The Story Behind " I Want A Hippoptamus For Christmas"

[WCPR1620AM]

I have the original 78 that I posted. I played it on my '75 GE Wildcat.

[amytarter]

Geez...seriously, how much crack did this guy smoke before he recorded this.

[norsericci]

Thank for sharing this, and happy holidays to you!

[kidhonda89]

Check your facts man.

The song was not written specifically for the Oklahoma Zoo in order to get a Hippo, but it just happened that when the song came out they needed a hippo for the zoo and thought it would be a natural tie in. So the media encouraged people to send in their nickels and dimes to buy "Gayla" a hippo for Christmas. Those nickels and dimes bought Matilda who was flown in to Oklahoma City, and after she was presented to Gayla, she in turn donated her to the Oklahoma City Zoo.

[NickLadish]

Dude, I love this guy in that 70's show!

[mrqthews]

it isn't Tommy Chong !

twit

[NickLadish]

It's called sarcasm dude....

[drewbumper3331968]

puff puff pass!!

[ambassador1969]

Children dont Smoke crack,this man is the result of it.

[manhatin]

damusician, That's the result of an early 70's piece of equipment call a "light organ". You hook a speaker signal up to it and when the music plays, whatever lights you plug into it pulsate in time with the music.

[damusician]

cool how the lights react to the music almost like vu meters