While researching the monkey house at Horace Austin State Park, I found a different monkey story. From the June 21, 1934 Austin Daily Herald:

“Skippy will be here Friday and Saturday. It is perhaps not the Skippy most of us think of when the name is first mentioned, but it is Skippy nevertheless. He is a four-year-old chimpanzee that looks so human and acts so intelligently that it is a trifle embarrassing and discomforting for humans at times when Skippy does some of his bright tricks.

He will be at the Paramount Theatre for performances Friday and Saturday. He was brought to Austin yesterday from Rochester for a short visit in order to get acquainted with Manager Karl Lindstaedt and a few others in the city before his actual appearance here. He was brought to the city by Harry French, district Publix manager, accompanied by his owner, Mrs. Erna Fowler, who has just returned from California where she has been appearing in theatres. Skippy developed an over-zealous affection for Mr. French on the way to Austin and suddenly hopped from the rear seat to the front seat and gave the former Austin man a hugging that exceeded anything of its kind since high school days.

Skippy is a friendly little African weighing forty-five pounds and is particularly cunning when he imitates such celebrities as Maurice Chevalier, Joe Brown and others of the silver screen. He roller skates, rides a tricycle, turns somersaults and does a dozen other tricks quicker than one can tell it. He gets his hair cut at regular intervals and is always kept clean-shaven by his owner. He even played the role of Tarzan the Ape Man in “Monkey Business” so he knows what’s what about the movies.”

 This Week at the HHH

Thursday: Spruce Up Austin, 7:30 a.m.; Y’s Women, 2 p.m.

 Coming soon to the HHH

Passport to Flavor Cooking Class: “Mardi Gras Feast” on Saturday, Feb. 18, at 10 a.m. presented by Josh Diaz from Piggy Blues. Register through Community Ed at 460-1704. In cooperation with the Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Social Concerns: New Jobs in Austin by John Garry of the DCA on Tuesday, Feb. 21 at 10 a.m. Register at 433-4243 by Monday, Feb. 20.