Although
the 1960s are often remembered as a decade of change,
the zoo stagnated, and there were few significant
improvements.
In
1960, the Park Board dismissed Paul V. Brown, who
had served as superintendent since 1948. By unanimous
vote, the Board designated Zoo director Edward J.
Johnson as acting superintendent.
Frank
Vincenzi, who had begun at Woodland Park Zoo as a
keeper in 1930, was made acting zoo director.
Also
in 1960, a City bond issue was passed which allocated
money for the construction of a children's zoo, new
reptile house and a small mammal building. For several
years, the Park Board debated about whether or not
the children's zoo should be a sort of storybook land,
with exhibits based on nursery rhymes and fairy tales.
Fortunately (in this writer's opinion), this approach
was abandoned in favor of a less fanciful one, designed
by architect Fred Bassetti. Constructed in three stages,
beginning in 1966, the Children's Zoo would eventually
be renamed the Family Farm.
The
reptile house, which opened in 1969, was called the
Tropical House and kept that name until the 1990s,
when a surfeit of WPZ exhibits with "tropical" in
their names required that it be renamed. The Tropical
and Nocturnal Houses (the latter completed in 1974)
are now known as Day and Night Exhibits.
In
spite of these improvements, the zoo wasn't moving
forward as quickly as many community activists wished,
and they began to pressure for change. As early as
1963, a local family picketed the elephant exhibit,
to emphasize the need for a better home for the zoo's
largest animals. It would be 25 years before their
wish would be realized.
In
1965, the Seattle Zoological Society was formed. The
organization's purpose was to mobilize public support
and generate additional funding for zoo improvements.
Its first goal was to raise money for construction
of the second and third phases of the Children's Zoo
construction. City bond funds from 1960 were only
sufficient to pay for the first phase, "Foreign Friends
Village."
In
1968, there was a change in the City of Seattle's
government structure -- the Park Board lost its authority
and became the Parks Advisory Board and the superintendent,
who had previously reported to the Board, became responsible
directly to the mayor. Ed Johnson was shifted from
his position as Parks Superintendent to become director
of Seattle Center, the position from which he would
retire a few years later.
Also
in 1968, six (of 13) Forward Thrust bond issues passed.
Funds were set aside for the development of a master
plan for Woodland Park Zoo, the first since the Olmsteds'
in 1910. This was a pivotal moment in the zoo's history,
and all the profound changes that have occurred at
WPZ since the mid-1970s have been the result of the
resolution to have a new plan for the zoo.
In
1972, Frank Vincenzi was reduced from acting zoo director
to general curator. He had been at the zoo for over
40 years and was nearing retirement. Vincenzi's son,
Dr. Frank Vincenzi, Jr., believes that this did not
come as a blow to his father, that the senior Vincenzi
was first and foremost an animal person. Being curator
put Vincenzi closer to the animals he loved.
Jan
van Oosten, an animal dealer and aviculturist who
had been a founding member of the Seattle Zoological
Society, was named director.
The
Bartholick master plan (named for its principal designer,
architect George Bartholick) called for large, naturalistic
exhibits, but it contained a feature that became the
focus of considerable controversy and eventually caused
the plan's rejection. Bartholick would have placed
a lid over Aurora, healing the cut that had sliced
the park in two back in 1932. The zoo would also have
expanded down into Lower Woodland Park, something
that many park users strongly opposed. Opponents mobilized
and organized, and when Bartholick's plan was put
to a public vote in late 1974, it was soundly defeated.
Director Van Oosten resigned just before the election.
James W. Foster, the zoo's veterinarian, took over
as acting director.
Mayor
Wes Uhlman formed a citizens' task force -- a zoo
commission -- to help formulate a new plan for the
zoo. British architect David Hancocks, who had a background
in zoo architecture and had worked with Bartholick
on the rejected plan, was named design coordinator.
A Seattle-based landscape architecture firm, Jones & Jones,
was hired to do the design work.
In
1976, the City Council approved the Hancocks/Jones & Jones
plan, which also featured naturalistic designs. Exhibits
were grouped in "bioclimatic zones" to demonstrate
the similarities of and differences between animals
living in similar sorts of habitats all over the world.
