Two Designers Walk Into a Bar

Today we continue our conversation about food products named for real people. We've moved out of the restaurant and into the grocery store to see what pop culture deliciousness awaits.

First, we get a little saucy with our Italian buddy Chef Boyardee. Then we grab some popcorn to go with our pop culture as we get buttered-up with our old friend Orville Redenbacher. These two personalities have been part of our households for years living in our cupboards and on our kitchen tables, a couple faces grinning back at you representing the great American success story.

So order up a couple of dirty pasta water martinis, dig the butter out of the fridge and don't forget the can opener. Join us for a healthy meal at our reserved table back here in the bar.

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Mentioned in this episode:

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Visit our full episode page for show notes, the visual examples we discuss, additional links and more!

https://www.twodesignerswalkintoabar.com/episodes/episode-143-food-personalities-2

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Have a question or idea for Todd and Elliot? Send a note to [email protected] and we promise to read it. After that it’s anyone’s guess.

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A lot of chain restaurants and widely-known food products have real names and personalities behind them. Some of these businesses put their founders front and center — a certain international chicken chain comes to mind — while others stick with founders’ names even when the motivations for starting the business get lost as the times and brand stories change.

Today we discuss a couple of our favorites: Bob Evans and Nathan Handwerker (you know, the hot dog guy).

So ask the bartender for a couple of Bourbon Teas and tuck the tablecloth into your shirt. It’s time to grab your knife and fork, ‘cuz we’re digging into some tasty stories back here in the bar.

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Mentioned in this episode:

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Visit our full episode page for show notes, the visual examples we discuss, additional links and more!

https://www.twodesignerswalkintoabar.com/episodes/episode-142-food-personalities-1

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Have a question or idea for Todd and Elliot? Send a note to [email protected] and we promise to read it. After that it’s anyone’s guess.

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Visit our merch page to have a look at stuff we’ve made for listeners just like you and support us on Patreon for subscriber-only extras.

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Postcards. Even in the age of instant communication, receiving a postcard in the mail is pretty fun. Friends checking-in from familiar haunts or destinations unknown with little pieces of mailed artwork.

Today we’re discussing a couple of iconic types of postcards that have delivered surprise and delight to mailboxes for decades: QSL cards and the giant letter “Greetings From” souvenirs.

So ask the bartender to mix a couple of Caribbean Postcards and grab a pen and a couple of stamps. We need you to listen closely and confirm you’ve received our broadcast from right here in the bar.

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Mentioned in this episode:

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Visit our full episode page for show notes, the visual examples we discuss, additional links and more!

https://www.twodesignerswalkintoabar.com/episodes/episode-141-postcards

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Have a question or idea for Todd and Elliot? Send a note to [email protected] and we promise to read it. After that it’s anyone’s guess.

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Visit our merch page to have a look at stuff we’ve made for listeners just like you and support us on Patreon for subscriber-only extras.

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We're still on summer vacation, so we’re revisiting one of our classic episodes.

Hey, Vern. In this episode we discuss how artwork advertising cigars became a cornerstone for kitsch and a character promoting local businesses became a movie star. What is the deal with dogs playing poker, anyway? And how did Ernest P. Worrell go from plugging local car lots in Nashville to saving Christmas in movie theaters across the country? We answer these questions and introduce you to what may be the coolest artist name in history.

So, find your best convenience store-bought cigar, mix your booze with a fun, fizzy soda, and join us once again as we belly up to the bar.

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Mentioned in this episode:

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Visit our full episode page for show notes, the visual examples we discuss, additional links and more!

https://www.twodesignerswalkintoabar.com/episodes/episode-140-when-pitchmen-go-pop

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Have a question or idea for Todd and Elliot? Send a note to [email protected] and we promise to read it. After that it’s anyone’s guess.

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Visit our merch page to have a look at stuff we’ve made for listeners just like you and support us on Patreon for subscriber-only extras.

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With news of Ken Kesey’s bus Further returning to San Francisco, we’re revisiting one of our classic episodes.

Today we’re taking a trip through the looking glass.

We return to our series kickoff on psychedelia by discussing its origins, the impact on a generation of pop culture and its lasting effects. Psychedelia’s origins are messy, fascinating, and full of odd little historical crosscurrents. We discuss science, bicycle rides and the first official album of psychedelic music.

So, ask the bartender for a couple of Psychedelic Frogs—and to see if they can stop the walls from dripping rainbow colors—as we chase the white rabbit through the window and back into the bar.

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Mentioned in this episode:

Psychedelia

Albert Hofmann

Aldous Huxley

Timothy Leary

Ken Kesey

The 13th Floor Elevators

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Visit our full episode page for show notes, the visual examples we discuss, additional links and more!

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Have a question or idea for Todd and Elliot? Send a note to [email protected] and we promise to read it. After that it’s anyone’s guess.

