Large purple text on a black background.

Promotional item created to coincide with the 1982 release of the popular film "E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial". This was given out at a secret pre-view of the movie before it was released. The film was directed and produced by Steven Spielberg and tells the story of a young boy who befriends an alien stranded on earth and helps him return home. E.T. was the highest-grossing film of 1982, and remains among the highest-grossing films of all time.

White, red, and blue text on blue and white background with a small red star below. Red band on outer edge of button with white text on bottom portion. 

In 1994, talk radio DJ Howard Stern won the Libertarian Party nomination for the New York state governor's race. When he declined to release his financial information as required by law, he left the running and backed Republican candidate George Pataki, who won the election. Pataki later signed into law "The Howard Stern Bill" which enacted several of the items on Stern's platform, including one that limited construction on state roads in New York City and Long Island to night hours.

Black and white photograph on green background of actor William Boyd as the film character Hopalong Cassidy. Black text along button portion of button. 

Hopalong Cassidy was a cowboy hero character created by Clarence E. Mulford in 1904. The character was featured in film, television, novels, radio, comic books, and even a short-lived 1950s theme park in Los Angeles. Hopalong traveled with his horse, Topper, and two companions. 

Originally a white background (now the celluloid has turned yellow) with black text and a very detailed illustration of a white-haired and bearded Henry W. Longfellow. 

Part of a series that celebrated poets, these were given out by Pepsin Gum with purchases.

Born in 1807, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was an American poet and translator. He was one of the so-called Fireside Poets, a small group of American poets who rivaled their British counterparts and earned their name due to their popularity as many people read their works next to their fireplaces. One of his most famous works is "The Song of Hiawatha," an epic poem written in 1855. 

Green, black, and red color image of the character Gumby on white background.

Gumby is a green clay humanoid figure with a 233-episode TV show. Shorts of the "Gumby" show ran from 1956 until 1968 on NBC. The series, created by Art Clokey, was done with stop-motion clay animation, and featured Gumby and his sidekick Pokey, an orange horse. It was briefly revived in 1988, with the original shorts being reaired as well as new material featuring new characters. Gumby and Pokey became well known characters, and merchandise included the popular rubber bendable dolls. They were also featured in Library of Congress television ads in 1994-1995.

Shows Mogwai in one view and Gremlin in another, with the title "It's All Here" posted above the image and the Gremlins and Hardee's logos beneath.

As a tie-in with the release of the movie, the restaurant chain Hardee's offered a record-storybook set in a series of 5. This button was worn by employees of Hardee's to promote the tie-in.

Black & white photo of actor Bob Denver as Gilligan from the TV show Gilligan's Island, wearing a sailor's hat and saluting.

Gilligan's Island was an American TV show which aired from 1964 to 1967 on CBS. The sitcom followed the adventures of seven castaways as they try and escape from the island where they are shipwrecked - led by the bumbling crewman Gilligan, played by actor Bob Denver. The show became even more well known as it was syndicated in the 1970s and 1980s, with the recognizable theme song "The Ballad of Gilligan's Isle".

Black background with white ghost with red international "No" sign over ghost. White text on bottom right and bottom left of button.

In 1984, Ghostbusters was a sensation, and people still know the response to "Who you gonna call?" (Ghostbusters!). The screenplay was written by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis, inspired by Aykroyd's interest in the paranormal. The lead characters, played by Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis, save New York City from ghosts.

The first image is an illustration of a watermelon on a stool and a man in a striped shirt raising a sledgehammer, with "Gallagher" written in script above the melon. Second image is of the man smashing the sledgehammer onto the stool, with pieces of the watermelon and the text flying into the air. Both images are in black on a white background.

Leo Gallagher is an American comedian who performed frequently during the 1970s and 80s. He is famous for smashing watermelons on stage as part of his act.

Photograph of Evel Knievel standing on the seat of a motorcycle doing a wheelie. "Evel" is written in black script in the upper right corner of the button.

Evel Knievel (1938-2007) was an American daredevil who was world famous in the 1970s for his motorcycle jumps and stunts. His longest jump was in 1975, over 14 buses at Kings Island in Ohio. He was also famous for his red, white and blue leather motorcycle gear and matching cape. During his career he survived 433 broken bones. His last jump was in 1981.