Iowa 1933 - Escaped Gorilla Seen Near Kingston, Oakville

[Trogluddite]

Published in the Iowa City (IA) Press-Citizen on February 1, 1933.  Note that the gorilla was "reported to have escaped" from a circus's winter headquarters in Sterling, Illinois. 

 

The Illinois State University's Milner Library has a special collection on circus history in the state.  I asked them for any information they may be able to provide on this question and they searched The Billboard, the trade publication which covered circuses extensively during this time [as it] seems likely that an escaped gorilla would have made its pages. Similarly, within those pages could not be found a circus wintering in Sterling, Illinois.  They librarians reported that they could not find any evidence to support this story.

 

 

Edited October 30 by Trogluddite
To include updated information.