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Visit our merch page to have a look at stuff we’ve made for listeners just like you and support us on Patreon for subscriber-only extras.

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We’re revisiting one of our classic episodes.

There are visual icons that have symbolized professions for so long their origin stories are unknown to the very customers served by them. These independent businesses are owned by all kinds of people serving millions on a daily basis throughout the world, all using these same basic signs outside their establishments.

We're discussing barber poles and pawnbroker balls, two symbols that, unless you’re truly in the middle of nowhere, you can find within minutes of where you live, work or both.

So order up a couple of Barber Beers. We’re lookin' good and feelin' good, back here in the bar.

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Mentioned in this episode:

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Visit our full episode page for show notes, the visual examples we discuss, additional links and more!

https://www.twodesignerswalkintoabar.com/episodes/episode-138-signs-of-the-times

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Have a question or idea for Todd and Elliot? Send a note to [email protected] and we promise to read it. After that it’s anyone’s guess.

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Visit our merch page to have a look at stuff we’ve made for listeners just like you and support us on Patreon for subscriber-only extras.

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Today we’re going to use our imaginations a little bit. We’ve brought a couple of interesting products with us to the bar...but not just any products.

These two were originally created for movies and television, and later made the leap into the real world once they became household names. We’re having dessert first as we sample a Wonka Bar and then we're wetting our whistles with a couple of Duff Beers.

So order up a couple of chocolate martinis. We’re licking our fingers and raising our glasses, back here in the bar.

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Mentioned in this episode:

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Visit our full episode page for show notes, the visual examples we discuss, additional links and more!

https://www.twodesignerswalkintoabar.com/episodes/episode-137-pop-culture-products

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Have a question or idea for Todd and Elliot? Send a note to [email protected] and we promise to read it. After that it’s anyone’s guess.

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Visit our merch page to have a look at stuff we’ve made for listeners just like you and support us on Patreon for subscriber-only extras.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In honor of the nation’s 250th birthday, we’re revisiting one of our classic episodes.

Why 1976? Plenty of reasons. We discuss each of our ages in this, the banner year our nation was turning 200 and everything in sight had bunting and was painted red, white and blue. KISS was at the height of their powers as Michael Doret’s amazing album art from “Rock and Roll Over” was gracing turntables from coast to coast and the timeless bicentennial star logo from designer Bruce Blackburn was on everything from postage stamps to NASA equipment. And last but not least, Richard Nixon enters the conversation (but not the bar).

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Mentioned in this episode:

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Visit our full episode page for show notes, the visual examples we discuss, additional links and more!

https://www.twodesignerswalkintoabar.com/episodes/episode-136-1976-classic

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Have a question or idea for Todd and Elliot? Send a note to [email protected] and we promise to read it. After that it’s anyone’s guess.

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Visit https://www.twodesignerswalkintoabar.com/merch to have a look at stuff we’ve made for listeners just like you.

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Today we’re digging around in the backs of our minds and the pits of our stomachs to remember a couple of beloved food products. Ones that have cult followings and large groups of people who lament these products’ eventual demise.

We’re talking about the origins of TaB Soda from Coke and the fried Apple Pie from McDonald’s. (Hey, we never said this was a health food podcast…)

So ask the bartender to mix a Texas Tab for you – and maybe a couple for us. We’re hitting the drive thru and then rolling back into the bar.

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Mentioned in this episode:

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Visit our full episode page for show notes, the visual examples we discuss, additional links and more!

https://www.twodesignerswalkintoabar.com/episodes/episode-135-cult-products

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Have a question or idea for Todd and Elliot? Send a note to [email protected] and we promise to read it. After that it’s anyone’s guess.

- - - - -

Visit our merch page to have a look at stuff we’ve made for listeners just like you and support us on Patreon for subscriber-only extras.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re revisiting one of our classic episodes.

While we don't recommend drinking and driving, we do recommend talking pop culture and cars while sitting safe and sound on a couple of bar stools.

Buckle up as we travel back in time to discuss what are arguably the two most popular cars in pop culture: the original 1960s Batmobile and the DeLorean from Back to the Future. Sometimes they worked, oftentimes they didn't. If you smell some burning rubber, it's not from us thinking—at least not this week. Instead, it's a high-octane topic coupled with some Golden Cadillacs from our bartender. Enjoy.

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Mentioned in this episode:

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Visit our full episode page for show notes, the visual examples we discuss, additional links and more!

https://www.twodesignerswalkintoabar.com/episodes/episode-134-iconic-pop-culture-cars-classic

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Have a question or idea for Todd and Elliot? Send a note to [email protected] and we promise to read it. After that it’s anyone’s guess.

- - - - -

Visit our merch page to have a look at stuff we’ve made for listeners just like you and support us on Patreon for subscriber-only extras.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices