Origin[]
Summary[]
Mr. Peanut is an anthropomorphic peanut.
Appearance[]
He wears a top hat, shoes, white gloves, black tights, and a monocle. He usually carries a cane.
Behind the scenes[]
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.
Public Domain appearances[]
- Gentile's original drawing (1916)
- Planters Peanuts advertisement (1916)
- "Introducing Mr Peanut" - Commercial art from The Day (New London, CT) July 24, 1917
- Mr Peanut Planters Peanuts Trademark Registration Certificate May 28, 1918
- Planters Pennant Brand Salted Peanuts Commercial Art from 1921
- Advertising for Mr. Peanut's Store on October 21, 1927
- "Mr. Peanut goes to war" - Mr. Peanut Propaganda Advertisement of Second World War (1941-1945)
- "Beat big business" Poster by the American Communist Party, 1975
Gallery[]
.jpg "Planters Pennant Salted Peanuts Advertisement - NARA - 23806751 (page 2).jpg (1.04 MB)")
_president_%26_Tyner_(for)_Vice-President_LCCN2016647136.tif.jpg "Lossy-page1-852px-Beat big business - vote Communist - Hall (for) president & Tyner (for) Vice-President LCCN2016647136.tif.jpg (274 KB)")
Copyright[]
All works featuring Mr. Peanut that were published before January 1, 1929 are in the public domain in the US. "Mr. Peanut" is still trademarked however, so he can only be used within a work of fiction and not to market a unrelated brand.
In case there are later works, it is because It was created by the United States Federal Government, which makes it Public Domain or it was published without a copyright notice between 1929 and 1977 (And 1978 and 1989) in the US.
See also[]
- Pitcher Man