Sweet Baby Siri. Photo by Amy Dee Stephens

Baby Siri had a rough start to life; malnourished and missing one arm.  She is now thriving.  I was fortunate to photograph Siri on the last day of her hand-raising.  This article is republished, with permission, from ZooSounds, Winter 2011.  ~Amy

Siri the Survivor

By Amy Dee Stephens

             The scene at Sunset Zoo went something like this:

            “Congratulations, she’s a healthy.” 

            “Whew,” responded the primate staff.

            “Whew” because they only realized that the mother chimpanzee was pregnant about 6-weeks before delivery.  This was not a faulty oversight…it was shock!  No one dreamed the 56-year-old female was still of child-bearing age.

            The mother was very attentive, protective and nursed regularly.  But seven months later, it was clear that something was wrong.  Siri was still tiny.  Testing revealed that the mother’s milk lacked the nutrients of a younger female, and Siri was starving.

            After diet modifications failed, Sunset Zoo asked the Chimpanzee Species Survival Plan for help.  Oklahoma City Zoo was selected as the facility equipped to accommodate Siri’s needs. Just two years ago, the Great EscApe team successfully hand-raised and introduced baby Zoe to their troop. 

       “We are building our reputation as a surrogate facility,” said Robin Newby, Great Escape keeper.  “Chimp dynamics can be difficult, but our troop already proved that they can accept a baby.”

            When Siri arrived inOklahoma City, she was 8-months-old and just 3 ½ pounds.  Genetic tests, donated by Harvard, revealed the surprising news that other than malnutrition and lack of muscle mass, her organs were working fine and she had no mental disabilities. 

            For the next four months, Siri had 24-hour care.  Staff and volunteers initially had one focus—feed that baby! 

            It wasn’t as easy as it sounds.  Siri had no interest in food; staff described it as an aversion to eating.  A feeding tube helped her get calories, but the challenge was to teach Siri how to feed herself.

            “She didn’t know why she had no interest in food,” said Newby.  “We made ‘happy food vocals.’ It’s like a high-pitched hoot that chimps make when they’re eating.  We did that and ate lots of fruit in front of her, trying to get her excited about food.  That’s how she finally learned what ‘hungry’ meant.”   

            To complicate matters more, a troop member unintentionally injured Siri.  Siri reached toward a chimp through a 2-inch gap in the mesh that separated her from the adult chimps.  A female grabbed Siri’s arm and it detached at the elbow.

            “Siri had no muscle mass,” said Newby.  “A normal infant wouldn’t have been seriously injured, but this baby was too malnourished.  Siri’s a fighter.  She survived the injury and just got stronger.”     

Siri photo by Amy Dee Stephens

           As Siri’s strength improved, the staff began physical therapy to help her overcome her missing forearm.  Climbing on a jungle gym made of PVC pipe and ropes helped Siri build muscles, balance, and learn to rely more on her feet.      

            Teaching Siri independence proved to be the hardest feat for staff, however. 

“In the wild, baby chimps are never put on the ground or left alone, but a surrogate mother would not hold her all the time. Siri needed to be okay with being on own her own sometimes,” said Newby.  “We started walking away from her some during our daily routine; and she didn’t appreciate it. We had to use tough love, because it was hard to hear her whimpering for us, but we knew this was what she needed to become the best chimp she could be.”   

            When it was time for Siri to meet her new chimp family, staff again had to practice tough love.  Introducing chimps is risky in a regular situation, but trusting tiny Siri with an adult was nerve-racking for the staff.  Fortunately, they knew the troop well enough to have several backup plans. 

            Chimp introductions begin with one member at a time.  If all goes well, the two chimps spend time together to build up trust, and then another chimp is added into the mix. 

           The primate staff had three female chimps in mind who might make a good surrogate mother for Siri.  Introductions to Cindy and Abby went fine, but neither seemed to show interest in nurturing an infant.  The third female, Kito, went right over to comfort Siri.  Newby said she had “the baby instinct.”  Ironically, Kito was the very female who injured Siri’s arm in an effort to reach her through the window.                 

            Since then, other troop members, including Mwami, the dominant male, have met Siri. Despite some of the usual “family politics,” the introductions have gone well and eventually all eight chimps will be on exhibit together.     

            Zoe and Siri play so actively together that most people don’t even notice Siri’s missing limb.  Three times each day, Siri drinks a bottle of infant formula through a customized mesh hole at the building.  She is never expected to be large chimp because of her early nutritional delay, but staff are proud to say that she is independent, playful and acting like a normal chimp.  

            “Working with animals is a lot about psychology,” said Newby.  “We have to be very in tune with our animals, and anticipate what their reactions might be to a situation.  We felt confident that Siri would blend well with our troop and that the chimps would help her adjust.”

            “Whew.”

Tigers Cover Story by Amy Dee Stephens

Baby tigers–four of them–are active new residents at the Oklahoma City Zoo.  This article, reprinted with permission, shares the story of their birth and “toddler” stage.  ~Amy   

The Wonderful Thing About Tigers

Four frolicking balls of fur exploded onto the scene of CatForestthis fall.  Tiger cubs, Leonidus, Leeloo, Lola and Lucy pounce, roll, stretch, and explore…providing visitors an action-packed experience. 

But the scene was quite different when these four cubs entered the world.  Calm and peaceful best describe their first days. 

New Momma Tiger

“About ten days before we expected the mother, Suriya, to deliver, we moved her indoors to a special birthing stall,” said Jonathan Reding, Cat Forest/Lion Overlook Supervisor.

The birthing stall is in a quiet corridor away from the main flow of traffic.  Keepers put burlap around the room so that Suriya would have complete privacy, except, that is, for a surveillance camera monitoring her every move.

The goal for this first-time mom was to allow her to rely on her natural birthing behaviors, without human aid, unless necessary. 

Tigers have a track record of being difficult to breed.  For three years, the keepers kept diligent records in an attempt to pair Suriya with the male, Raguna.  Timing was crucial since the rare, week-long window of opportunity only comes once every three months.    

As part of the Tiger Species Survival Plan (SSP), the zoo had already determined a birth plan based on research and input from other professionals.  Oklahoma City Zoo had another point in its favor—a staff with over five years experience at successfully breeding other cat species such as lions and snow leopards.

On the morning of July 9^th, a pleasant sight greeted the cat keepers.  Camera monitors showed Suriya interacting with two cubs.  She exhibited good mothering skills: licking, cleaning, nursing.  All was well, so the staff followed their plan to stay away. 

Quad Squad!

What a surprise when a third cub arrived an hour later.  And then a fourth another hour after that! 

“It’s rare for tigers to have four cubs; most have two or three,” said Reding.  “What’s even more rare is that all four survived.”

These four tigers are an incredible contribution to the tiger species.  Only 250 are left in the wild, and 66 live in accredited zoos.  Now, the zoo population is up to 71! 

Fortunately, Suriya exhibited such good mothering skills that the keepers avoided all interactions with her and the cubs for over a week.  Then, the noise of daily routine was added back in, and eventually the burlap was removed.

“Suriya has a strong preference for female keepers,” said Erin Holman, Cat Keeper. “I’m the only full-time female on the cat staff, so I started going back into the hallway to perform cleaning routines.”

After ten days, Holman offered Suriya food in a nearby stall, and the tiger followed her trained routine.  She voluntarily shifted next door, allowing a gate to be closed between herself and her cubs. 

“We had worried about that, because she does things on her own terms, but she shifted with no problem,” said Reding.  “It shows her trust level with the staff.” 

Into the Public Eye

Veterinarians were able to do a well-baby check and take the newborns’ first weights, which were between four and five pounds.  Since the cubs continued to do well after several months, the staff began preparations for the tigers to go on exhibit for the public by early fall. 

“First, we had to let it cool down outside,” said Reding.  “We also needed to make sure the cubs were big enough to move safely in the yard without injuring themselves on logs or drop offs.”

The first few days in the outdoor yard, the cubs jumped at every odd noise or visitor calling to them.  Now, the four-month-old cubs are immune to zoo traffic.  They perch confidently on their favorite overlook, keeping an instinctive eye out for prey as they pounce, roll, stretch and explore. 

 Then, it’s time for a cat nap.

“It’s play, play, play, but they are still babies, so they need lots of sleep,” said Reding.

According to Holman, the cubs’ most active period is in the morning between 9:00 and 10:30.  Each tiger has a unique stripe pattern, but to visitors, their personalities are the most obvious thing about them. 

Leonidus, the only male, is very laid back and gentle.  He takes after his father and is expected to be a very large male.  Leeloo is Leonidus’ running buddy.  She is feisty and plays hard.  Lucy has her mother’s personality, cautious and defensive.  Lola is cautious at first, but then becomes adventurous. 

What is in the future for these tigers?  The cubs will likely remain at the zoo for two years until the Tiger SSP decides where they should be dispersed.  Since Raguno and Suriya’s genetics are well represented, Raguno will eventually leave to breed at another facility. 

“For our staff, the tigers were our most anticipated birth in five years,” said Reding.  “They are critically endangered, they are a key species for zoos, and everyone loves them.”

 And that’s the wonderful thing about tigers.

ZooSounds, Fall 2011

The Oklahoma City Zoo experienced a birth in April 2011–a baby elephant named Malee.  I can’t help but smile every time I see her and neither can zoo visitors.  Here is an article I wrote about her first few months, reprinted by permission.  ~Amy 

Baby Elephant “Firsts”

Not only is Malee the zoo’s first baby elephant–everyone agrees that she is the cutest baby ever! 

The entire community claims her.  Zoo attendance was nearly 150,000 over the former record for the past fiscal year.  Thousands of people will whip out their cell phone to show you her pictures.  Oklahoma is ga-ga about Malee. 

Oh, and she’s a smart baby, too.  Just see what all she’s learned in just a few months…

First Day

The healthy baby girl was born on April 15, 2011, with the lungs to prove it.  Human babies cry at birth, but keepers were stunned at how vocal Malee was—and how loud!  She roared louder than her mom, Asha.

Malee doesn’t have her trumpeting down yet, but she’s trying.  Right now, it’s more of a squeak.  But when she’s frustrated, she still bellows and roars. 

Malee definitely likes things done her way.  The keepers say it’s hard to define her personality yet, but she might be a little headstrong.  As a newborn, she didn’t want the keepers help—she wanted to get to Mom on her own, clumsy or not. 

First Time Outside

Malee went outside when she was 2-weeks-old.  Up until then, she’d stayed right next to Asha, but then she got caught up in the moment when Chandra, anxious to get outside, rushed on ahead.  Malee went charging out with her Aunt before she realized that Mom had lagged behind. 

