Chessie was a popular cat character used as a symbol of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway (C&O). Derived from an etching by Viennese artist Guido Grünewald, the image first appeared in a black and white advertisement in the September 1933 issue of Fortune magazine with the slogan "Sleep Like a Kitten."

She got two look-alike kittens in 1935, and a mate, “Peake” (from the railroad name as well – Chesapeake = “Chessie-Peake”), in 1937. Soon Chessie, “America’s Sleepheart,” was the talk of the railroad world, and propelled C&O to the top ranks of rail advertising.

Oct 9, 2022 · In 1935, Chessie becomes a mom with two small kittens in tow, Nip and Tuck. This naturally left the public questioning where “dad” was. So, to complete the family, “Chessie’s Old Man” as he was called, appeared in a C&O ad on Father’s Day in 1937. The railroad donned him Peake. Peake was a handsome tomcat and a soldier away at war.

Oct 31, 2024 · Chessie, the beloved mascot of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway, was actually one of the most successful advertising symbols in history. . Chessie was seen to symbolize comfort and reliability, embodying the warmth of home during long journeys.

Jul 19, 2014 · Chessie acquired two kittens named “Nip” and “Tuck” in 1935, as well as a mate named “Peake” in 1937. During World War II, the Chessie character was used to promote War Bonds and support for the war effort, depicted as working on the home front to support Peake, who was off to war.

Oct 17, 2022 · Mind-blowing Chessie facts: What began as a simple etching of a sleeping kitten, blossomed into one of America’s most-loved corporate symbols. This is the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway’s Chessie Cat.

In 1935, a handsome tom-cat, appropriately named “Peake,” became Chessie’s “Old Man,” and a calendar featuring Chessie, Peake, and their first family of two kittens was issued. Each picture was a reproduction from an original Gruenwald print.

Jul 9, 2011 · Are you familiar with the Chessie kitten? Beginning in 1933, she was the symbol of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad. If you're interested, here's a link with Chessie's history.

In the 40’s, “Chessie” advertisements even showed her husband, “Peake”. “Chessie” and “Peake” even had some unnamed kittens in the ads. When the new holding company was looking for a name and logo, the “Chessie System” title won out and …

This is a revised and update edition of Chessie, The Railroad Kitten. Featuring color throughout the book, this is the unusual story of how the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway adopted the image of a sleeping kitten as its advertising symbol in 1933.