Carmichael

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This was a front-page story in the Winnipeg Free Press, April 6, 1939. Unfortunately, there was no photo.

HI! ROCHESTER
Winnipeg’s New Polar Bear Arrives; Yes Folks, His Name's Carmichael
“Rochester!! Confound it, where’s that valet!”
Obviously bored and out of sorts after his long trip from Churchill in a Canadian National railways express car, Carmichael the Second arrived in Winnipeg Thursday afternoon, and immediately called for Jack Benny’s valet.
Advised that Rochester was still in California, he became very indignant.
“Arruhuh! A fine way to treat the namesake and great nephew of a famous radio star,” he grumbled as Superintendent George Cowie of Assiniboine park zoo offered his service as valet until Rochester arrived, if, as and when. Then, with a disgruntled grunt, Carmichael went into petulant seclusion and park officials said he won’t be out for immediate public inspection.
Carmichael, in case you haven’t heard, is the latest addition to the Assiniboine park zoo. He is a seven-weeks’ old Polar cub. His mother was shot on the shores of Hudson Bay and the trapper sent the cub to the Assiniboine park zoo.
W. C. Birt, chairman of the parks board and Garnet Dunn, secretary, agreed that the little fellow should be named after Radio Comedian Jack Benny’s famed if mythical Polar bear. So Carmichael it is.
Carmichael (it’ll be plain Mike in a couple of days) refused to be interviewed in the absence of his press agent and confined his remarks to an expression of keen satisfaction with “this wonderful summer weather of yours.”

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