The program's host was Marlin Perkins, the Zoo's director. Perkins went on to host the program Wild Kingdom. Jim Wehmeyer has described the show: "A precursor of sorts to the regularly featured ...

Marlin Perkins came to the ... winning television show Zoo Parade. In 1962 Perkins returned to the St. Louis Zoo as director. He debuted Wild Kingdom in 1963, hosting it until 1985.