Gag Criticism, Variation, and Packaging

[Gurgle]

Since the name is Crust and it rots teeth, it might have worked to have it be frosting.

Diecuts #12 - Crust

Crust
Garlic Flavor
Tooth Paste
Tastes Lousy
Brush teeth twice a month

Real Product
Crest
Fluoristan
Toothpaste
Large Size

The gags here are stretching from the original product, but they are good.

[Swiski]

Since the name is Crust and it rots teeth, it might have worked to have it be frosting.

Yeah, garlic wouldn't do much damage to teeth. "Frosting Flavor" or maybe "Cement tooth paste" would be better supporting text for a product called "Crust" which would destroy your teeth.

[Gurgle]

Come to think of it, crust is for pie and frosting is for cake, so I'm not sure that makes sense after all.

Since the name is Crust and it rots teeth, it might have worked to have it be frosting.

[NationalSpittoon]

Diecuts #13 - Kook Aid

Kook Aid
Instant soft drink mix (up)
2 Quarts will drive you kooky

Real product
Kool Aid
Instant Soft Drink - Add sugar
Makes 2 Quarts
Grape Imitation Flavor

[BustedFinger]

I've always said that Crust is the most iconic Wacky to me.  I think it is a perfect gag for a toothpaste parody and they only had to change one letter of the product name! Also the fact that it was on the Original Series wrappers made it special.  Whenever I explain to someone what Wacky Packages are, I always use "Crust instead of Crest" as an example.

[sco(o)t]

Diecuts #13 - Kook Aid

Kook Aid
Instant soft drink mix (up)
2 Quarts will drive you kooky

Real product
Kool Aid
Instant Soft Drink - Add sugar
Makes 2 Quarts
Grape Imitation Flavor

Like CRUST, this is one I always considered an iconic WP. Another simple one letter replacement in the name. The kid fishing in the pitcher always makes me smile. The kooky, mixed-up face on the pitcher ties this one all together nicely. (I always thought that smiling face wiped in the pitcher perspiration on the actual Kool-Aid packet was one of those instances of marketing genius).  One of my favorite 5 Wackies of all time. This is another product we consumed in mass quantities at my household. I think my mother was brainwashed into believing that sugar was good for us. Few things can transport me back to being 10 years old like a packet of Kool-Aid, or a Kook-Aid sticker.

[jaylynch]

It was thru this ish of Cracked mag that we all got together and did fanzines as kids.  Paul Laikin was editor, and he wrote this piece.  Later he worked on the Wacky stuff with us and so a few of the basic old Cracked gags are repeated on Wackys years later.  http://www.lostwackys.com/Wacky-Packages/1st-series/1st-series-Camals-r.htm

[NationalSpittoon]

Diecuts #14 - Alcohol Seltzer

Get drunk with
Alcohol Seltzer
Hic Hic

Real product
Alka Seltzer
I can't read the rest of the words there.

[Bigmuc13]

I've always said that Crust is the most iconic Wacky to me.  I think it is a perfect gag for a toothpaste parody and they only had to change one letter of the product name! Also the fact that it was on the Original Series wrappers made it special.  Whenever I explain to someone what Wacky Packages are, I always use "Crust instead of Crest" as an example.

Agreed.  Simple but effective, and very memorable.  Looking at the actual package from the early seventies, it seems they decided to switch the location of the red triangle.  I wonder why?

[sco(o)t]

Diecuts #14 - Alcohol Seltzer

Get drunk with
Alcohol Seltzer
Hic Hic

Real product
Alka Seltzer
I can't read the rest of the words there.

Decent parody on this WP but it was never one of my favorites. Not a household item for us either. We got Baking Soda and water when we had stomach aches. Its interesting that a caricature of Speedy, the Alka-Seltzer mascot, was used on the WP but did not appear on the actual product. This may reflect how much exposure he had at the time from the television commercials and print ads.

[Gurgle]

Great image, simple gag. I really like the quirky addition of having a kid fishing in the pitcher. Unusual stuff like that can add so much interest.

Diecuts #13 - Kook Aid

Kook Aid
Instant soft drink mix (up)
2 Quarts will drive you kooky

Real product
Kool Aid
Instant Soft Drink - Add sugar
Makes 2 Quarts
Grape Imitation Flavor

[NationalSpittoon]

Diecuts #15 - Demented Tomatoes

Demented
Rotten Tomatoes

Real product
Del Monte
Stewed Tomatoes

If you ask me, this is a perfect example of a simple, but effective gag. Also, the artwork is great. Definitely up there with my favorite Wackys.

[sco(o)t]

Diecuts #15 - Demented Tomatoes

Demented
Rotten Tomatoes

Real product
Del Monte
Stewed Tomatoes

If you ask me, this is a perfect example of a simple, but effective gag. Also, the artwork is great. Definitely up there with my favorite Wackys.

The dead eye on the tomato on the right, has always made this one terrific for me. Nice parody, great artwork. This one scared my younger sister so I could chase her around the house with it for hours. Torment, like only a sibling can dish out.

