Wacky Packages - 'Oh, not those damn stickers again!"

[flippyshark]

Hey, this is my 100th post! And for a topic, I have chosen:

WACKY PACKAGES

Did any of you collect these back in the day? From about 7 to 9 years of age, I thought these were the greatest. I found the artwork fascinating, though even as a kid, I had to admit that the humor was often lacking. It didn't matter to me. These were a blast to collect, and to stick in odd places where they would irritate my Mom. (This and MAD Magazine were her big nemeses during my childhood.)

Anyhow, at Target this afternoon, I saw that Wacky Packages are back, and I bought a few packs. They are spoofing much more up-to-date products now. I am the proud owner of stickers for:
SNORITO'S - "chips so boring they'll put you to sleep"
GOODBYE KITTY - rotting plush doll
FINAL STEP EXPLODING CAT LITTER
PIG NEWTONS - Pork chop cookies
GHOUL WHIP - haunted topping
and my favorite
MARSHMALLOW CREEPS - juvenile delinquent marshmallow chicks (They're in a little yellow box from the "Born Bad' candy company.)

Okay, the jokes are still pretty rotten, but these are fun. Looking at them creates an interesting effect of "recognition." ("Oh! It's PEEPS!" But it's not.) In a strange way, these cards remind me of how ingrained and iconic packaging is, and how much we love consumer goods. These dumb parodies are a tribute to the success of whoever designed and promoted the original products. They're also just slightly subversive, in a thoroughly non-threatening way. (Much like MAD used to be.)

I may have to pick up a few more packs just for giggles.

See 'em for yourself. Treat your inner ten year old. (http://www.wackypackages.org)

[MouseWife]

I think I remember getting these in Wonderbread...

I LOVE these! Or Garbage Pail Kids? I still have my collection..... :blush:

Mad Magazine. Ah, still a favorite of mine. 'What? Me worry?' is still my motto. :D Okay, one of them.

Oh gosh. Tell me, is your humor colored with what you learned from Mad? People give me a look like I'm an illiterate when I say 'Who'd a thunk it?'

The other 'staple' of my youth was National Lampoon.

Thanks for the link. I'll have to go and check it out...

[flippyshark]

Ah, National Lampoon. My brother bought those, and mom had conniptions. MAD was bad enough, but NL had naked people and many dirty words. I used to sneak into my brother's room to read them when he wasn't around. Those definitely had an effect on my world view, for better or worse.

I currently have every issue of MAD from its inception in 1955 to about 1998, all on CD-ROM. It's a great "time machine" - I can look back at an issue and immediately remember where I lived and what I was up to at the time it came out. Much of the artwork of older issues acts as a sort of Proustian memory-jarring device, so I really do treasure those CD's. ("A la recherche du stupidite perdue")

[Boss Radio]

SLAYTEX GLOVES
HEINZ BAKED BEARS
CRUST TOOTHPASTE

You know what else will take you back?

Odd Rods.

Remember those?

Hot rods a la Big Daddy Roth with drooling monsterheads behind the wheel.

Kinda makes you teary eyed...

[Motorboat Cruiser]

I definitely remember Wacky Packages. I defaced a few items of furniture in my day with them. I'm thinking it was around 1975 that I was into them.

Wow, blast from the past. Thanks for the link! :)

[Cadaverous Pallor]

I admit to having know prior knowledge of these. Just like MouseWife, I see those and the first thing I think of is Garbage Pail Kids (http://www.garbagepailkidsworld.com/). I was a serious collector of these as a kid, did lots of trading. It's one of very few fads that I actually followed. Too bad I gave them to my younger brother, who peeled off all the stickers. :mad: :( I wish I still had those.

[€uroMeinke]

I had several Wacky-Package T-shirts in the day - Long live marketing and brand recognition!

[mousepod]

I loved Wacky Packs! For the nostalgiac (and those too young to remember them), check out this fantastic site: http://www.wacky-packs.com/

[MouseWife]

flippyshark~Ah, I guess I was lucky that my mom is from Mexico and didn't bother to see what I was reading. Probably just looked like comics... :evil:

Motorboat Cruiser~ Egads! I also remember many items of furniture and closet doors that ended up graced with such art work!!! And the ice cream truck, as well......

