One of These Things Is Not Like the Others

You recall perhaps the full-size rubber mask of the mystery half-wit? Well, here he is again, as a hand-puppet, inexplicably consorting with legit Disney characters. The manufacturers must have loved that design.

Original ad here.

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Alex Boese Alex is the creator and curator of the Museum of Hoaxes. He's also the author of various weird, non-fiction, science-themed books such as Elephants on Acid and Psychedelic Apes. Paul Di Filippo Paul has been paid to put weird ideas into fictional form for over forty years, in his career as a noted science fiction writer. Contact Us

Posted By: Paul - Tue Oct 28, 2014
Category: Beauty, Ugliness and Other Aesthetic Issues | Puppets and Automatons | Advertising | Comics | 1940s

Comments

The advert reads like a plot outline for a Garland / Rooney movie.

Posted by KDP on 10/28/14 at 09:23 AM

More fun than a puppy?? Really??

Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 10/28/14 at 10:16 AM

I can't believe these were authorized by Disney.

Posted by Phideaux on 10/28/14 at 05:30 PM

Hand puppets not authorized by Disney? Why not? Back in the dark ages (you know, before TV and the interweb) puppets were pretty much a staple in the toy box. I remember having one or two in the early 50's and this ad came out of the 40's when kids were encouraged to be inventive and make their own fun.

Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 10/29/14 at 01:13 AM

I'm sure they sold hand puppets but not bad ones with lousy ads. After the war, Disney started to go all out with high-end (and high price tag) merchandising. He wanted to tap into the "you grew up with this, now buy it for your kids" market with their deep wallets.

Posted by Phideaux on 10/29/14 at 02:23 AM

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