[NationalSpittoon]

Diecuts #16 - Pure Hex

Pure Hex
Powerful Bleach
Removes stains and cloth

Real Product
Purex
Bleach

[sco(o)t]

Diecuts #16 - Pure Hex

Pure Hex
Powerful Bleach
Removes stains and cloth

Real Product
Purex
Bleach

Perhaps, not one of the most memorable Wackies. Could have borrowed the old MAD magazine standard and tagged it "Powerful Blech"

[NationalSpittoon]

I do like the name but not the gag or artwork.

[NationalSpittoon]

Diecuts #17 - Weakies

Weakies
Breakfast of Chumps
Generally Moldy
Messy Untoasted Half - Cooked Flakes

Real Product
Wheaties
Breakfast of Champs
General Mills

[sco(o)t]

Diecuts #17 - Weakies

Weakies
Breakfast of Chumps
Generally Moldy
Messy Untoasted Half - Cooked Flakes

Real Product
Wheaties
Breakfast of Champs
General Mills

I think most will agree this is one of the iconic Wackies. Nice parody. Simple. Terrific artwork.  The "Messy Untoasted Half - Cooked Flakes" tag line, not really even needed. There may have been something similar on an actual box from that time frame, but I didn't see one.

[Ruffs]

Scot & Mark. You 2 are doing a great job. Keep it going. Scot can you get pictures for the 1st 3 or 4 diecuts  without the real product?

[NationalSpittoon]

Yeah I'm sure when people think of Wackies they probably think of this one of many. Pretty good gag since it's definitely the best combination of words.

[NationalSpittoon]

Scot & Mark. You 2 are doing a great job. Keep it going. Scot can you get pictures for the 1st 3 or 4 diecuts  without the real product?

Thanks! As to Scot, thank you for adding the products!

[NationalSpittoon]

Diecuts #18 - Schmutz

Move down to Schmutz
Know the joy of dirty living
The beer that made Milwaukee burp

Real Product
Schlitz
The beer that made Milwaukee famous

[Fanatical_and_Sickly]

Real Product
Schitz

LOL. I've heard it called that name a bunch of times. 
The gag writers Probably wanted to use that on the wacky too.

[Gurgle]

The tomatoes are fantastically demented.

Diecuts #15 - Demented Tomatoes

Demented
Rotten Tomatoes

Real product
Del Monte
Stewed Tomatoes

If you ask me, this is a perfect example of a simple, but effective gag. Also, the artwork is great. Definitely up there with my favorite Wackys.

[Gurgle]

Could have used a witch.

Diecuts #16 - Pure Hex

Pure Hex
Powerful Bleach
Removes stains and cloth

Real Product
Purex
Bleach

[Gurgle]

Great title and great art. Sometimes, that's all it takes.

Diecuts #17 - Weakies

Weakies
Breakfast of Chumps
Generally Moldy
Messy Untoasted Half - Cooked Flakes

Real Product
Wheaties
Breakfast of Champs
General Mills

[NationalSpittoon]

LOL. I've heard it called that name a bunch of times. 
The gag writers Probably wanted to use that on the wacky too.

WELL... Fixed that one. Haha

[RawGoo]

The tomatoes are fantastically demented.

I get a lot of compliments on my Demented Tomatoes shirts!  I wish this had been used in Series 1 as a sticker so I could have seen it a lot sooner than I eventually did.

[NationalSpittoon]

Diecuts #19 - Minute Lice

Minute Lice
Pre-Cooked Lice
Long Skinny Type
Makes 6 Sloppy Servings

Real Product
Minute Rice
Enriched Rice Cooked ?

Can't really find pictures of the old product. Scot, take the reins.

[Bigmuc13]

I think most will agree this is one of the iconic Wackies. Nice parody. Simple. Terrific artwork.  The "Messy Untoasted Half - Cooked Flakes" tag line, not really even needed. There may have been something similar on an actual box from that time frame, but I didn't see one.

Breakfast of Chumps  -  Probably the best tag line of all Wacky's ever!!

[sco(o)t]

Breakfast of Chumps  -  Probably the best tag line of all Wacky's ever!!

Yeah, you just don't hear people called chumps, galoots, or lugs anymore. Sniff.

[NationalSpittoon]

Updated

[Swiski]

Yeah, you just don't hear people called chumps, galoots, or lugs anymore. Sniff.

I agree. However, "Breakfast of Chumpions" would have been a funny pun. Reminds me - wasn't there a guy on the old forum with the last name Wackel who made his own home-made parodies called Wackel Packelges?

[NationalSpittoon]

Diecuts #20 - Gadzooka

Gadzooka
Annoy Your Teacher
Chew Bubble Gum in Class

Real Product
Original Bazooka
Bubble Gum

I think this might be the most iconic wacky, so I can't complain about the gag. It's memorable!

[NationalSpittoon]

Diecuts #21 - Moron Salt

Moron Salt
When it rains, the salt doesn't pour

Real Product
Morton Salt
When it rains it pours

Fair enough..
If the forum has lost interest in this thread, I'll stop posting here because I've seen how much this thread has been neglected lately.