Media Advisory                                                                                                  November 10, 2011

CONTACTS:

Tara Henson, (405) 425-0219, (405) 919-9038, thenson@okczoo.com

Candice Rennels, (405) 425-0298, (405) 412-6172, crennels@okczoo.com

What:                         Gayla Peevey Henderson of “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas” fame

Where:                       Oklahoma City Zoo & Botanical Garden

When:                         Sunday, November 20, 2011

Time:                         1:53 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Details 

 Gayla Peevey Henderson is Oklahoma City’s own celebrity who brought us “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas” back in 1953!  Children actually raised money to buy a hippo for Gayla, who presented Mathilda the hippo to the Oklahoma City Zoo. Just in time for the holidays, Gayla will be at the Zoo to debut a new exhibition about Mathilda and her ever-popular holiday hippo tune; which landed her a spot on the Ed Sullivan Show and led to a full concert at the Civic Center Music Hall.  The exhibit, held at the Patricia and Byron J. Gambulos ZooZeum, will be on display from November 20 until the end of January. 

Sunday, November 20 at 1:53 p.m. a come-one-come-all sing-a-long of “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas” will be led by Gayla in the Zoo’s entry plaza. From 2:30 to 4:00 p.m  Gayla will be at the ZooZeum to meet and greet guests and sign autographs. The sing-a-long activities are free but admission to the Zoo is required to visit the ZooZeum and meet Gayla.

MEDIA NOTE:        Please contact Tara Henson for in-studio interviews, phone interviews, appearances or related media needs. Gayla will be in Oklahoma City and available Friday, November 18 in the morning and afternoon for media opportunities.