Now, Malee is exploring more.  She ventures off, but Mom and Aunt are always watching.  They correct her and keep her in line by gently pushing her with their trunk or feet.  Some people think that Chandra is rough with the baby, but the keepers see that Chandra is a very protective playmate.  She often rushes over to check on Malee if she senses trouble.        

First Trunk Use

At first, baby Malee wasn’t sure what to do with that trunk hanging on her face.  She did use it to feel of her feet and a log on the first day, but it mostly flopped around. 

Now she’s trying to mimic the adults, who use their trunks to eat or give themselves dust baths.  Keepers remember the day Malee managed to hold a piece of lettuce with her trunk.  She started running around, waving it like a flag.  Success!

At 3-months, Malee could grip grass and put a grape in her mouth—even though it fell back out.  She is now eating some solid foods, but will continue to nurse almost 2 years. 

First Bath

Malee loves water.  From day one, she enjoyed getting hosed off or having water squirted into her mouth.  She stood on a rubber bath mat alone, but seemed reluctant to get into the blue and white inflatable pool, a gift from the Kirkpatrick Foundation.  The keepers admit to crawling into the pool and splashing around, showing Malee what to do–to no avail. 

Finally, on a day when Malee was acting particularly brave, staff scooted the deflated pool closer and closer to the rubber mat, until Malee was standing on it without realizing it.  The next day, she went right into the pool—and that’s the well-received YouTube video of Malee’s first tub bath (available at okczoo.com)

First Swim

The water level in the outside pool has been slowly raised so that Malee can safely learn to swim.  In mid-July, when the pool was at 4 ½ feet, Malee went completely underwater, kicked her feet, and popped back above water—her first swim.   

First Training 

Malee will soon begin her formal training.  She needs to learn her name and respond to cues. Malee already goes into her own stall for her bath—a nice step toward separating the elephants for individualized training.  She is also comfortable with the keepers rubbing her skin and touching her, which is useful in doing health exams.   

A First for the Keepers, Too

Watching young Malee has been a treat for the keepers, who did much training and preparation to raise their first baby elephant.  They view Malee as a member of their family and enjoy watching her grow and learn.  The compare it to watching their own children grow up–except everything happens much more quickly with baby elephants than with humans!

If you haven’t come to visit baby Malee yet, it’s not too late.  Many “firsts” are still to come as she continues to learn.  Maybe you will witness her first dust bath, or trumpet, or deep-water swim. 

If you do miss out—don’t worry.  Plenty of Oklahomans will share their stories, pictures and videos with you.  After all, Malee is the smartest, cutest, best-loved baby elephant Oklahomans have ever seen!        

Special thanks for information provided by the elephant staff: Nick Newby, Toni Rife, and Dorothy Forman.

Gayla Peevey Henderson and myself at the unveiling of her exhibit. Photo by Lisa Lee.

 Looking back, I know that meeting Gayla Peevey Henderson was not an accident.  A series of events led to our introduction in the middle of a gift store.  That culminated into the “Gayla Gala” event that occurred last weekend at the Oklahoma City Zoo.  Now, I’m honored to say that Gayla and her husband, Cliff, are treasured friends. 

 Nearly ten years ago, I researched Gayla’s childhood recording of “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas” for my book Oklahoma City Zoo; 1902-1959.  Every time I’m asked to speak to a group about zoo history, Gayla’s hippo story is the most popular topic.  On occasion, the audience bursts into spontaneous singing of the song; at other times, I must give my best imitation of Gayla’s performance. 

 In April 2007, I received an unexpected phone call at work.  The quick-thinking cashier working in the gift shop called to say that I should rush down to meet Gayla Peevey.  I scrambled to grab an autograph pen and pull the 1953 “I Want a Hippopotamus” record album cover out of its archival box. 

 On any other day, the cashier might have paid no attention to the conversation going on near the register.  This particular girl (I don’t remember her name), had actually read my book, so her ears perked up when she heard Gayla tell her friend, “Look, my story’s in this book.”

Gayla at the ZooZeum. Photo by Lisa Lee.

 Two years later, the opening of the zoo’s history museum, the ZooZeum, was approaching.  I knew that we simply had to feature an exhibit about Gayla and how her Christmas song brought the first hippo to the Oklahoma City Zoo.  I called Gayla to ask if she would be willing to fly from California to unveil the exhibit.  She said yes!

 We began the planning for various special events to celebrate Gayla and her music.  In addition, I oversaw the research and installation of the ZooZeum exhibit, “A Hippo for Christmas” (huge thanks to Sherri Vance, who made everything happen behind-the-scenes). 

 Gayla’s visit spanned November 17-20, 2011.  Her arrival was heralded with a rash of media interviews; sharing her story and advertising the public sing-a-long and autograph session.  She did a question-and-answer session with zoo staff, and was the guest of honor at a private exhibit-unveiling, called the Gayla Gala.  In all cases, she proved herself charming and friendly.  Her ability to field questions, chat easily with DJs and burst into song and dance on cue showed that the knack for show business is still in her blood.    

  The day of the sing-a-long was nearly freezing, but about 350 people came to sing the hippo song, led by Gayla.  Almost 250 of them then visited the ZooZeum to meet Gayla and get autographs on a variety of hippo items custom-produced for the zoo gift shop (including my favorite, a snow globe music box).

