Notes: Since their launch in 1965, the Funny Face guys have entered the pantheon of America's favorite advertising characters. They were designed by Pillsbury to clobber General Foods Kool Aid, a rival line of powdered-drink mixes. Instead of one smiling-face pitcher character, as Kool Aid had, Pillsbury came up with a gaggle of advertising critters -- one for each fruit flavor.
Driven by hilarious TV commercials, which developed each rolly-polly personality to the hilt, Funny Face characters became incredibly popular in the '60s and '70s. Toy premiums brought home this excitement. By returning drink-packet labels to the manufacturer, kids got to play with Funny Face wind-up walkers, comic books, pitchers, iron-ons and plastic mugs.
