Some people say dogs are man’s best friend, but we say there are dogs worthy of winning Best Actor at the Academy Awards.

In this week’s episode, Jared and Abe grab their flea combs and diva into the hairy history of animal celebrities. From memes to movies and from the 1920s to the 2020s, we explore famous animals and what they tell us about ourselves. Tangents include but are not limited to The International Canine Semen Bank, projecting our fear of rejection onto baby zoo animals, and the ethics of giving your pet chimp wine and Xanax.

Sources:

• Life & Times Transcript of an interview with Alan Young, October 2007
• Info on Air Bud and the bizarre stuff with his owner
• Beethoven and the St Bernard
• Beethoven
• Koko the Gorilla
• Crystal the Monkey in NY Mag
• What happened with Travis the Chimpanzee
• More Travis
• Crystal PopSugar interview
• “RIN TIN TIN” in Silent Stars (2000) by Jeanine Basinger
• “What’s new pussycat? A genealogy of animal celebrity.” by John Blewitt (2013)
• The saga of Lassie by Vernon Scott - Saturday Evening Post,10/3/1964
• Animal Celebrities by David C Giles (2013)

THAT'S HISTORY, BABE! is hosted by Abe Merker and Jared Tetreau. This episode was produced by Jared Tetreau, Abe Merker, and Claudia Chiossone. Research Assistance by Madison Albertson. Music by Kinneret. Series Artwork by Sid Lugo. Intro Animations by Gemma Hill.

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