APE PUPPETS by Axtell
Mary Boardman, Des Moines, IA, USA
Hands bend so they can hold on.
Give them a push and they SWING!
20th Century Fox produced a remake of the classic
"Planet of the Apes"
directed by Tim Burton. They purchased about 20 of our Amazing Apes to use in the movie's spaceship laboratory scenes.
JUNGLE PAGE
"The chimp just arrived. All I can say is it's FANTASTIC! Beautiful work! I used to make puppets and vent figures so I know quality work. I might be sending in a few more orders for Christmas presents. Thanks Again!" Tony Vaci
Just thought you'd like a copy of this, it was taken at Singapore Zoo in June this year...Koko the chimp was convinced that I had brought
him a playmate...his reaction was amazing, confounded his trainer too!
Ian Thom / London, UK
First National S.M.I.L.E. Conference in Scottsdale, Arizona.
NOTE - Axtell Expressions has wire wrist rods available for $10 each. They are strong wire coated with black plastic for long wear, and attach to the wrist with a plastic zip tie.
A couple of months ago, I bought the Axtell Expressions Amazing Apes Chimp (the pro version). He is SO AMAZING! Just a couple days after I got him - before I had even developed a good voice for him - I took him over to my friend's house. My friend has a couple little brothers,and his mom babysits two little kids too. I took in Bonzo (my chimp) just as they were having lunch. They were amazed! For a while, they thought he was real!
The youngest, a three-year old, was really scared of him for a while! His mom said," The monkey's going to eat your lunch!" So every time the chimp looked at him, he quickly moved his plate far away so the chimp wouldn't get it! It was quite a while before the three-year old got up enough courage to even touch the chimp! And when he finally did, it was the cutest thing I have ever seen! The boy walked up to Bonzo and timidly reached out his hand. ( I made Bonzo act very friendly, but a bit scared) . Finally, the kid touched Bonzo's head, and started petting him. When he did that, a HUGE smile swept across his face!
I have shown Bonzo to some of my friends, and they too are absolutely blown over when they see it! Every time I get him out, I am again amazed at how real he looks!
I plan to work a while longer on giving Bonzo a good voice, then I hope to perform for our local library's children's storytime program. I know Bonzo will be a huge hit! If you are thinking about buying this puppet, think no longer! Buy him now! Thanks for the great puppet, Steve!
-Jonathan
(pictured at left)
Says Kimie from Chimps, Inc.
Kimie has adopted our chimp puppet as her own baby. She carries it around on her back.
Any way today at 10 minutes to show time I did a short walk around with Chippy, I wear a wireless mike that picks up from up to a block away, the people in front of the show tent can hear me chatting with the others.
I walk over the grounds with Chippy just saying hi and telling everyone there was a monkey show starting in a few minutes of course I corrected him saying that it was a magic show, and he says he would like a monkey show better.
We passed a kids area where kids were trying out hula hoops. I found that by holding the chimps feet in my free hand and moving my elbow in circles while holding the mouth hand fairly still, he could do a very good hula move. The kids loved this. Several times kids would shout look at the monkey! Chippy would ask if I heard what they called me. Did many other little bits as well. I still started the music at 5 till show time but continued to walk around as well.
The point being that by doing the extra short walk around I doubled the size of my audiences, over the shows that I did not walk around. Really impressed the lady booking me. The walk around will now be a part of every outdoor show I do.
These apes are great and the routine Ideas just flowed, without having to put a lot of thought into it.
Yes Chippy has a wrist rod really adds to the act.
Dave Allen The Magic Man
web sites
magic: www.themagicman.com
puppets: www.puppetcircus.com
Once again Steve comes through with another hit. Every time he comes out with a new product, it motivates me to come up with new ideas, character voices, etc...so that I can find a way to work another one of his creations into my cast of characters. Although I must admit my wife can't understand why I need more than one puppet. To which I ask her why she needs 1,2,3,4 pair of shoes.........(just kidding, it's only 985 pair).
Make no mistake, even though this puppet is advertised as a toy, this ain't no toy quality-wise folks. Its first rate all the way. If you don't have one of these - beg, borrow or whatever to get your hands on one of these beauties".
