Moldaramas at Chicago's Brookfield Zoo

BROOKFIELD ZOO

Chicago, Illinois

Brookfield Zoo has more Moldarama machines in action that any other place I know of. They also make it easy for the collector by marking the location of the machines on their free visitor maps. On our last visit there, August 2001, we were able to take a census of the 11 operating machines:

The Living Coast (South America pavilion), at restroom entrance. White Penguin

Perching Bird House (breezeway between this building and the Bookstore Red Giraffes, Black Gorilla

Reptile House (inside the building) Green Alligator

Bear Grotto, near the Children's Zoo White Polar Bear, Black Panther

Seven Seas Dolphinarium, by the lower level wheelchair access (as of this writing, all the sea going mammals except the dolphins have been relocated to other zoos while their habitat is being refurbished). Blue Dolphin, Orange Walrus

Australia House, at the entrance foyer Brown Koala

Pachyderm House, at opposite entrances Black Rhino, Black Elephant

In addition, the Zoo's Discovery Center had a display of “Brookfield Memorabilia,” including several Moldaramas. Among them were a few I have not found in use during my visits:

Yellow Lion Brown Otter Red Locomotive and Tender
This may have represented a miniature tour train of the type that used to be found in many zoos
Tours today are given by natural-gas-powered trams.

Just a little bear. Specimen: Polar Bear
Collected: June, 2000
Location: Brookfield Zoo, Brookfield, IL (near Chicago)
Inscript: "Brookfield Zoo" obverse
Color: White
Latest Confirmed Operation: August, 2001
Cost then: 1 Dollar

Is this bear picture still here?

Note: With the birth of a baby polar bear in 1999, this machine was labeled "Baby Polar bear," even though the figure looks like an adult bear. But here's a picture of the real baby bear, named Tiguak. Awwwww! Cu-u-ute! In 2001, the zoo had another polar bear cub, named Kinipak, and shown at right.
Is this bear picture still here?

I'm gonna name him Stampy. Specimen: Elephant
Collected: June, 2000
Location: Brookfield Zoo, Brookfield, IL
Inscript: "Brookfield Zoo" obverse
Color: Black
Latest Confirmed Operation: June, 2000
Cost then: 1 Dollar

Quantas... Quantas has never had a crash... Specimen: Koala
Collected: June, 2000
Location: Brookfield Zoo, Brookfield, IL
Inscript: "Brookfield Zoo" obverse
Color: Brown
Latest Confirmed Operation: August, 2001
Cost then: 1 Dollar

Specimen: Giraffes
Collected: June, 2000
Location: Brookfield Zoo, Brookfield, IL
Inscript: "Brookfield Zoo" obverse
Color: Red
Latest Confirmed Operation: August, 2001
Cost then: 1 Dollar

look familiar? Specimen: Alligator
Collected: June, 2000
Location: Brookfield Zoo, Brookfield, IL
Inscript: "Brookfield Zoo" obverse
Color: Green
Latest Confirmed Operation: August, 2001
Cost then: 1 Dollar
Note: This mold has also appeared at the Milwaukee and San Antonio zoos, and at Gatorland in Florida!

Specimen: Gorilla
Collected: June, 2000
Location: Brookfield Zoo, Brookfield, IL
Inscript: "Brookfield Zoo" obverse
Color: Black
Latest Confirmed Operation: August, 2001
Cost then: 1 Dollar

It's that Black Rhino again! Specimen: Rhinocerous
Collected: August, 1995
Location: Brookfield Zoo, Brookfield, IL
Inscript: "Brookfield Zoo" obverse
Color: Black
Latest Confirmed Operation: November, 1998
Cost then: 75 cents

Everyone loves the King of the Seas Specimen: Dolphin
Collected: November, 1998
Location: Brookfield Zoo, Brookfield, IL
Inscript: "Brookfield Zoo" obverse
Color: Blue
Latest Confirmed Operation: August, 2001
Cost then: $1.00

What a long page! Back to Top!

Brown Camel Specimen: Camel
Collected: November, 1998
Location: Brookfield Zoo, Brookfield, IL
Inscript: "Brookfield Zoo" obverse
Color: Brown
Latest Confirmed Operation: November, 1998 (It appears to have been taken out of commission since then).
Cost then: $1.00

Black Panther Specimen: Panther
Collected: November, 1998
Location: Brookfield Zoo, Brookfield, IL (near Chicago)
Inscript: "Brookfield Zoo" obverse
Color: Black
Latest Confirmed Operation: August, 2001
Cost then: $1.00

Gimme a Cracker! Specimen: Parrot
Collected: June, 1998
Location: Brookfield Zoo, Brookfield, IL
Inscript: "Brookfield Zoo" obverse
Color: Green
Latest Confirmed Operation: June, 2000 (It appears to have been taken out of commission since then, but perhaps only temporarily).
Cost then: 1 Dollar
Note: This was one of a few specimens that were found at a garage sale on the above date. We found the machine with the mold still working at the zoo during our June 2000 expedition.

Goo-Goo-Ga-Joob! Specimen: Walrus
Collected: June, 1998
Location: Brookfield Zoo, Brookfield, IL
Inscript: "Brookfield Zoo" obverse
Color: Orange
Latest Confirmed Operation: August, 2001
Cost then: 1 Dollar
Note: Possibly molded in the image of the Brookfield's late, beloved Olga the walrus, this was one of a few specimens that were actually found at a garage sale on the above date.

To come! Specimen: Penguin
Collected: August, 2001
Location: Brookfield Zoo, Brookfield, IL
Inscript: "Brookfield Zoo" obverse
Color: White
Latest Confirmed Operation: August, 2001
Cost then: 1 Dollar

What a long page! Back to Top!

The Living Coast (South America pavilion), at restroom entrance.	White Penguin
Perching Bird House (breezeway between this building and the Bookstore	Red Giraffes, Black Gorilla
Reptile House (inside the building)	Green Alligator
Bear Grotto, near the Children's Zoo	White Polar Bear, Black Panther
Seven Seas Dolphinarium, by the lower level wheelchair access (as of this writing, all the sea going mammals except the dolphins have been relocated to other zoos while their habitat is being refurbished).	Blue Dolphin, Orange Walrus
Australia House, at the entrance foyer	Brown Koala
Pachyderm House, at opposite entrances	Black Rhino, Black Elephant


Note: With the birth of a baby polar bear in 1999, this machine was labeled "Baby Polar bear," even though the figure looks like an adult bear. But here's a picture of the real baby bear, named Tiguak. Awwwww! Cu-u-ute! In 2001, the zoo had another polar bear cub, named Kinipak, and shown at right.