From Richard Reynolds #1

!cid_X_MA1_1266787738@aol, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. This poster is from the Milwaukee date in 1942. I first recall this hippo litho here in Atlanta that year as well. With hippos being close to my favorite animal, I naturally focused on this one and am certain that I did not see it before that year. It is my belief that 1942 was the first time it was used. However, I see no symbol or trademark suggesting that it came from Bel Geddes. Based on Chris Berry's fine illustrations and commentary about the 1941-42 Bel Geddes series of posters, I had gotten the impression that all new ones in those two years were from his studios. Perhaps he can comment on this one. RBBB used this poster for many years. I took several of them out of windows in Atlanta after RBBB played here in 1954. Around 1960 Roland Butler did a knock off of this poster for the Beatty -Cole show to advertise its hip, "Big Otto." Despite the masculine name, the animal was a female who debuted on Cole in 1943. Terrell got her from the Cincinnati zoo. She was first called "War Baby" because WWII was then on.