Lee Cornell
www.cornellpublications.com/ventriloquism
Robert Hale
Gilbert, AZ
Judge Alan Farber
Louisville, Kentucky (A good judge of chimps I might add! Ax)
This "Amazing Apes" chimpanzee is the perfect baby buddy to my larger chimp, proving to all my audiences that God created us all the way we are, not some random freak of evolution.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for creating the kind of puppets that continue to cause me to perfect my performances.
In His Service, Laurette Hoagland
What would you do with 3 large and 3 small Apes?
Daniel Matthews
We would use the vinyl monkeys singing the song "I'm a believer" (the christian lyrics version) originally recorded by the "Monkeeys". I would use one of the smaller monkeys as Davey Jones.
I would let all the Apes put on a Christmas play of the little Ape that
had too much till he saw what Christmas was all about.
patdave@c3net.net
patdave@c3net.net
I would let them do a Christmas story in the jungle and have all kinds of things happen to them to show what Poaching can do to a family and what happens to the babies.
John Saccheri
Okay....the BANANA BUNCH!
They are in a zoo, and laugh at how the people PAY to see them while they EAT, SLEEP and PLAY for free.
Jude Biegen
I would do a show about poaching from the apes side.
John Saccheri
Using a story about friendships, show how the smaller apes grew up into the larger ones and what right and wrong choices they made along the way.
John Saccheri
I would incorporate the hairy bunch into a story about a family and
adoption. To convey how looking different doesn't mean much in the big picture of things. A sort of non-prejudicial tale.
btfell@fahlgren.com
Use the Gorillas as King Kong and his little brother, Prince Kong
Jude Biegen
I always wanted a chimp and never got a real one, so I would take the
chimp with me everywhere I go. I would use the other apes in an All
Ape Band, each would play it's own instrument. Maybe one could even
sing!
Lynn Aker
I would use them at the schools for a "Don't monkey around with drugs" theme. I would also use them at the nursing homes to entertain, as the older people love non human primates.
Matthew Laney
We do a revival theme called "It's a Jungle." These would go great. We could use these in outreach ministries at the homeless shelter and children's hospital.
Diane Bruder
I would use them in an elementary School safety show called, "Play it
Safe." It would be a show about playground safety. The theme would be that while playgrounds are a fun place, they need to be a safe place too.
It is OK to "hang with friends" on the playground, especially on
the monkey bars! However, too much "Monkeyshine" or "monkeying around" can lead to hurt feelings, accidents or fights.
Monica Hoblin
My idea is this. I use to be a teacher in the South Bronx, NY. I taught
Kindergarten through 2nd grade. I kept them for 3 years. I loved working with
children who really needed me. Unfortunately 2 years ago I became very ill. I
am no longer able to work. I am hoping that I will be well enough soon to be
able to Volunteer at a Hospital. I would love to take the apes to the
Children's ward in the hospital.
Al Stevens
Two monkeys run for president. Three monkeys vote. One monkey counts votes. Come to think of it, that's already been done...
Stevo
I have the monkey wear a cheap wig and do an impression of
Harpo Marx
Jerry Herschfeld (jbm2th@aol.com)
Bring out the monkeys in shirts and ties to introduce them in their appropriate "monkey business"
Stevo
I have the monkey beat me at the chop cup routine
Nancy Hurst
I would use them to sing "Hey Hey We're the Christians" to The
Monkees theme.
Steve Axtell
Use them together as neighbors in a jungle hood.
Ape information pages -
The Great Apes are Endangered Animals.
Please learn more about them at these exciting
Web sites:
Chimpanzees
Jane Goodall Foundation
IDA Africa (In Defense of Animals)
Gorillas
Great Faces of Gorillas
Paintings by Chisaso Abe
The Gorilla Foundation
featuring Koko the signing Gorilla
Gorillas
Gorilla Help Site
Gorilla Haven Home Page
Les gorilles / Gorillas (french)
Orangutans
Orangutans.com
Here are some more APE routine ideas from our customers!
Dave Allen
The most used bit I do , is when walking around with him some one yells look at the monkey, Chimpy then points at me and nods his head, yes. I tell him they are not calling me a monkey but are talking about him, he then points at himself, and shakes his head no, and then points at me again nods his head yes. Always get a good laugh and draws people over for a closer look. I have control rods on both hands he will play peek a boo with smaller kids throw kisses, wave at every one he sees, etc.
