National Gorilla Suit Day

Every year on January 31, Mad Magazine fans celebrate a special holiday known as National Gorilla Suit Day. It is dedicated to monkey costumes, which were used quite often in many films, and then became one of the most popular images for Halloween.

History

The monkey costume was first created in the 1920s. It was made by Hollywood makeup artist Carlos Cruz Gemora with his own hands, who, before starting work, carefully studied these creatures in one of the San Diego zoos.

Gradually, people ceased to be afraid of monkeys. They no longer seemed creepy creatures, so filmmakers had to abandon their images for a while. After the advent of computer graphics, the need for costumes decreased, but some still remained adherents of the “old school.” One of their brightest representatives was Rick Baker.

Don Martin, one of the editors of Mad Magazine, can rightfully be called the creator of the holiday. In 1963, he completed his favorite comic strip, which ran to a total of fifty-six pages. The main character was a gorilla, making fun of people dressed up as monkeys. Only true fans join the celebration to honor the memory of the great artist.

Interesting Facts

1. One of the first films to use the creepy gorilla costume was Tarzan of the Apes (1918).
2. The manager of the baseball club “Boston Red Sox” was a real favorite of reporters. After he retired, curious journalists were willing to do anything to get breaking news. Theo Epstein had to put on a gorilla costume to hide from his pursuers and go unnoticed.
3. Over the years, costumes began to gain popularity. They were also used by scammers who wanted to hide their real face. An unidentified woman living in Wisconsin tried to steal bananas from a store but was spotted by security just in time. She managed to escape, and no more attacks were repeated.

How to Celebrate

Don’t be discouraged if you don’t find the right suit in your wardrobe. It may not be available in every store, but themed shops almost always have funny masks. There are also costumes of various sizes.

For the sake of fun, you can throw a party, while not forgetting to indicate the mandatory dress code for guests. Friends will have to work hard to get into the “jungle” and not look silly.

When is National Gorilla Suit Day in 2025?

National Gorilla Suit Day is observed on January 31 each year.

Observations