Fake Ape Puts On Show for Commuters

Some commuters could be forgiven for going ape Tuesday.

To all appearances, there was a mean-looking gorilla cavorting on a Chatsworth lawn as they headed for work.

But it was just Amalgamated Dynamics Inc., testing the gorilla costume the firm designed before shipping it off to London for a television commercial next month. In the gorilla suit was Tom Woodruff Jr., a co-founder of ADI, who manages the radio-controlled suit with the help of four puppeteers.

More facially-expressive than a real gorilla, the 50-pound costume can be made to appear sad, angry or smiling, said company co-founder Alec Gillis.

The company creates special effects and makeup for Hollywood movies. Recent films have included “Jumanji,” “Starship Troopers” and “Alien Resurrection.”