Businesses used all kinds of gimmicks and promotions to advertise their wares and services. I saw this Robertson and Fresh photo and got a good chuckle. In it, a chimpanzee wearing an attendant’s uniform pumps gas into a car as two men watch at Boyd’s Service Station, 5401 Nebraska Ave. Just as curious is the man in the hat standing next to the chimp holding a lit cigar while the gas is pumped. The animal was “Freckles the World Famous Chimp,” featured in several motion pictures in the 1930s.

Boyd’s had a large free zoo with a “comprehensive collection of wild animal life,” according to one newspaper advertisement. The zoo was behind the station and located in a “lush” setting of tropical plants and shrubs and was home to Jimmy, the big baboon, and a “dozen other members of the monkey tribe.” The grand attraction was “Bozo, the 12-foot grand-daddy alligator, and several hundred of his descendants. At one point, Boyd even sponsored an alligator wrestling match.

The service station also offered full auto repair, including Boyd’s “modern lubritorium” where cars could get greased, and the oil changed.

Boyd invited school teachers to bring their classes to the zoo so he could show and educate them about his animals. It was a brilliant marketing tactic, bringing in carloads of curious kids while mom or dad got the car serviced. As seen below, there were many photos worthy of newspaper attention. Reports show that Boyd’s closed around 1950

© Chip Weiner. 2022. oldtampaphotos.com