Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Want a Hippo for Christmas? The Story of a Girl Who Got One
NBC San Diego ^ | Dec 17, 2016

Posted on 12/18/2016 7:19:25 PM PST by nickcarraway

All a cute, curly haired 10-year-old girl named Gayla Peevey wanted for Christmas in 1953 was a hippopotamus.

And amazingly enough, after "I Want a Hippopotamus For Christmas" became the biggest hit song of that holiday season, she actually got one, a 700-pound baby named Matilda. She promptly donated it to the Oklahoma City Zoo, where it lived to be nearly 50, a ripe old age for hippos.

As for Peevey's song, it may never die.

"That one just really took off, and it's still going strong, stronger than ever. Sixty-three years later! Hard to believe," Peevey, an ebullient woman of 73, says during a recent phone interview from her San Diego-area home.

(Excerpt) Read more at nbcsandiego.com ...


TOPICS: Local News; Pets/Animals; Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: hippo
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-37 next last

1 posted on 12/18/2016 7:19:25 PM PST by nickcarraway
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

I hate that song ... the voice of the person singing it makes my skin crawl


2 posted on 12/18/2016 7:25:08 PM PST by mom4melody
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

I sing along and mimic the voice as best I can -—

No crocodiles or rhinocer-oser-usses . . .


3 posted on 12/18/2016 7:29:26 PM PST by LTC.Ret
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

I still remember old Mrs. Fried in the 4th grade making us learn to sing this song for Christmas. Still hate it.


4 posted on 12/18/2016 7:30:45 PM PST by AnotherUnixGeek
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway; Salamander; kanawa; humblegunner; Eaker; Semper Mark; 50mm; Vendome; JoeProBono; ...
It's been a long time...

...since we had a Hippo Ping.

5 posted on 12/18/2016 7:30:46 PM PST by shibumi (Cover it with gas and set it on fire.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: shibumi

Here’s Gayla in her original music video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Dec9Jb_Ac4


6 posted on 12/18/2016 7:36:35 PM PST by bigbob (We have better coverage than Verizon - Can You Hear Us Now?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: shibumi

Hippopotomii steaks...yummm!


7 posted on 12/18/2016 7:38:36 PM PST by SnuffaBolshevik
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

“I Want a Hippopotamus For Christmas”

I’m 63 and have never heard (or heard of) that song.


8 posted on 12/18/2016 7:42:21 PM PST by Windflier (Pitchforks and torches ripen on the vine. Left too long, they become black rifles.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mom4melody

The only thing I hate more is those gd chipmunks. Why does this crap exist?


9 posted on 12/18/2016 7:43:05 PM PST by Spruce
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Spruce

Alvin!!


10 posted on 12/18/2016 7:43:58 PM PST by Windflier (Pitchforks and torches ripen on the vine. Left too long, they become black rifles.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

A Recent Picture Of Her.

11 posted on 12/18/2016 7:51:46 PM PST by Fiddlstix (Warning! This Is A Subliminal Tagline! Read it at your own risk!(Presented by TagLines R US))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Windflier

I am 72 and heard it for the first time on tv a few days ago. Has a catchy tune.


12 posted on 12/18/2016 8:00:13 PM PST by MamaB (D. 13:2)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Spruce

Here’s a Christmas ear worm that will make you forget all about those chipmunks lol:

https://youtu.be/hYlvfX3nwlc


13 posted on 12/18/2016 8:03:41 PM PST by Joe 6-pack (Qui me amat, amat et canem meum.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Spruce
The only thing I hate more is those gd chipmunks. Why does this crap exist?

You're probably not a grade-school kid in 1958.

14 posted on 12/18/2016 8:17:11 PM PST by Rufii
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Windflier

I’m 42 and have heard it several times. I don’t get its appeal, perhaps if one is from that era they get what I am missing.


15 posted on 12/18/2016 8:19:03 PM PST by NorthstarMom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

The Barking Dogs barking ‘Jingle Bells’.


16 posted on 12/18/2016 8:22:27 PM PST by tumblindice (America's founding fathers, all armed conservatives)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

Great! Thanks so much for posting this! This song has been sort of stuck in my head, I like the new TV ad that has it! Shared this story to FB!


17 posted on 12/18/2016 8:31:35 PM PST by jocon307
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway
It's hard to believe that was the biggest Christmas hit of 1953--but Eartha Kitt's "Santa Baby" and Stan Freberg's "Christmas Dragnet" didn't offer a whole lot of competition.
18 posted on 12/18/2016 8:33:58 PM PST by Fiji Hill
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MamaB

My wife keeps our kitchen radio tuned to a 24/7 Christmas music station throughout the month of December, so I’m surprised I’ve never heard that tune.

If it’s one of those ‘catchy’ ones, maybe it’s better that I haven’t heard it ;-)


19 posted on 12/18/2016 8:52:54 PM PST by Windflier (Pitchforks and torches ripen on the vine. Left too long, they become black rifles.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: NorthstarMom

“...have heard it several times. I don’t get its appeal, perhaps if one is from that era they get what I am missing.”

I was born the year the tune came out, but I don’t get the appeal of a lot of music from that time.

I guess I didn’t tune in to popular music until the late 50s - early 60s. There’s a lot of stuff from that era that I recall fondly.


20 posted on 12/18/2016 8:57:52 PM PST by Windflier (Pitchforks and torches ripen on the vine. Left too long, they become black rifles.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-37 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson