AN ORIGINAL POSTER FROM MORTIMER'S

Mortimer's Restaurant was opened by Glenn Bernbaum in 1976 at Lexington Avenue and 75th, and for several decades was an institution for the Upper East Side glitterati before finally closing in 1998. Mario Buatta dined there frequently, where he liked to indulge in his trademark practical jokes. This poster references Zip the Chimp, who became somewhat of a media celebrity in New York in the 1980s, and famously had a boxing match with Mario Buatta when they were on the yacht of Buatta's client Malcolm Forbes. The poster depicts the owner Bernbaum towering above a table presided by Mario Buatta and Zip, flanked by Malcolm Forbes and Billy Norwich on his right and Joan Rivers on his left.

Mario also famously took Zip to attend a performance of Peggy Lee at the Ballroom at 28th St & Eighth Avenue. Mario had long been a great fan and friend of the singer and would make a point of attending every one of her concerts when she was in town. The event was recorded in the New York Times of 7 July 1986, who reported Zip would applaud and blow kisses to Ms Lee after every number. It was observed that the singer was 'slightly flustered by the animal's presence until she got used to him' - a remark that some might argue could also have applied to Mario Buatta.