Loveland, Ohio - Smoking Monkey of Loveland

The "Smoking Monkey" was named Sam. He lived at the "Whistle Stop Inn" under the bridge at Fosters, where it crosses the Little Miami River. Sam was a famous resident of the Maineville/Loveland area. I taught school not far from there and would pass his cage everyday on my way to work. One student told me about how Sam got out and made his way up the hill to her house. He helped himself to a drink from the garden hose and sat down on their porch. Her mother called the police, who notified the owner. The owner (his last name was Harris) arrived a couple of minutes later and opend the door of his pick up and called for Sam. Sam went over, got in the truck, and returned to his home. [Bubba, 03/19/2005]

He's no longer there (I think animal welfare stepped in), but on the Loveland Bike Trail between Loveland and Morrow, Ohio there used to be a pit stop where you could rent horses and see a chimpanzee in a cage that smoked cigarettes. Why I share this I do not know. I will tell you that on Cincinnati's west side there is now a bar called the Smoking Monkey, but that's probably not worth visiting. [MT Helmes, 06/17/2001]