The
plan itself served as a sort of outline for the zoo's
future development. The ideas, principles and philosophy
that were delineated along with the plan's drawings
were closely adhered to during the quarter-century
of design and construction that followed.
That
same year, David Hancocks became zoo director. He
brought with him his revolutionary ideas on zoo design
and zoo management. Once implemented, those ideas
would not only stand the test of time, but would bring
WPZ to the forefront of world zoos.
Woodland
Park Zoo was about to begin a profound transformation,
one that would take the remainder of the century to
accomplish.
1960: Edward
J. Johnson took over as Park Superintendent, Frank
Vincenzi replaced him as acting Zoo Director.
Polar
bear "Mischa," born during the winter, made her first
public appearance that spring.
1,822
specimens, 397 species.
Seattle
car dealer S.L.Savidge donated a new giraffe "Duchess
(II)" on 3 Nov (see 1994).
A "Talking
Storybooks" system from Audio Tours was installed
at 45 exhibits throughout the zoo. Keys to operate
the Talking Storybooks boxes were in the shape of
elephants and cost fifty cents. The elephant key's
trunk was inserted into the box to start a recorded
message about the animals. 5,000 elephant keys were
sold in the first 4.5 months. The Talking Storybooks
were removed by the mid-`60's.
A
moat and low guard rail, similar in style to the one
around the elephant yard, replaced the old post and
chain around the Camel Yard, .
Park
Bond issue allotted $150,000 for a Children's Zoo.
1961: Interior
improvements in Primate House: Skylights were enlarged,
glass fronts added to interior cages to restrict offensive
odors to the animal space (and human-carried disease
to the visitor space).
1,840
specimens, 387 species.
Orangutan
Elvis (I) died.
A
new orang male was acquired from Morgan Berry: Elvis
(II). Elvis II was the father of our twin orangutans
Towan and Chinta. (see 1968)
Tiger
Sultana had three more cubs.
Northern
Pacific donated caboose #1313. It was converted into
a zoo restroom and was located near the current site
of the entrance to the Elephant Forest.
1962: Paramount
Studios filmed releases for the movie "The Pigeon
who took Rome" involving WPZ hero pigeon Geronimo
(see 1957). Charlton Heston starred.
There
was a fire at the Model Farm (now the Raptor Center),
which was blamed on a cigarette tossed into hay by
a visitor. There was only minor damage, though a draft
horse, frightened by sirens, broke through a chain
link fence.
A
bison heifer was presented to the zoo by the State
of Kansas, accepted by Washington Governor Albert
Rosellini.
Two
Kodiak bear cubs were born.
Tiger
Sultana had a litter of five.
The
old cement and steel bar bear cages were demolished,
11 years after they had been replaced by the bear
grottos. Some of the zoo's peafowl had regarded these
cages as home base, and with the cages' destruction,
they wandered into surrounding neighborhoods. Initially,
Vincenzi didn't seem too concerned, but finally, he
asked that citizens lure them into garages with bread,
trapping them so they could be picked up by zookeepers.
1,851
specimens, 380 species.
During
and after the Century 21/World's Fair (Apr-Oct) rubber-tired
zoo-liner trams were in operation, giving guided tour
rides around the zoo. The zoo's records don't indicate
when the trams were discontinued, although in 1964,
the trams were losing money, and a cut in fares (from
50 cents to a quarter) was proposed.
At
the height of the Cuban missile crisis, Director Vincenzi
announced that, in the event of a nuclear attack,
zoo staff would destroy the venomous snakes, using
cyanide gas or chloroform. As if a stray rattlesnake
would have been a significant concern during a nuclear
war!
1963: Tiger
Sultana had another litter of five.
A
pool was constructed in the elephant yard.
A
female Celebes "ape" (actually a macaque) was born
at the zoo, the first in the U.S.
1964: A
male cheetah and a female chimpanzee "Candy" were
donated.
The
zoo received a Galapagos tortoise (for a total of
two).
