Mr. Peanut
From Free net encyclopedia
Image:Mr peanut.png Mr. Peanut is the advertising logo and mascot of Planters, an American snack-food company. He consists of a drawing of a peanut in its shell dressed in the formal clothing of an old-fashioned gentleman: a top hat, monocle, white gloves, spats, and a cane.
Mr. Peanut is based on a drawing by a Virginia schoolboy, Antonio Gentile, who won a US$5 prize in a 1916 contest for his "little peanut person". The mascot made its debut in 1918, in The Saturday Evening Post.
Symbolism
According to the company, Mr. Peanut's hat, monocle, cane and shoes symbolize fresh taste. The gloves do not symbolize anything, Mr. Peanut simply likes them.
Trivia
In 1974, the Canadian conceptual artist Vincent Trasov ran for the office of mayor of the city of Vancouver, British Columbia in the guise of Mr. Peanut. He wore a full peanut costume, with top hat, monocle, gloves, spats and cane and did nothing but tap-dance at the all-candidates meetings. He garnered less than four percent of the vote.