Dickie the Stick! (My first lesson in media literacy)
Last week, “the stick” was entered into the National Toy Hall of Fame. [Note: I link to the Wikipedia article rather than the NTHF's page because it has more information, presented more readily, than the NTHF's site itself, the page for inductees at which appears to be busted]. That’s awesome. The stick joins the cardboard box, the kite and marbles, as well as more branded toys such as Legos, Barbie, etc.
From the Associated Press:
Curators said the stick was a special addition in the spirit of a 2005 inductee, the cardboard box. They praised its all-purpose, no-cost, recreational qualities, noting its ability to serve either as raw material or an appendage transformed in myriad ways by a child’s creativity.
“It’s very open-ended, all-natural, the perfect price — there aren’t any rules or instructions for its use,” said Christopher Bensch, the museum’s curator of collections. “It can be a Wild West horse, a medieval knight’s sword, a boat on a stream or a slingshot with a rubber band. … No snowman is complete without a couple of stick arms, and every campfire needs a stick for toasting marshmallows.
I’ve known, since I was six, about the features and benefits of the stick. We camped a bunch when I was a kid, and, when you’re out in the Berkshires, sticks there are a-plenty.
At one point, while sitting around the campfire playing with sticks, my Dad took one up and began to recite — in a wonderfully over-modulated, deep, Don Pardo-esque voice — an impromptu commercial for…
“Dickie the Stick!”
It went something like this:
Dickie the Stick! The most amazing toy and tool you’ll ever own! For just $10 (plus shipping and handling) you can own an object whose entertainment and functional properties have been lauded by pharaohs, kings, heroes, adventurers, pirates and peasants alike. Dickie the Stick! Raised above your head he becomes… a baton! Conduct the orchestras of your dreams. Suspended between two shelves, it’s a towel rack! Placed just -so- against your spine… a back-scratcher! Buy two, and you can practice fencing with a friend. Jammed in the ground it transforms into a sundial! Practice your baton twirling with Dickie the Stick and then… voila! It’s an extermination tool, guaranteed to kill or maim rodents, bugs, cats, parrots, small raccoons and other household vermin. Dickie the Stick! A child’s friend, a handyman’s partner.”
You get the picture. I’m pretty sure Dad went on at greater length, as I found it hysterical at the time.
Later, in the sixth grade, we were assigned to create an ad for a product we enjoyed. I did a poster and radio ad for Dickie the Stick. Much hilarity ensued.
What is funny about the ad for a stick is, of course, not that it’s absurd, but that it is a media parody of other absurdities. It’s funny because it pokes fun at commercials that greatly overemphasize their benefits or appeal. Sham-wow comes to mind.
My son and I have been, for at least three years, deconstructing ads. I believe two things about media and the Hollywood / Madison Avenue Axis (a term also from my Dad). One — they are inescapable parts of our environment and, as such, must be understood in order to live and thrive in modern society. Two — the better you understand them, the more fun you can have.
I love toys. I love gadgets. I love TV (mostly). I love ads (sometimes). I love the *ideas* behind good toys, gadgets, TV and advertising. This love comes, in many cases, from a relationship born of the same respect with which I hold fire. Very handy stuff, fire… but it can burn and kill as well as make smores.
We watch Nick and Disney and the Cartoon Network together, my son and I. And we mock the ads. They alternate between shouting ads (for boys toys) and singing ads (girls toys). We discuss them. Not in a “I’m teaching you something important” manner, but to pick apart their shortcomings or, in some few cases, cool stuff.
Recently, Acura launched a series of ads where various things (karate fist, diver, etc.) transmogrify into an Acura. The bullet version is pretty cool looking.
When my son saw it, he said, “That looks cool. But it’s a dumb ad for a car.”
“Why?” I asked.
“It’s just dumb. A bullet isn’t a car. You wouldn’t want your car to only go straight. Bullets are dangerous on purpose. Car’s are supposed to be safe.”
I nodded in agreement. Cool ad. Dumb ad. Not necessarily mutually exclusive. He’s getting there.
November 8th, 2008 at 9:57 pm
I have this fuzzy memory that “Dickie the Stick” was a Johnny Carson skit, playing a fast talking salesman, satirizing gimmicky fad toy commercials. My guess is that’s where your dad got the idea.
November 9th, 2008 at 12:23 am
jc - a quick Googling indicates that you might be right; a couple hits on “dickie the stick” and “johnny carson.” Nice call.
November 10th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
And of course, there’s always… LOG!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPHtKarae2Q
November 13th, 2008 at 8:18 pm
Merrilee… yes. It’s LOG it’s LOG! It’s better than best… it’s good!
Like stick, but bigger and kinda creepy.