Geronimo,
last of the "hero pigeons," (see 1957) died 26 July.
His body was returned to Ft. Monmouth, NJ for internment
with the others.
1964: A
male cheetah and a female chimpanzee "Candy" were
donated.
The
zoo received a Galapagos tortoise (for a total of
two).
Geronimo,
last of the "hero pigeons," (see 1957) died 26 July.
His body was returned to Ft. Monmouth, NJ for internment
with the others.
1965: Seattle
Zoological Society (later Woodland Park Zoological
Society) was formed. Dr. Walter A. Fairservis was
the first, temporary president. There had been an
attempt to form an organization of the same name in
the 1950s, but it never got off the ground. There
were 178 members first year. Membership cost $7.50
per family, $5 individual, $3 student. There was no
admission fee at this time, so a membership was simply
a contribution to support zoo improvements.
Approximately
30% of the zoo's funding came from concessions.
1,926
specimens
Contract
awarded for Phase I of a Children's Zoo.
The
Aviary featured an exhibit of 20 Ecuadorian hummingbirds,
loaned to WPZ by future director Jan Van Oosten.
1966: 1,877
specimens.
SZS
up to 500 members, 30 volunteer women trained as zoo
guides, a forerunner of the zoo docent program.
An
elephant fund campaign was begun.
8
snowy owls acquired. The last two of this group died
in 1990 after having raised many offspring.
4th
Infantry Division, U.S. Army, departing for Vietnam,
donated their division mascot, a black leopard named "Black
Jack Argo." He arrived at the zoo with a complete
set of army personnel records, including his discharge
papers.
Architect
Fred Bassetti awarded the contract to design a small
mammal house (which would be the Nocturnal House,
later renamed Night Exhibit).
TV
show "Buttons and his Buddies" was in its 12th
year.
1967: First
unit of the Children's Zoo -- "Foreign Friends Village" --
opened. Was constructed by Fred A. Lehn, Inc., for
$141,617. This centered around a group of structures
that includes one that is currently the home of "Bug" World
(then it was the zoo nursery, for the care and exhibition
of baby animals that had to be hand-raised). Other
exhibits meant to appeal especially to children featured
monkeys and giant tortoises.
Barbara
Berry, daughter of famed elephant trainer Morgan Berry,
was hired as animal attendant. She was then the only
woman working at the zoo in animal care.
The
low bid for the combined Tropical (reptile) and Small
Mammal (nocturnal) houses was $300,000. This was $45,000
more than the amount available from the 1960 bond
issue. The Park Board asked the City Council for the
difference.
Elephant "Bamboo
(I)" donated to WPZ by SZS, and was housed in the
Children's Zoo.
Construction
began on the Tropical House (now the Day and Night
Exhibits).
Elephant "Wide
Awake" died at age 54.
First
docent class graduated.
A
local organization, CHECC, (committee to CHoose an
Effective City Council) was formed to advance the
city councilperson campaigns of Tim Hill and Phyllis
Lamphere. CHECC produced a a position statement that
said that "the mismanagement and inadequate funding
of the zoo make that facility a microcosm of almost
all that is wrong with the Seattle parks system."
1,836
specimens, 381 species.
1968: Ed
Johnson transferred from Park Superintendent to Director
of the Seattle Center. Park Board loses its authority,
becomes Parks Advisory Board.
1805
specimens.
Docent
training conducted by UW professors of Biology and
Zoology. Two classes of 25 each held, 60 docents now
leading tours.
Orangutan
twins "Towan" (male) and "Chinta" (female) born to
Molly and Elvis (II). Towan and Chinta still at the
zoo as of 2000.
Bobo
died at age 17, without offspring. Post mortem showed
that he had Kleinfelter's syndrome, a failure of his
reproductive organs to mature.
Three
young gorillas were donated anonymously. Only one,
Nina, lived to adulthood. As of 2000, she was still
alive, and is the mother of four adult gorillas. In
2000, she became a great-grandmother for the first
time when her grandson, Paul Donn, fathered a baby
at San Diego Wild Animal Park.
