maintained that safety was the crew's top priority, both for humans and animals.

"In the 74 days of shooting, we didn't have one iota of trouble, no one ever got hurt," said Sandler. "The ASPCA and the Humane Society were on the set every day. One to protect the chimps and one to protect the humans."

The show ran from 1970 to 1971. According to the article, $50,000 was spent on costuming for the monkeys alone. Despite the high cost, the show was well-loved by both fans and those involved in the series. "When you see them on screen, they're like hairy humans," said Sandler. "We started to treat them like actors...They became like family," said Sandler of the chimps.

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17 Comments

vinman63 3 days ago
These chimps were smarter than most chumps.
Ronsworld69 8 days ago
MeTV needs to put this on their schedule. Loved this show!
KawiVulc 9 days ago
Yeah, I remember that show... also remember thinking it was stupid. But... it would be nice to see a slot or two on MeTV for short lived shows like this. Run them through once, maybe twice then move on to another. The difference in quality between the shows that failed and the ones that survived for season after season wasn't always that huge.
Bapa1 11 days ago
Lancelot Link talked like someone doing a bad Humphrey Bogart.
bmoore4026 11 days ago
Are we getting Lance Link, Secret Chimp?
Bookman1963 11 days ago
As far as I can tell, this isn't Lancelot Link, but it's still funny as hell.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8tFqUK_xYM
edcrumpacker 11 days ago
Excellent article. I remember watching Lancelot Link every Saturday morning along with Johnny Quest. Loved those shows.
I watched "Lancelot Link, Secret Chimp" a few times, but I never missed "Jonny Quest."
bmoore4026 edcrumpacker 11 days ago
I remember it from classic 1980s Nick-At-Nite
Audie 12 days ago
Yes I loved that show to as a kid. Reminds me of a cross between man from UNCLE and Get Smart. The monkey band: The Evolution Revolution, reminds me of the song by the Who called Won't Get Fooled Again.
MrsPhilHarris 12 days ago
I loved this show as a kid. I thought it was top drawer entertainment.
I remember it too. JHP, below, asked MeTV to run it, that's a good idea,
it likely wouldn't cost a lot to get.
Throw in Camp Runamuck, Mr. Terrific, Captain Nice and you'd have a nice Saturday
or Sunday morning line up that the viewers haven't seen a million times.
And will attract the kids, how many times can they watch Saved By the Bell?
Some parts of the line up are getting stale, way past their "use by date".
I agree about the line up. So repetitive. Time to shake it up.
Bapa1 MikefromJersey 11 days ago
But SBTB is E/I, and we all can learn a lot from it. I remember all three of those shows, they lasted one or two seasons, and would be perfect on Sunday Morning.
JHP 12 days ago
Man o Man...I LOVED this show to ....it was wild fer sure!!!

this show is in my wheelhouse as a kid

Maybe pleeeeeze Me-tv? Can you air this?
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