1940-1942 - Carioca Cocktail

October 1941 saw the British Red Cross partner the Brazilian Red Cross in a major fun- and fund-raising effort entitled the Carioca Cocktail. The opening scene, featuring 150 members of the community, transformed the stage of the Theatro Municipal into a replica of Piccadilly Circus.

Walt Disney had recently passed through the city and his contribution was the cover of the programme. Although the green parrot Zé Carioca, (or Joe Carioca as he is also known) would only make his film debut a year later, along with his pal Donald Duck in the 1942 Saludos Amigos, here he is on the cover of the programme, in an early form. A maiden performance by the cheeky green parrot who’s always got most of the answers, and all of the charm. So like a carioca.