These little guys later went on to launch a sensational career for themselves! Combined with more TV ads, and even a music album, The California Raisins Sing the Hit Songs, the Raisins’ images were everywhere, and a cultural phenomenon was born.
People loved the singing, dancing Claymation raisins, so much that more commercials followed, and -- in a marketing scheme that was virtually unheard of at the time -- The California Raisins went on to release four albums, score a Billboard Hot 100 hit, and earn an Emmy nomination (and appear in an Emmy-winning show)!
It was the first time in history that a mere commercial had spawned such a tremendous volume of merchandise! Perhaps the most memorable piece of California Raisins merchandise, however, came in 1987 in the form of small, non-poseable California Raisins figures. The Hardee's restaurant chain offered these as part of a promotion for their Cinnamon 'N' Raisin biscuits.
Hardee's offered four different figures to customers for only $.99 each -- Tiny Goodbite (the singer), Justin X. Grape (blue shoed dancer), Ben Indasun (orange shoed dancer), and Saxophone Player (the...uh....saxophone player).
I remember these guys came out when I was in the 11th grade and my best friend and I would stop in for breakfast at Hardee's most mornings before school. We both ended up getting a set... I still have mine. Lets take a closer look at them:
What are your memories of the California Raisins? Did you collect them or any other promotional toys? Lets hear your story in the comments below.
I remember these. So cool. I remember having one or two but don't remember getting them at Hardee's. We never went to Hardee's. I must have sourced it in some other way. The campaign was so creative and clever though. Definitely hit a chord with a lot of people.
ReplyDeleteI was over at Spydey's blog where he post a pic of one of these guys and it reminded me I had them. I've been meaning to do an adventure with them for a while and this spurred me on. I found the guys on a shelf in the bedroom all covered in dust and cobwebs! Poor guys. I had to clean them up a bit before I could take pics of them...
DeleteThere were quite a few of these. I don't remember if Hardee's released more sets or if they were available elsewhere, but I'm pretty sure I had one with a surfboard and one with a skateboard. I may have had all four of the ones you have pictured, but I know I at least had the sax player and singer. I miss these types of promotions that fast food restaurants used to run! The same goes for cereal and bread promotions! I used to eat at restaurants that I didn't like and buy cereal that I wouldn't usually buy just to get the cool toys, so the promotions certainly worked!
ReplyDeleteHardee's actually did two more promotions after this one and the surfboard guy was part of the second promotion. I used to have him at one time. He was the only one that I got from any of Hardee's other promotions for these.
DeleteDuring my research for this adventure I actually found that Kentucky Fried Chicken did a promotion with California Raisin figures similar to these.
I remember stopping by Hardee's for Breakfast in 1987 and bought a happy meal for my daughter and I collected all of them. I still have these guys😎👍
ReplyDeleteWow!!! I was excited to read that some folks still have these little guys! I think I have about 12 of them and I too just loved the commercials from back in the day!!! For me this a treasured memory of when life seemed easier and a lot more fun!
ReplyDeleteI love these raisin guys!! I have 13 and all are from Hardee’s back in the day. Does anyone know how many different raisin guys Hardee’s actually put out? Does anyone have pictures? I know I’m missing a couple and would really like to find out which ones.
ReplyDeleteAnyone know how many different raisins there are in total for 1 collection? Variations? Trying to start a collection but most people that sell a “lot” have different numbers. Thank you!
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