FREE MONSTERS - Premiums & Give-A-Ways

[Monsters For Sale]

Yeah, but they weren't FREE.

Any topic that is around this long gets waylaid by someone.

This one stayed on topic for a long time.

[WnewCreatureFeatures]

Yeah, but they weren't FREE.

In a way they were , when I want to the FM convention in the 70s I bought a few FM back issues from a dealer there who bundled a free poster with the issues so the item was a free monster item for me

[Monsters For Sale]

This 16 oz. monsters cup was issued by Pepsi with Ponderosa Restaurant.  Manufactured by Louisiana Plastics, Inc. - St. Louis, MO, it glows in the dark and features 6 VERY stylized monsters.





From stage right to left, There are the Invisible Man, Creature, Bride, Frankenstein, Wolf man and the Mummy.  (Mummy looks a little greyer in person.)

Sad note:  Even when the monsters were so wildly stylized, they STILL did not include Dracula. 

The triangular design above the Invisible One's shoulder is a logo combining the one with Universal monsters in front of a circle and the one for Universal Studios Hollywood & Florida. 

Anyone know what Ponderosa Restaurant is represented here and where?

What year these were made?

Here is the only other freebie cup I have ever seen that embraced this unpopular graphic.  It was done by Pepsi for the Sizzler restaurant chain.







Still don't know the exact year these were used.

[Monsters For Sale]

There is one other example of the graphic used in the 2 cups above.  But this one was used in hard plastic cup complete with handle and lid.

The best info I can find indicates that it might have been sold at the Universal park in 1991.  If so, that would mean it was NOT a freebie.  But I have been unable to get definite information confirming this. Could be true, since I don't see a restaurant chain name anywhere on this one.

Anyone know for sure?







It is one of those borderline quality items that might have been a freebie, since the only other 2 examples were...

[Mike Scott]

Still don't know the exact year these were used.

They used those same lame graphics on Pepsi/Mt. Dew products in 1991.

[Monsters For Sale]

They used those same lame graphics on Pepsi/Mt. Dew products in 1991.

Cool.

[Mike Scott]

Very similar art. Also used at the parks. Maybe free with a drink?

[Monsters For Sale]

Very similar art. Also used at the parks. Maybe free with a drink?

Yeah.  Anything that lacks the name of a restaurant chain or convenience store I figure must have been used in the park.  Those were definitely freebies.

[aura of foreboding]

They used those same lame graphics on Pepsi/Mt. Dew products in 1991.

I do not believe these were released in 1991.  I think they came out later. 

[WnewCreatureFeatures]

Frankenberry

[WnewCreatureFeatures]

Count Chockula

[WnewCreatureFeatures]

Boo Berry

[WnewCreatureFeatures]

Others

Fruit Brute




Fruity Yummy Mummy

[Mike Scott]

I do not believe these were released in 1991.  I think they came out later.

You're right. It was 1993.

[Monsters For Sale]

You're right. It was 1993.

Nice to see how they improved the artwork each year, huh?