Elephant "Bamboo" (acquired
1967) died, was replaced with Bamboo (II), still at
Woodland Park Zoo as of 2000.
Orangutan
Molly died.
The
Model Farm (soon to be known as the "Old Farm") partially
burned on 15 May, the second of two fires there during
the `60's.
Of
the Forward Thrust bond issues that passed, $4 million
was designated for the zoo.
The
Children's Zoo closed for the winter due to 5% budget
cuts city-wide. All four mayoral candidates decried
this closure.
Betty
Bartleson became the first woman zookeeper to be hired
at Woodland Park since Melvina Kuempl's brief stint
during World War II. Bartleson's hiring opened the
door for more and more women to become zookeepers. Her
story:
"I
was hired as a nursery attendant to take over Barbara
Berry's responsibilities as she was called upon to
care full time for the twin orangs born in the winter
of 1968. I worked there until I was hired as a keeper
in 1969.
At
the time I took the test, Frank [Vincenzi, zoo director]
and the two foremen told me that I was welcome to
take the test (no law against it), but they did not
hire women as zookeepers. The city had no equal opportunity
mandate so I had to accept what they said. After passing
the test,I convinced Frank to hire me, with the agreement
that after a year, we'd talk about other assignments.
There
is of course more to the story, but I was the first
woman zookeeper at WPZ and was there for 18 years…I'm
proud of this accomplishment."
Betty Bartleson, 2002
1969: After
15 years, Jack Alexander retired from his post as
the zoo's first educator. Keeper (now retired Curator
of Reptiles) Ernie Wagner and Supervisor Myron Healy
took over Alexander's role on Buttons and his Buddies,
then in its 19th year on KOMO-TV.
Docents
assumed responsibility for grounds tour program.
2
infant gorillas "Kiki" and "Pierrot" (renamed "Pete")
donated by Mrs. Johnston. Pete still at zoo as of
2000.
Orang
Elvis II died -- chimps moved into his vacated cage.
A gang of young apes, both gorillas and orangutans,
moved into the former chimp cage.
Tropical
House (the new home for the zoo's reptiles) opened.
The Seattle Zoological Society moved into the just-vacated
former reptile house.
Children's
Zoo closed for the winter again due to budget constraints.
State
Senator Wes Uhlman called WPZ "a bush-league zoo" in
the final days of his successful mayoral campaign,
adding his voice to the many others that were then
calling for comprehensive improvements at WPZ.
1970: Architect
Fred Bassetti designed the remaining three phases
of the Children's Zoo -- total cost $577,000. PONCHO
(Patrons of Northwest Civic Cultural and Charitable
Organizations) donated $50,000 of that. Construction
began that same year.
The
Parks Board hired architect George Bartholick to design
a master plan for the zoo that would allow it to expand
east of Aurora, into Lower Woodland Park. The $9.8
million conservatory that was a major feature of that
plan would have been placed on top of the lid over
Aurora Avenue. It would have had a translucent inflated
roof, supported by cables and internal air pressure.
To
conform with the new Master Plan, the number and types
of animals were reduced. The plan provoked much discussion
by politicians and others. Hot subjects included charging
an entrance fee, governance (whether the zoo should
be run by the city or by a non-profit organization)
and administrative structure. At that time the zoo's "administrative
structure" consisted only of two foremen (to oversee
the keeper staff), the director and his secretary.
34
of 49 American zoos at the time charged admission,
according to a survey. At the time, San Diego Zoo
charged only $1.50 for adults and $.25 for children.
Because WPZ did not charge admission, there were 19
gates around its perimeter through which visitors
could freely come and go during the day.
The
Seattle Zoological Society hosted an international
symposium on "The Zoo of the Future."
Frank
Vincenzi's salary as director was $12,000/year. Zoo
staff numbered 37.
Jack
Simmons (died 1992) took over the Zoo Guide-Naturalist
program.
Commercially
prepackaged food for carnivores replaced locally butchered
horsemeat.
The
Seattle Police Department had a mascot named "Daffodil," a
pig who lived in the Children's Zoo and who sometimes
left zoo grounds to attend police functions.
