Shelly the Whale first appeared on Los Angeles County lifeguard towers in the early 1970’s. Named after a lifeguard who had successfully cut a grey whale free from the line of a fishing net, Shelly also appeared in coloring books and safety posters, promoting not only beach safety, but also a concern for the environment. His tail features the design from the Ecology Flag, created to celebrate the first Earth Day in 1970.

Shelly was displayed on each of the 155 Lifeguard towers until the early 1980’s, when the County began seeking advertising and sponsorship dollars for tower signage.

I was working in Venice as a young lifeguard the day that were taking Shelly off the towers. I asked what they were going to do with the sign from my tower. The maintenance worker said “I don’t know. You want it?”

I did, and have had it ever since…

- Steve Moseley

18” X 48” Print on Birch 1/2” Birch Plywood