Gotta luv John K.
December 26th, 2008 at 11:59 am
Hey, my family and I remember, he called it “MR DICKIE STICK”
March 28th, 2010 at 2:51 pm
Hello, guys. I have recently become fascinated with the play hunting slingshot, eager to find friends with similar hobbies, I live in Manhattan, near the unscrupulous practice venues rarely have a friend living in the neighborhood Mody? Together, we can play this.
April 6th, 2010 at 6:03 pm
“Our mission is to offer our residential and business customers a professional and reliable maintenance and repair service.”
Your Choice for All Handyman Jobs Big or Small Visit This. Kerry True Handyman Temecula-Handyman Murrieta is a professional handyman service. Customer satisfaction is our top priority. From hanging curtains to installing tile in your bathroom, no job is too small for us. Our technicians have over 15 years experience and are professional, insured, and reliable, so you can feel care free having our technicians working in your home.
April 6th, 2010 at 6:06 pm
Honest, Upfront Pricing We perform all work using an honest, upfront pricing format Visit This. Our Time + Materials billing ensures that you pay only for the time spent working on your home, not an inflated estimate. We are experienced in most all different types of home repair and remodeling services. Safety First Kerry True Handyman Temecula-Handyman Murrieta takes the safety of our customers very seriously. As a quality handyman service, we perform comprehensive background checks on all of our employees. We strive to achieve the highest levels of customer service by setting standards of cleanliness and courtesy for our employees so you can trust that you are working with professionals.
April 6th, 2010 at 6:57 pm
Customer Satisfaction Kerry True Handyman Temecula-Handyman Murrieta Handyman Visit This. Our on-time record is second to none, and we arrive ready to work. Your service technician will apply the same attention to detail and quality workmanship to every job, large or small. Done right from start to finish Plenty of people say they can do repairs and remodeling, but what really matters is getting it done right from start to finish. Whether it’s renovating a room or making an everyday repair, choose the professionals qualified to do the job: Kerry True Handyman Temecula-Handyman Murrieta. Our reliable handyman services are performed by highly skilled craftspeople.
April 11th, 2010 at 8:05 pm
Very interesting blog posts; ill certainly being coming back to read some more of your great text.
April 11th, 2010 at 8:27 pm
Very interesting blog posts; ill certainly being coming back to read some more of your great text.
April 19th, 2010 at 8:57 am
Good post!I accidently found your internet site on the search engines, I will be returning here yet again.Love http://www.tinkerx.com/2008/11/08/dickie-the-stick-my-first-lesson-in-media-literacy/
April 19th, 2010 at 9:15 am
A handyman often costs less than a general contractor because he’s just there to take care of the minor jobs like painting, plumbing, doors, fences, floors, and concrete work. Plenty of people say they can do repairs and remodeling, but what really matters is getting it done right from start to finish. Whether it’s renovating a room or making an everyday repair, choose the professionals qualified to do the job: Kerry True Handyman Temecula-Handyman Murrieta. Our reliable handyman services are performed by highly skilled craftspeople. .
April 19th, 2010 at 8:03 pm
Insightful article. Was searching this kind of field on yahoo when I discovered your blog. A lot of great articles and other content on here. Certainly one for my bookmarks. Bruce
April 22nd, 2010 at 7:08 am
It is advantageous, then, to have a repair service manual for your car, whether it is a Bugatti Veyron or a Hillman Imp. Knowing what has gone wrong with the car, and whether you can run the repairs yourself, is helpful for so many reasons. A good service repair manual will make it easier to drive with confidence, knowing that you have all the information you need to make the repair job less stressful, and possibly less expensive. Toyota Owner Manual
April 24th, 2010 at 3:08 pm
You have a new fan! I love your stuff here and will be back again.
April 24th, 2010 at 4:51 pm
I had problem accessing this blog with my safari on iphone, whats the cause?
April 29th, 2010 at 8:12 am
I want to start my own blog too, what cms do you use, where i can download it ?
April 30th, 2010 at 4:51 am
You have a new fan! I love your stuff here and will be back again.
April 30th, 2010 at 8:24 am
I like design of your blog What is the name of template ?
April 30th, 2010 at 1:32 pm
Just have bookmarked your website, and waiting for the next interesting post
May 3rd, 2010 at 8:44 am
Great blog , love the design. Seriously considering migrating to this cms now!
May 6th, 2010 at 3:15 pm
great posts. Mind Telling how you get the ideas for your posts. What more special to be posted.
May 8th, 2010 at 1:24 pm
I am not a person who is easily satisfied but I have to say your article blew me away. So much ideas and relevant data that you put into it made me see your opinion. Thanks for sharing your rational inputs.