Company: Lincoln Foods
Years: 1969-2007
Sometimes in life, you are aware of certain things without ever getting to experience them.
I am aware of White Castle hamburgers, but there aren't any remotely near where I live, so I've never had them.
I am aware of perms, but unless I lose a bet or get paid a LOT of money, I'll never have one.
And I was aware of Screaming Yellow Zonkers when they were around, but for whatever reason always passed. And now, it's too late. (for the Screaming Yellow Zonkers, not the perm, but I'm still gonna pass on that one).
Screaming Yellow Zonkers was a popcorn snack produced by Lincoln Foods in the 60's-2000's. It had a very sweet, sugary glaze over them. No Peanuts. No prize at the bottom. Just a sweet, sweet popcorn snack.
Doesn't sound so interesting, does it?
Well, the real draw of the Screaming Yellow Zonkers was not what was inside, but what was on the outside: one of the most brilliant packages ever. The box was a striking black box (claimed to be one of the first black packages on the market) with all kinds of cool, goofy illustrations and text around the box, including tips on "How to Wash your Zonkers", or "How to Mate Your Zonkers". On the bottom of the box, a quick guide was printed explaining how to determine if it were indeed the bottom: “Open the top, and turn the box upside down. If the Zonkers fall out, this is the bottom. If they fall up, this is the top. If nothing happens, this box is empty.”
The box was brilliantly created by Hurvis, Binzer and Churchill, a young start up ad agency out of Chicago. Artists such as Charlie White and Seymour Chwast illustrated the boxes with imaginative drawings that just scream all kinds of awesomeness.
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| Box Photo by Jason Liebig | ||||||||||||||||||||
Unfortunately, in 2007, Lincoln Foods was bought out by Conagra, and the Screaming Yellow Zonkers were discontinued, leaving me, like a fool, wishing I had picked up a box or 10 or 100 while I had the chance.
Instead, I'm left alone to eat my Poppycock and Cracker Jacks. Peanuts and all.
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| Box photo by Jason Liebig |
I never thought the Zonkers tasted that interesting, but you are right that the box is very distinctive.
ReplyDeleteI just picked up a box the other day at Walgreens. They're pretty tasty.
ReplyDeleteYes. I bought some recently also... Good lord, maybe I should have checked the expiration date!
ReplyDeletenote the ingredient list difference on the box...
ReplyDeletenote the ingredient list difference on the box...
ReplyDeleteThe commercial sounds like it was narrated by Mel Brooks. XD
ReplyDeleteI have one unopened box left from the 2013 re-issue. I assume they're still good and really want to eat them... but once I do, they're gone.
ReplyDeleteZonkers were my fave in high school, loved, loved, loved them!! Very buttery sweet. I drool thinking of them.
ReplyDeleteThe box design and the name were based on the Beatles movie Yellow Submarine. Psychedelic designs and funny ad lines and bright colors on black backgrounds were all the rage in '69 and for the next decade or so.
ReplyDeleteMy most favorite popcorn snack when I was a kid! They put them out as a Limited Edition about 10 years ago. Where I lived, we had a shop that specialized in other store's overstocks, slow sellers, etc. I went in there one day, and what do I see? A CASE of this Popcorn from the Gods! I couldn't get it in my cart fast enough! And yes, I bought the entire case! And was a very happy, fat old woman everyday until they were gone!
ReplyDeleteCould I buy some now?
ReplyDeleteI have a flattened 39 cent box. Wonder if it is worth anything. Hmmm...
ReplyDeleteWould love to see this product come back.My kids and I loved it.My kids are all grown with kids of their own and still crave it
ReplyDeleteScreaming Yellow Zonkers...came back again in 2017 ....the t-RUMP family.
ReplyDelete