Thursday, March 29, 2007

Mr. Peanut Slumber Party

One of the more unusual items to feature Mr. Peanut's likeness is this sleeping bag shown in a 1981 J.C. Penney catalog. The bag itself is a replica of the single-serving Planter's Peanuts package.


One has to wonder how popular this choice was when faced with the competing Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Empire Strikes Back bags. However, I for one, would have given anything to have this slumber bag. Unfortunately, I already had a sleeping bag, the fabric of which is shown below. It featured not the sophisticated Mr. Peanut, but childish Sprout, the Green Giant's young helper.


Sprout doing sprout-like activities

Sprout heading off to school

Sprout tucked into his pea pod bed


This sleeping bag was a premium received for sending in a large number of Green Giant labels. Looking at this now, you probably wish you had one as a child. But believe it or not, I was not the envy of my friends. They seemed to like their Barbie and Wonder Woman bags just fine. Eventually I would upgrade to Garfield and Sprout would be handed down (Sorry Curly Wurly, no Care Bears or Strawberry Shortcake for you!). Alas, the Mr. Peanut sleeping bag would never be mine, but at least I still have the 26-year-old catalog page.

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