Boss Radio~ Odd Rods, I think I remember those, big buggy eyes?

CP~ Oh the shame to have to admit this~ I was an ADULT hanging around the bubblegum aisle buying packs of Garbage Pail Kids...I traded with my nephews' friends...They said to me 'Isn't your daughter a little young for these?' {she was about 1} I had to laugh and say "They are for ME!!!"I NEVER stuck one anywhere. Dang, I know I have tons of extras...somewhere...I have one collection in a book...

Chris {damnit, I have the 'E' key now but I don't now how to use it and I don't know if my keyboard is recognized to do it either...I digress} I have on my Bazooka shirt right now. Not what you mean exactly but I am enjoying the resurgence of these types, I also have a Slinky one, too.

mousepod~thanks for the link...I'll have a kick showing my kids!

Ah, those were the days!!! :snap:

[Matterhorn Fan]

"FINAL STEP EXPLODING CAT LITTER"

Yeah, that one certainly says something about how much we love consumer goods. Or dislike cats.

Are there any corn dog Wacky Packages? (OK, so I typed that question, deleted it, and then put it right back. :rolleyes: )

I, too, collected Garbage Pail Kids. I had (or have, maybe), the entire 3rd series. Then they started getting really disgusting and not fun/ny anymore.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

I, too, collected Garbage Pail Kids. I had (or have, maybe), the entire 3rd series. Then they started getting really disgusting and not fun/ny anymore.The third series was when the whole fad peaked. I had every card in the third series, they were extremely common. Everyone was trying to get stuff from the first series, much more hard to come by. I believe I had nearly all of the 4th, and most of the 5th, but by the 6th the art got really cheap - even a 4th grader could tell they were crappier.

My school eventually banned the trading of the cards, but by then, it was fading out anyway.

http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Station/9622/imgc46.jpg

[cirquelover]

Wow, a blast from the past! I loved wacky packages, I may just have to go buy some. I'm sure my son would get a big kick out of them. My brother and I saved them but we put the extras on my hope chest, boy was mom mad when she found out!

I remember the Odd Rods too, my brother was heavily into those. I liked some of them but some creeped me out so I didn't have a big collection of them.

Mad magazine was a staple in my house growing up, my brother had a subscription forever, at least he was a nice bro and shared with his little sister!

Now I feel really old though! Thanks for the blast from the past.

[Boss Radio]

http://www.oddrods.com/index.html

[MouseWife]

I, too, collected Garbage Pail Kids. I had (or have, maybe), the entire 3rd series. Then they started getting really disgusting and not fun/ny anymore.

I agree that they changed. Hmm. I need to find mine and see what I have. I should have the first series but I think I am missing a few. I think I have part of the second series. Dang, makes me think.... :D

[dsnylndmom]

Oh God I LOVED Wacky Packs!! I had toooooons of those!

Mad Magazine too, Spy Vs Spy loved it! My brother came out this weekend to FINALLY see my new house and he brought some Mad Magazines for the boys, well for Kyler and he DIDN"T LIKE THEM!! :( something seriously wrong with that kid.

CP~I didn't collect Garbage Pail kids but Cynthia did, my sister in law. In fact, I think she still has a portion of her collection.

[MouseWife]

Mad Magazine too, Spy Vs Spy loved it! My brother came out this weekend to FINALLY see my new house and he brought some Mad Magazines for the boys, well for Kyler and he DIDN"T LIKE THEM!! :( something seriously wrong with that kid.


I am SO glad that I am not the only parent who feels that way at times....

And, the relief that I felt when my kids 'found' Mad magazine. And Led Zeppelin....And thank my stars my chickie loves coffee!!!

[dsnylndmom]

I am SO glad that I am not the only parent who feels that way at times....

And, the relief that I felt when my kids 'found' Mad magazine. And Led Zeppelin....And thank my stars my chickie loves coffee!!!
He redeemed himself, somewhat, last night with a new found love for the Bad News Bears movie, the original. Now if he likes Escape from Witch Mountain then he's back in my good graces! ;)