 Gayla was very touched by all of the visitors’ stories about why the song was special to them.  Many of the children sang it for her; some had traveled many miles to see her. Gayla couldn’t believe that the song still had such a following.  In fact, she expressed to me that one of her fears about coming to the zoo was that no one would attend.  Instead, Gayla found herself treated like a celebrity.  “And I’m just a regular person at home,” she said.  “I’m a grandma, and I do dishes.”    

 I thoroughly enjoyed chauffeuring Gayla and Cliff around for four days.  They were delightful every second!  We sang together at the radio stations, experimented with different autograph pens, visited Bricktown by trolley, and ate Sonic hot dogs.  The hippo keepers even allowed Gayla to put food out in the yard for the zoo’s pygmy hippo.            

Gayla featured on News Channel 4. Photo by Tara Henson.

 Since I’m writing this on Thanksgiving Day 2011, I must say that I’m thankful that the gift shop cashier was paying attention that spring day in 2007; otherwise I might never have met Gayla Peevey.  She and Cliff are some of my favorite people, and I’m glad Gayla’s song lives on.

A few links from Gayla’s zoo visit:

http://www.newson6.com/story/16087384/okc-zoo-sing-along-kicks-off-exhibit-featuring-christmas-hippo

http://newsok.com/hippo-christmas-tune-singer-returns-to-oklahoma-city/article/3625390

http://assets.mediaspanonline.com/prod/7346641/pcn-2011-11-24-c-008.pdf

 Gayla had a clear gift for singing, so her parents allowed her to perform on a local television variety program.  When Columbia Records noticed her strong voice and stage presence, they offered her a recording contract to sing children’s songs. 

Gayla Peevey. Source: iwantahippopotamusforchristmas.net

 The first selection, a cutesy song about a hippo, delighted Gayla as much as it did audiences.  During rehearsal, Gayla made some improvements to the lyrics, which originally read “I want a hippopotamus for Christmas.  A hippopotamus is all I want.”  She also ad-libbed an extra “es” onto “hippopotamuses-es.” 

 That Christmas, the song sold a record half million copies;  Gayla even performed on the Ed Sullivan Show.  The Oklahoma City Zoo decided to capitalize upon the success of their local celebrity by starting a campaign to buy a hippo for Gayla for Christmas.  The catch?  She had to donate it to the zoo! 

 Mathilda, a two-year-old hippopotamus, arrived by airplane on Christmas Eve.  Gayla was at the airport to greet her and turn her gift over to the zoo.  On Christmas day, over 10,000 visitors came to see the zoo’s first hippo. 

 Almost fifty years later, the song remains a holiday favorite.  As Gayla says, “If you’re going to have a hit song, make it a Christmas song, because it comes back every year!”  It has especially experienced a resurgence in popularity among children, who are the grandchildren of the original audience.  Even Gayla’s grandchildren enjoy the song; although they find it hard to believe their grandmother recorded the song. 

 Gayla could be called a one-hit-wonder, because her musical career never reached such heights again.  She attributes this partly to the fact that the next few songs she recorded “weren’t very good songs.”  The lineup included one about a knock-kneed monkey and another with the silly theme, “I wish I were a whisker on the Easter Bunny’s chin.”   

 In addition, her parents didn’t have the promotional training needed to further the career of their youngest daughter.  Faced with the uncertainty of show business and the problem of an invasive fan base, escape seemed the best solution.  Gayla was uprooted from Oklahoma City and moved to California to live a “normal” life.

 She did have a brief stint as a teenage recording artist, under the name Jamie Horton.  She netted a few successful songs; but the entrance of the new Beatles-style music caused Gayla to exit the singing industry for good.  However, she composed several published songs and eventually wrote commercial jingles for a living. 

 Gayla and her husband, Cliff Henderson, did have that “normal” life of working, going to church, and raising children.  These days, she says she is best known in California for her role of singing “Silent Night” from the tip-top of a human, singing Christmas tree.

 In November 2011, the Oklahoma City Zoo welcomed Gayla as a guest celebrity to share her story and sign autographs.  During her visit, she participated in a Gayla Gala and various media events, celebrating her hippo song that is now part ofOklahoma’s history. 

 Thank you, Gayla, for bringing us such a delightful Christmas tale!

Gayla’s website is iwantahippopotamusforchristmas.net. 

Hippo article in ZooSounds, Fall 2011

"I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas" album cover. Image used with permission from Sony Entertainment, for the purposes of advertising this event.

What an honor to coordinate this historic event—the return of singer, Gayla Peevey, to the Oklahoma City Zoo!  Don’t recognize the name?  Maybe you’ll recognize her song “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas.”   ~Amy

 I WANT A HIPPOPOTAMUS FOR CHRISTMAS

 When Gayla Peevey, a 10-year-old Oklahoma City singer, recorded, “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas,” she made more than just music history. She soon found herself as spokesperson for a campaign that would eventually bring a real hippo to the zoo—just in time for Christmas! 

In December 1953, with half a million copies sold, Gayla’s song became a best-selling Christmas hit.”  Zoo Director, Julian Frazier, decided to capitalize on the momentum of the popular song by granting Gayla’s request for a Christmas hippo; Gayla would then gift the hippo to the zoo so that all Oklahoma City children could enjoy it. 

Thus began the Gayla Peevey Hippo Fund.  Children sent in their pennies, and a few days before Christmas, the final $3,000 was raised to purchase Mathilda, a 2-year-old hippo from Central Park Zoo. 

