Want THREE POUNDS Of Mickey Rooney’s Potatoes?
Well, it’s a stupid question, because of COURSE YOU DO!
I love this ad, which promises that Mickey Rooney, one of Hollywood’s most legendary stars, had one simple idea for you regarding potatoes:
“he serves great potato dishes at great potato prices to great potato families like yours.”
Look at this ad again and note the menu – and offer for free handshakes for seniors and veterans!
My friend Alison Martino shared this on her remarkable Vintage Los Angeles Facebook page. Alison posts lots of great vintage content about the classic part of Hollywood that shouldn’t be forgotten – or torn down!
Now, back to “Mickey’s Potato Fantasy.” Guess what?
IT IS A FANTASY!
I found the story on a website that highlighted this parody ad in order to highlight Mickey Rooney and his penchant for starting wacky businesses like these:
Mickey Melon – A “Watermelon-Flavored Drink”!
Now that was true – and what about this?
A chain of 52 “Mickey’s Weenie World” that featured round hot dogs also featuring relish called “McLish”, Mickey’s “Pancho Weenie” and the best selling “Eric-Von-Weenie”…
Rooney also sold BBQ sauces – it seems he was open to selling ANYTHING!
It’s from a terrific article I found on “TheLifeAndTimesOfHollywood.com” describing Rooney’s many businesses, and his non-stop energy in promoting them!
One last thing about Mickey’s “Potato Palace” – I also found this story from the newspaper about a tragic fire at the restaurant:
Apparently this was a hoax as well!
That said, Rooney DID take part in a classic ad for Seattle’s local beer:
These ads featured the “running of the Rainiers”…what does that mean?
Yes, every year the “Rainiers” raced down the mountain and intrepid hunters tried to catch them – and the actual video ads are even funnier!
See them all by clicking here!
Now, I’m not knocking the late Actor’s businesses, as he certainly wasn’t alone in using his fame to promote other products…for example:
Damon Runyan’s Frankfurts!
I love the internet. It gave me this classic ad, for a “Frankfurt” dish courtesy of “Mrs. Damon Runyon!”
Note the “Creamed diced carrots in onion cups” that go along with it…and after a fine meal like that, you need a smoke!
Classic Celebrity Holiday Smoking Gifts!
Can you imagine that today? Still, really funny to see these classic ads pop up – and there are tons of ads showing celebs shilling smokes all year long as well, like this one with John Wayne:
After all that food and smoking, you may need an Alka-Seltzer – don’t worry, Sammy Davis Jr. has you covered:
I love that all of this vintage Hollywood stuff is on the internet – for example, do you want to see pictures of Celebrities playing with their food?
Yes, now you can own a picture of Robert Plant eating an ice cream cone – rather sloppily I might add…check out tons of celebrities playing with their food here – I shared this on Oscar Sunday because how else do you honor the greatest stars in Hollywood:
Speaking of celebrities and food, did you know that legendary Actor Humphrey Bogart used to sell chocolates?
How could you NOT buy these treats knowing that Bogie approved of them? See more funny celebrity ads here:
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Let me know if you WOULD HAVE eaten at Mickey Rooney’s” Potato Fantasy!”
Categories: Alcohol And Bars, Bite Eat Swallow, Bite! Eat! Repeat!, Books / Media, Food, Food Pictures, Food Porn, Food Writing, Wacky Food, World's Wildest Food
Bite! Eat! Repeat! 
Hi John, it is interesting to remember how celebrities used to endorse cigarette brands and also smoke them.
Who wouldn’t want 3 pounds of mickey potatoes
Endorsements are big money George Foreman was on 100million for endorsing those grills…and yes I would try the potatoes 🙂 Your posts are always fun and quirky John 🙂
Thankyou for reading!