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Help me on this one. How did the tradition of show themes and covers get started? And, does this tradition serve any real purpose for today's local club shows?

After considerable thought, I've come up with the following positive aspects:

A theme provides an angle for media publicity directed toward the non-collecting public.

Theme artwork helps to dress up publicity fliers.

The theme could generate exhibits from those who collect material related to the topic. For national-level shows, the theme might serve to demonstrate support for specialty group conventions hosted by the show. A theme depicted within a pictorial postmark design involves the show with recording social history. An approved postmark in turn ensures that the Postal Service will be on site with a substation.

A cover serves as a record of club history, and cover sales might generate extra income for the show.

The presence of a theme and cover reflects show vigor. It appears these elements have become so entrenched in show structure that their absence is often construed that the annual event is beginning to falter.

Do you agree that these are worthy reasons to maintain tradition, or is it all just a lot of hoopla?