Mathilda arrived by plane on Christmas Eve.  Gayla presented the hippo to the zoo before climbing to the top of the crate to see Mathilda released into her new home, where she would live for the next 45 years.  To this day, “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas” remains a favorite holiday song—especially to Oklahomans. 

 This holiday season, the Oklahoma City Zoo’s ZooZeum will feature a new museum exhibit “A Hippo for Christmas.”  It runs from Nov 20^th to the end of January 2012.  See Gayla’s broadcast on the Ed Sullivan show, the original record album, and artwork by Gayla Peevey herself.  Mathilda the Hippo merchandise is available in the ZooZeum gift shop. 

Event Details:

Date: Sunday, November 20, 2011 / 1:53 p.m.
Event: “I Want A Hippopotamus” Sing-Along and Meet N’ Greet with Gayla Peevey
Info: Join us for a festive time as we sing “I Want A Hippopotamus for Christmas” with Gayla Peevey, the song’s recording artist, in the Zoo’s Global Plaza at 1:53 p.m. on Sunday, November 20. Following the crooning celebration, guests can meet Gayla Peevey who will be at the ZooZeum from 2:30 to 4:00 p.m. The sing-along does not require admission.  A dance routine has also been choreographed for those interested.  The routine is available on the zoo’s Facebook page.  Regular admission required for the meet and greet at the ZooZeum. Come on, and sing-along!

One year ago, I was standing in the freezing cold at the “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” jobsite in Oklahoma.  By persevering for hours after the rest of the media left, one other interviewer (from a county paper) and I managed to score an exclusive interview with celebrity designer, Jillian Harris.  I’ve been unable to sell the story to any magazine—so I’m releasing a transcription of the interview to the online world.  Jillian was excited and delightful as she talked about her then-secret design for the Skaggs’ ranch house.

Jillian Harris on the site of the Skaggs' Extreme Makeover. Photo by Amy Dee Stephens.

Jillian Harris, a Canadian who landed a role on an American reality show called The Bachelorette, is an interior designer by trade.  When the opportunity arose to use her skills as the celebrity designer for a 2010 episode of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, she tackled the task with alacrity (and very little sleep).  In an exclusive and emotional interview at the construction site, Jillian explained why it was personally important to her to design the perfect home for a struggling rancher in Oklahoma.   

Jillian Harris Interview:

Amy: How did you “get into the heads” of the Skaggs family to design a home that they would love?

Jillian: What was great is that we got to spend time with (the) family, interviewing them, and took a little tour of the home.  Because I’ve done design in the past, it was so easy to see what really was special to them.  I think Audra did great job of managing with what she could and could see little bits of her in the house.  I could tell she loved teal, and loved the family, and had that rustic cowboy taste, but still with polished charm to it.  Walking through the house, talking to Audra and talking to Merritt gave me such a good indication of how to design it.  

Amy: Are there any specific treasures you can tell us about that will be featured in the home?

Jillian Harris reading architectural plans for the Skaggs' home. Photo by Amy Dee Stephens.

Jillian: I can’t tell you specific treasures, but can already tell you that this will be such a tear-jerking episode in the happiest ways possible.  The house will be beautiful.  I’ve watched the show since day one, and I can already tell that this home is going to capture the family beautifully (I’m already tearing up).

Amy: How did you volunteer to do this?

Jillian: I’ve watched the show forever, so I’ve been a huge fan, but having this crazy life in the last year–appearing on the Bachelor and Bachlorette–my life has changed a lot.  And I realize how fortunate I am (I’m such a baby, I’m tearing up again).  I’m so, so fortunate for the things I’ve been able to experience, and love the support I have not only of friends and family now, but my fans. 

I’ve always loved interior design, obviously, but I love being part of charities.  I love giving back, I love family, I love design, I love construction. To me it’s a perfect fit.  I’ve been here a couple days now, and I’m having the time of my life.  It feels so good to see everyone else giving back and for me to be able to give back.

Jillian Harris in a lift above the Skagg's construction site. Photo by Amy Dee Stephens.

I said to my mom the other day, it seems like the world needs a lot of love right now.  People aren’t giving enough love, so with this, you see how people are giving back and it’s so inspiring.  Makes you want to pray for strangers.  And smile at strangers and ask them how they are doing—and go back to the good old days. 

Amy: Is there something you will want to say to the family when you see them?

Jillian: If I can keep back my tears and keep from sounding like a baby—I’d thank them for inspiring me. I think sometimes we take life for granted and we think we’ve got it tough, and then you see a family like that who clearly is so strong and has so much love to give, and is just having a tough time, but they still keep their heads up and are still proud.  Very inspiring, So if anything, I would just thank them.

Other Interviewer: Has this been a good time?

Jillian: I think anyone who has the opportunity to volunteer, this is something that sticks with them forever, an incredible opportunity to be part of it.

Other Interviewer: Would you do this again? 

Jillian: I hope so, I said to them earlier, Yep, I’ll take the job, where do I sign? 

Other Interviewer: What do you think about this Oklahoma weather?

Jillian Harris with Merritt Skaggs. Photo by Amy Dee Stephens.

Jillian: As you know, I’m Canadian, so when we rolled out the other night, I said to a cab driver, “So, is this pretty typical?”  He said, “No, not at all.”  But I’m Canadian so I’m used to the weather.  The only downside to that is that I’m thinking I’d be on the construction site wearing a cute little plaid shirt, my new little white boots and I’m in marine-type boots and jacket.  But that’s not what matters.  That’s not what matters.  It’s cold, but people are running around, their blood’s pumping.

