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That Time Monkeys Took The Subway
By
Jen Carlson
Published Oct 18, 2011
Modified Oct 18, 2011
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By
Jen Carlson
Published Oct 18, 2011
Modified Oct 18, 2011
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The AP story, and a random rhesus monkey!
We've heard about teenagers trying to smuggle penguins on the subway before, but what about monkeys standing next to you on the platform? It happened! Way back when news was awesome, in 1960. Ephemeral NY recalls that in July of that year, more than one rhesus monkey was spotted on the 1 train.
At the time, the AP reported, “Last Monday two monkeys—origin unknown—were sighted by a passenger in the Chambers Street Station,” and the NY Times later followed up when another "traveling monkey" was spotted “standing on the northbound platform at the Rector Street Station, as if waiting for the train."
There are photos of two monkeys captured by the ASPCA (skip ahead to 1960 in this photo timeline), but who knows how many more were roaming the tunnels. There could be an entire monkey army down there, just waiting...
Tagged
1960
flashback
monkeys
rhesus monkey
subway
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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