The Marquis Chimps

London-based chimpanzee act established in the 1940's by owner and trainer Gene Detroy. Marquis was the oldest chimp and namesake of the act and had retired by the time that Detroy brought the ac ...Show More

London-based chimpanzee act established in the 1940's by owner and trainer Gene Detroy. Marquis was the oldest chimp and namesake of the act and had retired by the time that Detroy brought the act to America in the 1950's at the suggestion of Danny Kaye, who had appeared at the London Palladium in 1950 on the same bill as the chimps and felt they could be successful in America. There were eight chimps, named Baron, Candy, Sasha, Tommy, Becky, Sammy, Lucy and Pepi. The chimps made about thirty appearances on Toast of the Town (1948) alone. They continued to be an act in Las Vegas until Detroy sold the act in the 1980's and retired. Soon, the act was disbanded, and the chimps sent to animal sanctuaries. Hide