Illustration of a raisin with arms and legs wearing blue and white tennis shoes and an orange and white football helment and holding a football with blue and black text on a white background

The California Raisins are a fictional rhythm and blues musical group created in 1987 by the California Raisin Advisory Board as a promotional gimmick for Sun-Maid Raisins. When the California Raisins characters were not performing in their band, they were busy in other activities, including playing football. The newly-christened California Raisin Bowl was held in 1990 after the California Raisin Advisory Board acquired naming rights for the California Bowl.

Illustration of a row raisins with arms and legs one wearing orange sunglasses and orange and white tennis shoes the others wearing blue and white tennis shoes with blue and black text on a white background

The California Raisins are a fictional rhythm and blues musical group created in 1987 by the California Raisin Advisory Board as a promotional gimmick for Sun-Maid Raisins.The commercials utilized claymation to deliver performances by anthropomorphized raisins. These ads gained enough popularity to produce merchandise and promotion through tie-ins such as Hardee’s Cinnamon ‘N’ Raisin biscuits and Post Raisin Bran cereal. Buddy Miles was responsible for lead vocals, singing tunes such as “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” a revival of Marvin Gaye’s 1968 hit.

Illustration of Mickey Mouse with black text around the outer edge on a white background

In the 1930s, several buttons featuring the popular Disney character Mickey Mouse were created by bakeries to promote various kinds of bread, including Cote's Master Loaf and Freihofer Special Loaf. Walt Disney Enterprises was the division of The Walt Disney Company responsible for merchandising and licensing the Mickey Mouse image between 1930 and 1939.

Illustration of Jimmy Carter with a large grin and a yellow hat, wearing blue overalls on a green background with black text

The image on the button is based off of the cover image of a cartoon caricature of Jimmy Carter on the July 19th, 1976 issue of Newsweek magazine. Before entering politics Carter owned and operated a small, commercial peanut farm. This was a popular talking point for his campaign strategy to paint him as a salt of the earth, hard-working American. He would go on to win the 1976 election on a unique platform of morality and wholesomeness that is rarely seen among politicians.  

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Newsweek-July-19-1976-The-Coming-of-Carter-/122264070317

Illustration of Olive Oyl and Popeye in a white heart on a red background

Popeye the sailor and Olive Oyl are cartoon characters created by C. E. Segar. Olive Oyl was first introduced in 1919 as the main character in the comic strip Thimble Theatre but with Popeye’s introduction in 1929 the comic was renamed Popeye. The two are portrayed as a loving couple challenged by Popeye’s rival Bluto. Throughout the comics Popeye must fight to defend his girlfriend’s honor. The couple has appeared in comic books, comic strips and movie shorts. In 1980, "Popeye the Movie" was released, starring Robin Williams and Shelly Duvall.

Pink and white text on an orange and white background

“Mary Poppins is a U.F.O.” was part of Royal Crown/RC Cola’s “Mad, Mad Taste” commercial campaign of the 1960s. Royal Crown Cola was developed in 1905 by pharmacist Claude Hatcher and boasted many soda industry firsts including the use of an aluminum “pop-top” can and the first diet cola product, called Diet Rite. In the 1950s, RC Cola became popularly known in the American South as “the working man’s lunch” when paired with a Moon Pie. The official slogan for RC Cola in 1967 became, "RC Cola – The One with the Mad, Mad Taste!”. Promotion for the beverage was achieved through television spots and a special starring the popular singer, Nancy Sinatra, who performed a song containing the cola’s new slogan. 

White text on a red background

Saint Nicholas was a monk who was born in the 3rd century in modern-day Turkey. He was said to have given away all his inherited wealth to the poor and sick as he traveled. Over the years he became the patron saint of children, and was celebrated on the anniversary of his death, December 6. 

In America, Saint Nicholas first became popular in New York City in the late 1700s, which at that time still had a strong Dutch culture. The name Santa Claus evolved out of the Dutch nickname for Saint Nicholas, “Sinter Klass.” Short stories and poems in the 1800s began to popularize his magical image of how we picture him today.

Illustration of Olive Oyl with her hands on Popeye's shoulders and a red heart on a white background

Popeye the sailor and Olive Oyl are cartoon characters created by C. E. Segar. Olive Oyl was first introduced in 1919 as the main character in the comic strip Thimble Theatre but with Popeye’s introduction in 1929 the comic was renamed Popeye. The two are portrayed as a loving couple challenged by Popeye’s rival Bluto. Throughout the comics Popeye must fight to defend his girlfriend’s honor. The couple has appeared in comic books, comic strips and movie shorts. In 1980, "Popeye the Movie" was released, starring Robin Williams and Shelly Duvall.

Black and white photograph of a man standing next to a horse on a yellow background with a white banner with black text

Roy Rogers was an actor who starred in over 100 movies with his horse Trigger. Known as the “Singing Cowboy,” he and his wife Dale Evans had their own television series. Their song Happy Trails, is considered to be one of the top 100 western songs in history. Rogers and Trigger made many personal appearances. It was not unusual to see Trigger being led up 3-4 flights of stairs in hospitals to visit sick children. After Trigger's death, he was stuffed and put on display at the Roy Rogers museum.

Black and white photograph of a man standing next to a white horse on a white background with black text on a white banner

Hopalong Cassidy was first introduced as a cowboy hero in a novel written by Clarence Mulford in 1904. Then in the 1930's and 40’s, he was portrayed by silent movie star William Boyd. Boyd portrayed Cassidy as a good guy, helpful, honest, and a friend to everyone he met. He didn't kiss girls, drink or smoke and always caught the villains. Boyd was so well liked in this role, he received over 15,000 fan letters each week. At the age of 60, Boyd finally hung up his guns and retired from show business.