Amy: What will you be doing the next few days?

Jillian: In between building, you see we’re doing a lot of filming, but between filming, we still have to do a design.  You stay awake late at night to make sure the design is being done right and you’re working with the right people to get it done.  Because it’s my first time, so I want to be very, very involved and to make as many decisions as I can.   I’m not sleeping much because I’m so excited for the family—just energy everywhere.  Hard to lie down and fall asleep.

Amy: Are people out buying [decorator] things for you right now?

We actually went yesterday.  We bought a lot of stuff.  I think, well, I hope someone’s out there buying stuff–otherwise this interview is over and I have to go!

(Link to article “One Extreme Ranch House” by Amy Dee Stephens:  Extreme Ranch Makeover, article scan; Extreme Ranch Makeover, text only

Other celebrity photos taken at the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition site

Ty Pennington. Photo by Amy Dee Stephens.Ty Pennington. Photo by Amy Dee Stephens.

Xhibit. Photo by Amy Dee Stephens.Xhibit. Photo by Amy Dee Stephens.

Xhibit, Jillian Harris and Michael Moloney. Photo by Amy Dee Stephens.

Xhibit. Photo by Amy Dee Stephens.

Ty Pennington. Photo by Amy Dee Stephens.

Michael Moloney. Photo by Amy Dee Stephens.Xhibit, Jillian Harris and Michael Moloney. Photo by Amy Dee Stephens.

 JILLIAN HARRIS: AN EXTREMELY EXCITED DESIGNER

Pity the poor zookeepers and ground crews who are working to shovel their way to the animal exhibits today.  You may be wondering just how the zoo animals survive such conditions.  Well, it so happens that I recently wrote an article on that subject for the ZooSounds Winter issue…

 Baby, It’s Cold Outside! 

Tundra Geese are well suited to cold climates. Photo by Amy Dee Stephens

 Oh, the weather outside is frightful.  What keeps the animals warm and delightful?

Well, far too many practical and creative ideas to simply put in one verse of a song.  Many of the zoo’s two-thousand animals do need some sort of modification to survive Oklahoma’s volatile weather.  But first, let’s address the number one winter-weather question that zoo employees hear: “When do you close down for the winter?”

We don’t!  (Except on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day).  Of course, if you’re one of those loyal members who bundles up to visit your favorite animal on a chilly December morning, then you know our zoo secret—that you will encounter a surprising amount of  animal activity, an uninterrupted view, short restroom lines, and cheerful greetings from the staff, who are shocked to see other humans outside.   

ZooSounds Issue

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!             

            True, some zoos in the northern U.S. do close for the winter because of extreme conditions.  Oklahoma, however, has enough nice days to attract visitors and many of the animals can tolerate our “mild” climate and occasional snow.  Also, careful planning has gone into designing most exhibits with indoor/outdoor alternatives that suit both people and animals.

            “Most species have high and low temperature parameters that we use as a tool to determine whether an animal will go out on exhibit or stay inside,” said Laura Bottaro, Curator of Mammals.  “Keepers really keep an eye on the weather forecast, and in emergency situations, we have back-up generators on standby.” 

            Mammals are the most tolerant of cold weather.  It’s no surprise that snow leopards are the cat least bothered by low temperatures, although all the cat species have “hot rocks” in their exhibits. 

Two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree

            In or out of a pear tree, birds are the most susceptible to freezing weather.  With so many tropical species in the collection, keepers must move some of them indoors for the whole season.  An entire building, called Overwintering, houses the birds.  It is off-exhibit to the public, but you can imagine what a noisy and raucous place it is right now!

            Fortunately, the bird quarters in the new Children’s Zoo are fully equipped to handle the winter.  The macaws, flamingos, and lorikeets have indoor barns attached to their exhibits. 

            “Oklahoma Trails also has a bird-holding area between the aviary and the nocturnal barn,” said Darcy Henthorn, Curator of Birds and Children’s Zoo.

Winter wonderland

            The reptile and amphibian keepers have an entirely different approach to the winter.  The nearly-ninety-year-old Herpetarium is built of granite stone, and each wall experiences cold, wet and dry periods. 

            “When we get new animals, ‘Which wall?’ is always the first question, not ‘Which aquarium?’” said Joe Branham.  “Some animals can spend their whole life on one side of the building, and others have to be switched during different months.”

            Varied temperatures and controlled light cycles are actually used to induce hibernation, which is important to many of the reptiles’ life cycle.   Some species will spend three months in a large walk-in refrigerator called the Hibernaculum.

            It’s a regular winter wonderland!

            “The public usually doesn’t know about how we create these micro-environments, but this is what herpers do,” said Branham.  

We’re snuggled up together           

            Speaking of hibernation, what about the bears?  When do they snuggle down for the winter?

According to keeper Jonathan Redding, the bears eat less in the winter months, and they grow thicker coats, but Oklahoma is too warm for them to need to hibernate.

            “They don’t hibernate, but they are hardwired to dig a den anyway—and that’s a natural behavior we encourage,” Redding said. 

            Each fall, the grizzly bears push aside dirt and rock until they have dug an underground cave large enough for both of them.  Although it is in the same place every year, in the center of the yard, the den is particularly visible this year. 

            “Underneath is about an 8-ft by 10-ft circular room,” said Redding.  “Eventually it will collapse.  In the spring, I’ll use excavator equipment to fill it back in so they can dig a new one next year.” 

            See why it’s so interesting to come to the zoo in the winter?  From bird barns to bear dens, interesting things are going on.  Bundle up and enjoy the front row view.  After all…

It’s the most wonderful time of the year!

Here is the PDF version of this story, as well as two other articles I wrote for this ZooSounds issue: Baby It’s Cold Outside; How Zoo Animals Survive; Butterfly Conservation; Zoo Masterplan 2011

 Baby, I’ts Cold Outside  

 A New Year, A New You:  New Year New You Article

Ruth RIckey, Photo by Justin Brotton

Be inspired by four professionals who have made dramatic career changes—and found great joy in the outcome. 

Kerry Robertson: From Television Personality to Communications Coach

Randall Green: From Electrician to Photographer

Ruth Rickey: From Attorney to Sugar Artist (Ruth’s Sweete Justice Bakery) 

 

 The Great Promoters  Great Promoters Article

Each of these women follows un unusual career path with such strong conviction that others are inspired to join in their pursuits. 

Mary Ellen Meredith: Promoting Cherokee Heritage (Cherokee National Historical Society)

Heather Buckmaster: Promoting Beef for Dinner (Oklahoma Beef Council)

Rhonda Hooper: Promoting Through Advertising (Jordan Associates Advertising)

Susan McCalmont: Promoting World Creativity (Creative Oklahoma)

Passion for the Community is Big Business  Business Women Article

Whether seeking to fund a cure or purposefully choosing a clothing store, these powerful business women prove that bettering the community isn’t just their job—it’s their passion!

Deidre Ebry: All for “Moore” Shopping (City of Moore Economic Development)

Kanela Huff: Looking to the Sky for Property Sales (Kanela & Co)

Mary Blankenship Pointer: Fighting to Prevent “Green Blobs” (Prevent Blindness)

Jennifer Houchins: A Heart for Diabetes (American Diabetes Association)

Steve Scott, Wildlife Television Producer. Photo submitted.

Kerry Robertson with Burt Reynolds. Photo submitted.

      Writing questions for a celebrity profile is much like writing a story outline.  It must have a logical order, not randomness, to allow for a comfortable flow of conversation. 

      I don’t write my questions using numerals and indentations, nor do I follow my questions exactly—but after reviewing past interviews, I found this general pattern has emerged.

Order of Interview Questions

1. Beginning
   1. Their “agenda” first
   2. Their successes
2. Middle
   1. The Most Important Question
   2. Current career and lifestyle
   3. How they got their start
   4. Back to childhood
   5. Getting Personal

                            i.      Address any controversy

                           ii.      Misconception

                           iii.      Private Family Life

1. The End
   1. Reinforce the angle
   2. Verify information
   3. Open the floor

      Generally, 10 to 15 questions makes for a comfortable 30 to 45 minute conversation. I decide ahead of time which questions are most vital and which can be left out, depending on the speed of the interview.  Most celebrities have strict time limits, but because they are quite practiced at interviewing, they are pretty concise.  I usually have time to ask every question, whereas non-celebrities spend a lot more time chatting and sharing details.   

 1.      Beginning

             Carrie Underwood taught me a valuable lesson about starting an interview.  I knew I had exactly 20 minutes, so I made sure my most important questions were at the beginning.  Logical, right?  Wrong. 

            A formal interview is a conversation.  Like any conversation, rules of etiquette should be followed.  Small talk about comfortable subjects (“What do you do for a living?” “How’s the weather where you live?”) is the best way  to warm up for any discussion with a stranger.  Also true with celebrities. 

         Instead, I went right into my agenda with Underwood.  “How have you been  supported by fellow Oklahoma musicians.”  It wasn’t a bad question, and she answered it well, but it felt abrupt.  I hadn’t started with the niceties.  We had no rapport yet.

Start with Their Agenda 

      Of course, the weather is irrelevant and everyone already knows what the celebrity does for a living, so the opening question I ALWAYS use is, “What are you promoting right now?”  

      That’s their agenda.  It’s why they granted the interview in the first place.  And they know exactly what they want to say. 

      To paraphrase Oprah in her recent television interview with Barbara Walters, “Celebrities are always nice in interviews, because they all come in with an agenda–the latest thing they are trying to promote.”  

      Underwood wanted readers to know about her upcoming tour and the Elvis Christmas duet she’d recently recorded.  I made the assumption that I could easily find out that information from other sources and not waste my precious Carrie Underwood time with such a general question.  (A good point if you are in a situation where you only have a minute or two).  But she needed to talk about those, so we did.       

      Actually, I’ve found that the opening question, “What are you focusing on right now?” works well with non-celebrities interviews, too.  It breaks the ice as an easy topic that’s fresh on the person’s mind.

Their Successes

            Follow up the promotion with a question about why or how they became so successful—which is another “comfort zone” discussion for them, and provides generally useful quotes for the article.

            So, start the interview with “their agenda.”  It sets a comfortable tone for the interview, and will make your celebrity feel good about the time they are spending with you.    

2.      Middle

      Whatever the celebrity is promoting will undoubtedly be included in your story, but the information that makes readers feel like they “get to know the celebrity on a personal level” comes from your middle questions.  These questions reveal the person: their preferences, their favorite quirky phrases, their accidental admissions, their flaws and their lifestyle. 

