Mr. Peanut facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mr. Peanut |
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|---|---|
| Planters character | |
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| First appearance | 1916 |
| Created by | Antonio Gentile |
| Voiced by | Robert Downey Jr. (2010–2013) Bill Hader (2013–2017) Keith Ferguson (2020–present) |
| Company | Planters |
| Information | |
| Species | A. hypogaea |
| Gender | Male |
| Occupation | Mascot, gentleman, hero |
Mr. Peanut is the advertising logo and mascot of Planters, an American snack-food company owned by Hormel. He is depicted as an anthropomorphic peanut in its shell, wearing the formal clothing of an old-fashioned gentleman, with a top hat, monocle, white gloves, spats, and cane. He is reportedly of British heritage and has the proper name of Bartholomew Richard Fitzgerald-Smythe.
History
Planters Peanut Company was founded in 1906 in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania by Amedeo Obici, and incorporated two years later as the Planters Nut and Chocolate Company. In 1916, a young schoolboy, Antonio Gentile submitted drawings of an anthropomorphic peanut to a design contest. When his design was chosen, commercial artist Andrew S. Wallach added the monocle, top hat and cane to create the iconic image. Gentile's family originally received five dollars for winning the contest. Obici befriended them and paid Antonio’s, and four of his siblings', way through college. After Obici paid Antonio's way through medical school as well, Antonio became a doctor in Newport News, where he died of a heart attack in 1939.
There is a disputed claim that Frank P. Krize Sr., a Wilkes-Barre artist and head of the Suffolk plant, made the additions of the monocle, top hat and cane. Wallach's daughter, Virginia, maintains that Krize joined the project after Mr. Peanut was created. However, neither Planters' history nor other sources still in circulation positively identify the artist.
By the mid-1930s, the raffish figure had come to symbolise the entire peanut industry. Mr. Peanut has appeared on almost every Planters package and advertisement, and is one of the best-known icons in advertising history. He has appeared in many TV commercials as an animated cartoon character. More recent commercials have shown him stop-motion animated in a real-world setting.
In 2006, Planters held an online contest to determine whether to add a bow tie, cufflinks or pocketwatch to Mr. Peanut. The public voted for no changes.
While the character's television commercials were often accompanied by an accented narrator, Mr. Peanut never had dialogue. On November 8, 2010, Planters announced that actor Robert Downey Jr. would become Mr. Peanut's first-ever voice actor.
In 2011, Mr. Peanut's "stunt double", Peanut Butter Doug, was introduced to tie in with the Planter's Peanut Butter launch. The character is voiced by Kevin Dillon.
On July 1, 2013, Planters cast comedian and Saturday Night Live alumnus Bill Hader as the voice for a campaign focusing on its Planters Nut-rition product line.
In 2017, the Virginia General Assembly passed a joint resolution commending Mr. Peanut.
In 2018, Mr. Peanut was once again revamped, albeit for the first time since 2009, and became silent again.
In popular culture
- The artist Vincent Trasov, dressed as Mr. Peanut, ran as a joke candidate in the 1974 Vancouver, British Columbia civic elections.
- The Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery holds a large collection of Mr. Peanut memorabilia and items from this campaign in their archives.
- In the Netflix series F Is for Family, Maureen dressed up as Mr. Peanut for Halloween.
