MY HOPALONG COLLECTION

As a little boy in 1950s I had many of the interests that children of that time were in to. One of my major movie idols was the cowboy character Hopalong Cassidy. I had many "Hoppy" toys, clothes, and other items. As I grew to adulthood, amazingly, I was able to save a few of those childhood treasures.

In 1951 my local bank started a Hopalong Cassidy Savings Club for children. Of course, I promptly joined! I still have some of the items from that club. Here is the envelope that the starter kit was mailed to me in. Click on the image to see the full-size scan.

Here is the welcoming letter explaining about the club "pledge". Click on the image to see the full-size scan.

The savings club membership certificate. The club creed is particularly interesting! Click on the image to see the full-size scan.

Here is my Hoppy bank given to savings club members. It is 4 1/4 x 2 5/8 inches, and you take the hat off to empty it. Click on the image to see the full-size scan.

A 7 15/16 x 9 7/8 inches size color picture of Hoppy included in the original kit. Click on the image to see the full-size scan.

A Hoppy Christmas and New Year greetings postcard mailed to savings club members. It illustrates the seven "award" buttons that could be earned for reaching various savings levels. Click on the image to see the full-size scan.

Here are the pin-back "award" buttons that I earned in the savings club.

This postcard (5 1/2 x 3 1/4 inches) was mailed to savings club members on their birthday. Click on the image to see the full-size scan.

A January 1952 calendar on a large (6 1/4 x 10 1/2 inches) postcard mailed to savings club members. Click on the image to see the full-size scan.

This large pin-back button was worn by the bank staff to publicize the Savings Club. It is 3 inches in diameter.