Hippos, August 1962
Hippos; I call them "Water Rhinos". I'M NOT CRAZY! In spite of their adorable appearance, hippos do not make great pets. Nobody ever considers that you'll need a litter box the size of a Volkswagen bus. Which is why animal shelters are full of hippos. It's pretty sad.
Today's photos can't be called "Snoozles™", which is breaking the Sunday format, but as you can see, the pictures themselves aren't bad - in fact they are pretty good, no heads in the way, they are clear, the color hasn't faded... they are just a little bit dark. But my "scans" folder is lacking any truly awful examples. Happily!
One hippo stares at us with a beady eye, while another prepares to burst through the surface, making people (not me!) shriek in surprise. That part of the river looks like a swell place to live, if I was a hippo I'd want to be there too.
Are these the same two hippos? Who can tell? This is why all hippos should wear name tags. They don't have to be Disney name tags, but I admit that that would be nice. I always bring a pack of mints, because "hippo breath" is not great. Toss in a few mints, and they are kissably fresh!
2 comments:
Walt should have had the hippos spit venom at guests, just like Dilophosaurus! I know that Dilophosaurus didn't really do that, and that Michael Chrichton was just taking artistic license. Walt should have done the same!
So Major, will there be no more Snoozles™, for the time being?
Thanks for the great vintage hippo pics, Major!
"Which is why animal shelters are full of hippos. It's pretty sad." Yes, it truly is sad. Parents see the cute little one-ton hippos in the pet shop and think, "what a nice surprise for little Timmy on Easter morning!". Then, after the hippo rampages through the house, knocking over tables, chairs, the family's heirloom Ming vase, and Gramma, it crashes through the sliding glass door and out onto the patio. From there, it's on to the rest of the neighborhood, leaving a path of destruction everywhere it goes. Cops are called, tranquilizer darts are fired, and the cute little one-ton hippo winds up in the slammer at the animal shelter. People never learn.
This IS a nice picture. But, you know, it's hippos.... again. All we can see of the submerged hippo is the tip of his ear, and some of his pinkish head under the water. I can't remember, did these submersible hippos have any animation? Ear twitching? Mouth opening up?
Ah. The classic 'gaping maw' hippo. I can see why parents would want to bring this home to little Timmy. And it provides a nice big target for some of Major's breath mints. Hopefully, Timmy's parents will also provide him with a pistol to let the impish hippo know who's boss.
Tokyo!, venom-spitting hippos (a great rock band name!) would be fantastic! Imagine the shocked, bemused expressions on guests faces after getting slimed with hippo venom! Such an immersive experience! Of course, this would require an upcharge, but definitely worth it, especially if it included a Zinger and 5 grapes!
I shall make no more harmful remarks about these pictures, for I have taken the hippocratic oath. Thanks, Major.
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