1935 Pictorial Map of Bobby Benson and the H-O Rangers in Africa

A colorful pictorial map combining elements of actual geography with an imagined African landscape, prepared c. 1935 by the Hecker H-O Company to promote the radio show character Bobby Benson and, by extension, their cereal.

A Closer Look

This map features a semi-fantastical representation of central Africa in the vicinity of the Congo. Some features, such as Lake Mweru and Lake Tanganyika, exist while others were invented. Animals of various sorts - including lions, giraffes, camels, elephants, rhinos, and hippos - appear throughout along with human figures, presented in an exaggerated, stereotypical fashion, now percieved as racially insensitive but common with cartoon illustrations of the era. The title character appears in a title cartouche at top-left, while an intricate border consisting of monkeys surrounds the map.

Bobby Benson Radio Program

Bobby Benson and the B-Bar-B Riders (also known as the H-Bar-O Rangers or, in this case, as Bobby Benson and the H-O Rangers) was a popular American children's radio program that aired from 1932 to 1955, initially on CBS and then on the Mutual Broadcasting System. The show followed the adventures of Bobby Benson, the 12-year-old who inherited a ranch in Texas and fought off a rogues' gallery of bandits, robbers, smugglers, and others, usually around his ranch, but sometimes in other environs, as with the present map. It was an early success in the Western genre, influencing later radio and television programs aimed at children. The radio show was a prime example of a 'cereal serial,' as the Hecker H-O Company developed the character to promote its cereal products. The company cleverly offered parents discounts for themed toys, accessories, and prizes if they sent in cereal box tops as proof of purchase. This map was one such reward for loyal customers.

Publication History and Census

This pictorial map was prepared and distributed by the Hecker H-O Company around 1935 to promote the radio program and its cereal. It is not recorded in the OCLC.