Dale Harrah from Puppetown Children's Ministry
also located in the "Show Me" state!
Bongo will wear glasses and a lab coat, messing up object lessons as I teach.
Bill Foster - From the Show Me State
I would do the ABBOTT & COSTELLO Who's on first Routine
(Ax adds..... I heard this song as a kid)
Man was not the son of a monkey
He was made by Gods own hand
and he never lived up in a coconut tree
he was formed up on the land.
I don't believe in evolution
'cause the Bible tells us true
that if you monkey around with sin
It'll make a monkey out of YOU.
Bill Foster
He’s a grease monkey always fixing things but they don’t turn out just right.
(We've been planning a promotional based on this idea for a few months! Ax)
Dale Harrah
He will sing the Song "Who's the King of the Jungle" and Don't Monkey Around with the Devil"
Bill Foster
I would do something with reading is fun and you have fun monkeying around with books
Deb L.
Bongo could be the emcee for the VBS Safari program. Introducing memory verses and getting the kids involved in the worship service.
Bill Foster St. Louis
My idea would be that he would be heplful teaching kids that he should stop monkey around in class and do his homework. He brought home his report card. We would have a math routine were he keep loosing his bannas
Jimmy Vee
This little guy has a heart of gold and his only wish is to be a very funny comedian, but his jokes are not funny. He always misses the punch line, often times mixing up the punch lines of many jokes with others. Why did the chicken cross the road? Because he slipped on a banana peel! He thinks he is so super funny, but the kids will know that he is not and that he is making a fool of himself. Finally the kids teach him a real funny joke and he is on his way to being a true comedic gorilla. It is a real good way of introducing concepts of setting goals and achieving them. Never give up on your dreams. Anything's possible. He could wear a Orange Safari Hat and a crooked tie like Rodney Dangerfield. He gets no respect!
Deb L.
Bongo could be the star character and emcee for an all animal puppet play about conservation and responsibility of humans to care for the earth.
Lynne
I would use bongo to join my 'jungle group' and have him as the rebel that disagrees with everything and wants to be off on his own. Teaching love and patience towards each other.
Dale Harrah,
Will use as a character that talks about Creation vs. Evolution. He will declare no relation to humanity and joke about smoking, drinking etc, and tell how apes are too smart to harm themselves that way.
patdave
I would have him in a pet store window in looking out at the people going by tkinking why don't someone buy meand take me home.Till one day after Christmas just when all the hope wes gong, a little girl came and got him ,and love him becouse he did have a BIG BLUE Face and she love him .
Name: AJ Sebree
Idea: Bongo, the wacky cousin of "Magilla Gorilla" trying desperately to break into the hiphop/rap industry...ie: They call me Bongo, I sing a songo....
Deb L.
Bongo could be used in a jungle setting trying to accept the concept of Christ as King of the jungle.
Name: Marcus Magnus
Idea: I would use him to open the new primate-house at our zoo in Dortmund /Germany and tell the child how important is to save the life of animals especially the primates.
Deb L
Bongo would be the mascot for the Pitt State Gorillas women's basketball team. On the side he would perform in Christian based puppet plays.
MaryB
Steve, I'd use Bongo to show that being different is okay. He looks different than other gorillas but the kids can explain to him how different is good, too.
I would have a story about a banana split. Bongo say what do you mean my banana SPLIT. Its like who's on first routine.
I would use him for Chirstmas were he sold all his bannas to get me a present and I would give him a banana cooker Oh My.
Dale Harrah
I'm no kin to the monkey, and the monkeys no kin to me - I don't know about your ancestor's but mine didn't swing from a tree. Bongo's going to replace my "real" looking Axtell apes - to go with my other Comical Axtells!
Name: PatDave
I would use Bongo, that has a hard time with Christmas . He thinks that Christmas is just for him, and he was to get all the gifts he can. But he get a big surprise when he finds out it is The time for love and peace and family, and all the good things there is
Name: Steve Axtell
Idea: Use him to sing a song with lots of rhythm. He could be really cool, and you really square. Contrast is funny!
and her ape
the Axtell Orangutan in a show.
Click to hear Relaxed hooting sound (125k)
Click to hear Angry or Nervous screaming (39k)
in Belgium
new customized Bongo
Italy with the Orangutan.
