Mike Reynolds (Ted Bessell) had a successful dental practice while his wife Liz (Anita Gillette) was a stay-at-home mother, raising their two kids, Scott (Scott Kolden) and Kitty (Kami Cotler) in San Pascal, California.
While visiting the local park one day, they encountered an abandoned chimpanzee, which they brought home with the intention of finding its rightful owner.
They contacted all of the zoos in California and placed newspaper ads but to no avail.
Even though Mike objected, “Buttons” – so-named because of his fascination with any device or household appliance that had buttons – became a member of the Reynolds family.
Buttons was played by a three-and-a-half-year-old chimpanzee named Jackie.