The Most Important Question:

            Now that niceties are out of the way, you have to ask your Most Important Question.  Whatever the angle of your story is—this is where you get the answer that you need to write your story.  If it’s a fashion magazine, talk about clothes.  If it’s an article about the celebrity’s hometown, ask about their favorite hangout.  You can’t risk the interview being cut short before you get this important question answered.          

      I recently interviewed Ruth Rickey, a master sugar artist who has won multiple awards on shows like The Ultimate Cakeoff.  My story angle revolved around the fact that Rickey had made a dramatic career change; from attorney to baker.  Although I was anxious to hear about her television appearances, the “attorney” part of her life had to come first, or I wouldn’t have been able to write the article my editor needed.      

Current Life

            Readers want to know the “latest.”  Good revealing questions might be, “Describe your typical day,” “How do you relax?” or “What is your favorite hobby right now?”  You never know what direction the answers will take you. 

            Singer and actress, Kristen Chenoweth, embellishes her own clothing.  “I’m a bedazzler.  I don’t use a bedazzler machine.  I have my own system with fabric glue.”   

            Comedy actress, Megyn Price, wants to own chickens, but they aren’t allowed in her California neighborhood.  Mystery writer, Carolyn Hart, rites five pages a day in an old pottery studio behind her house.  

            Who knew?

How They Got Their Start and Back to Childhood   

Leona in Concert. Photo by Amy Dee Stephens

      Don’t underrate a celebrity’s past as old news.  Readers value the journey it takes for a “regular person” to become a star.  Sometimes this information is common knowledge, like Underwood’s rise to fame on American Idol, but not all celebrities are as well know during their formative years. 

      Opera fans are well acquainted with the name Leona Mitchell, an internationally-known singer who performed with each of the “Three Tenors.”   The average person may be unaware of the accomplishments of this now-retired, African-American woman who broke boundaries and made sacrifices.

      “I was singing for five thousand people without a microphone, 330 nights a year,” Mitchell said.  “Every night at ten o’clock I had to become absolutely quiet to save my voice–even when I came home to visit family.  My mom said, ‘My goodness, Leona, you’ve gotten eccentric.’” 

      This glimpse into her past revealed Mitchell’s character and the reason her voice retained its strength after 30 years.  When readers learn that she was one of fifteen children, raised in a small town, and had never heard an opera until her high school years, they appreciated her as a “regular person,” despite her whirlwind years touring Europe and singing for four different American presidents.     

Getting Personal

            Many celebrities have an ugly secret that’s become public.  Few can claim, as does Megyn Price, “I’m a nice person to work with, I take my job seriously, and I’m not a drug addict—these are all positives.  Boring, isn’t it?”

            I don’t write exposés, but sometimes it is impossible to ignore the skeleton in the closet.  For example, I interviewed a former NFL football player who was indicted for drug use.  Year later, he has become a role model in the community—but everyone knows about his past.  I couldn’t ignore it in my story. 

Addressing Controversy

            Asking controversial questions seems like no fun for an interviewer, but the celebrity knows it’s coming.  Don’t worry—they’ll have an answer prepared.  Ask it in a very matter-of-fact way.  “How did such-and-such change your life?”  “How did you overcome the backlash?”  “What is your advice to teens battling this same problem?”

            Handle it professionally and the interview will continue to flow.

Misconceptions Question

            Barbara Walters suggests a question that helps ease the celebrity’s tension after a public disgrace.  She asks, “What is the biggest misconception about you?”  This allows the celebrity to “save face” in his or her own way. 

            Private Family Life

            And finally, each celebrity has his or her own boundaries regarding their private life and the lives of their children.  I choose to be an interviewer who respects that choice.  I phrase those questions carefully.  “Would you be willing to reveal how your children reacted to….?”  They can choose to decline or not.                   

3.  Ending the Interview

      I believe that ending the interview on time is my job.  Five minutes prior, I let the interviewee know I’m wrapping-up by saying, “We’re reaching the end, so I have one last question and some verifying questions, and then you can add anything we missed.” 

 Reinforce the Angle

      My final questions always refers back to the angle of my story.  Maybe I didn’t get quite enough from their answer to the Most Important Question.  Maybe the middle of the interview revealed new insight into the angle.  I rarely repeat the Most Important Question word for word—but it’s something similar.

Verify Information

      Next, I verify any information I felt unclear about—because once they are off the phone, it’s too late.  I’ve occasionally left great information out of a story because I wasn’t sure I was describing or quoting it accurately.  This is also the time to ask the spelling of their dog’s name or their favorite teacher’s name.  

Open the Floor

      Then, I open the floor to them to make final statements.  They often realize during the course of the interview that they wanted to address something further, forgot to mention a sponsor’s name, or want to rephrase a quote. 

      I thank them for their time, and suddenly, it’s over. 

      This person, who has revealed a good deal of personal information about his or her life, is suddenly gone forever.  They may never give me another thought—but I will spend hours dissecting the interview, researching further, and writing their life’s story. 

      Interviewing a celebrity becomes very personal.  Every time I see him or her on television, I relish the fact that I had a special half-hour of their life to myself.  I will forever feel like I know them personally. 

      And it is up to me, the interviewer, to craft questions in a way that reveals the angle, the content, and the character that will shape the best story.