Bicycle
racks were installed at zoo entrances.
There
was a fund-raising drive to purchase African elephant "Watoto."
Giraffe "Duke" died.
1,519
specimens, 357 species, zoo's annual budget $453,795.24.
At the same time, Chicago's Brookfield Zoo, which
received a similar number of visitors each year, had
a budget six times as large.
Seattle
population: 530,831
1971: Elephant "Elmer" died
(see 1956).
Dr.
James W. Foster became WPZ's first full-time veterinarian.
African
elephant "Watoto" acquired 15 July. She weighed only
880 lbs. on arrival.
Female
gorilla "Fifi" sent to Honolulu Zoo. Efforts to breed
her with Honolulu's male were fruitless, however.
Fifi died in 1978.
Jan
van Oosten named director 17 Nov. Van Oosten had been
a founding member of the Seattle Zoological Society
and was a research associate in tropical ornithology
at the Puget Sound Museum of Natural History of Natural
History at the University of Puget Sound. His actual
paying job, however, just prior becoming zoo director
was district supervisor for employee relations and
training for Texaco-Spokane.
Parking
fees initiated 7 Sept.
1,426
specimens, 398 species.
Assistant
Keeper (and later Curator of Reptiles, still at WPZ
in 2000) Frank Slavens began at Zoo.
1972: PONCHO
theater and the Farm Village section of Children's
Zoo were completed.
Long
Range Plan by architect George Bartholick approved
by the City Council, but immediately ran into opposition
because it would have placed a lid over Aurora Avenue
and allowed the zoo to invade Lower Woodland Park.
A
group calling itself "Save Woodland Park," with a
nucleus of 85 active members, became an instant powerhouse
on the city political scene. City officials had been
of the opinion that new parks, such as Discovery,
Magnuson and Gas Works, would offset the general use
loss of Lower Woodland Park connected with the zoo
expansion. Citizen activists did not buy that logic,
and bitterly opposed the Bartholick plan.
There
were two volunteer programs: students doing observational
research and a committee of professionals in various
fields who could be called on for consultation.
A
pair of snow leopards, Nicholas and Alexandra, received
as a gift from the USSR.
A
WPZ guidebook, by Jack Simmons, produced by the SZS.
Jan
van Oosten took charge of the zoo on 2 Jan. Vincenzi
named general curator 15 Apr.
1973: Dave
Towne (later Zoo Director) named Parks Superintendent.
"Save
Woodland Park" begins a petition drive against the
Bartholick plan. Many local chambers of commerce and
community councils joined in the chorus of objections
to the planned zoo expansion.
First
snow leopard born at WPZ.
Closed-circuit
TV first used for animal observations, such as monitoring
the welfare of mothers and babies in their dens.
1974: Nocturnal
House completed, opened the following year. The concrete
shell for the building had been constructed at the
same time as the Tropical House, with which it shares
mechanical systems.
Policy
of selective breeding with preference to endangered
species is implemented.
Efforts
made to trim the animal collection and shape it up
by transfer and breeding.
906
specimens, 277 species.
Jan
Van Oosten resigned from his position as zoo director.
Then Superintendent of Parks Dave Towne said of Van
Oosten, "I think he found working in a government
structure `different' than working in private industry." Dr.
James W. Foster, the zoo's veterinarian, was named
Acting Director.
Voters
rejected lidding of Aurora and expansion of the zoo
into Lower Woodland Park. The City of Seattle and
King County discussed developing a regional zoo outside
Seattle, and converting Woodland Park Zoo entirely
into a Children's Zoo.
1975: David
Hancocks hired as Design Coordinator to develop a
new Master Plan.
809
specimens, 258 species.
1976: Zoo
commissary moved to former Parks Shops in SE corner
of zoo.
Gorilla "Wanto" born
to Nina and Pete.
There
were daily walks by "Bamboo" and her keeper around
the zoo grounds.
The
new Master Plan was approved by City Council.
David
Hancocks became Zoo director, replacing acting director
Dr. James Foster.
If you have comments
or suggestions about this page please send an e-mail to Dana
Payne
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