McDonald's Thermo-Serv Mug

McDonald's began their McDonaldland marketing campaign in 1971 with commercials featuring a magical land inhabited by Ronald McDonald and a cast of characters inspired by their menu.  Captain Crook and the Hamburglar would attempt to steal their respective menu items while the local sheriff "Big Mac", "Mayor McCheese" and Ronald McDonald would ultimately thwart their crimes.  However, Sid & Marty Krofft of H. R. Pufnstuf (and many other Saturday morning staples) fame thought the real crooks were in the McDonald's marketing department.  They felt McDonaldland and Mayor McCheese specifically were a direct ripoff of their Pufnstuf set and characters.

I recently found this McDonald's Thermo-Serv cup from 1978 featuring some of those characters.

NFC Gag Tumblers

I bought these black and gold insulated tumblers made by NFC (makers of Thermo Serv) at an estate sale this past weekend.  Aimed at the '60's basement bar crowd, each comes with a humorous (at least intended to be) verse.

I'm Cuckoo for Thermo-Serv!

I went to the annual Gramond subdivision garage sale this past week.  It was pretty much a bust.  Participation seems to be dropping in neighborhood sales as was evidenced by this and the Canterleigh Estates sale a few weeks back.  But I didn't come away empty-handed.  I did find this Sonny the Cuckoo Cocoa Puffs Thermo-serv mug for one thin dime.

I'm pretty sure it's vintage and features Sonny in his original striped shirt.

Essentially, these mugs are simply clear plastic, watertight (usually) mugs with a paper insert.  Be warned, they sometimes leak, so take care when washing.  Considering their proliferation, there's remarkably little information about Thermo-serv on the internet.  I think most people have had a Thermo-serv mug in their homes at one time or another.  Those featuring beer labels are probably the most common.  In fact, I have a standing order from a friend to grab any beer-themed Thermo-serv mugs I come across.  Even the Farrah cup I found a few weeks back was a Thermo-serv.  Searching the internet, I found no other examples of the Cocoa Puffs mug or any other cereal-themed Thermo-serv mugs.  Anyone seen one of these before?

A Major(s) Find

I found this Thermo-serv mug featuring Farrah Fawcett Majors from 1977 for 50 cents at an estate sale this past weekend.