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Button 092: Couch Tomatoes (Potatoes auxilliary, by Bob Armstrong)


Button 092: Couch Tomatoes (Potatoes auxilliary, by Bob Armstrong)
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    92. Couch Tomatoes (1982).

    Most people use the term "couch potato" (for habitual TV-viewers) without awareness of its origin. Cartoonist/musician Bob Armstrong invented the term. He co-founded the original Couch Potatoes as a fraternal organization of admitted TV-worshippers in his native Pasadena CA. He was also smart enough to trademark the term. So when ubiquitous TV Guide (with its enormous '70s circulation) trumpeted the odd fez-wearing Potatoes in a major article, and the wire services followed, "couch potato" became an instant part of the American language. And Bob, until pirates wore him down, made a nice little living licensing the trademark for Coleco dolls and other merchandise. The Potatoes were an unabashedly all-male club but under spousal pressure formed an auxiliary club for women called the Couch Tomatoes (motto: "Equal Rights to the Couch.") Armstrong sold C.P. (see button #80) and Couch Tomato memberships which included nifty buttons, created under commission from Kitchen Sink. The Potato buttons sold out almost immediately and the Tomatoes are next to impossible to find too. $12.00

    One note, for serious button collectors, you may want to read the KSP BUTTON TEXT which explains the numbering systems for identifying the various buttons produced over the last 30 years, or see the COMPLETE KSP BUTTON LIST. The list is VERY long, so be patient while it loads.


    << Previous Product                      Next Product >>

    Button 092: Couch Tomatoes (Potatoes auxilliary, by Bob Armstrong)

    92. Couch Tomatoes (1982).

    Most people use the term "couch potato" (for habitual TV-viewers) without awareness of its origin. Cartoonist/musician Bob Armstrong invented the term. He co-founded the original Couch Potatoes as a fraternal organization of admitted TV-worshippers in his native Pasadena CA. He was also smart enough to trademark the term. So when ubiquitous TV Guide (with its enormous '70s circulation) trumpeted the odd fez-wearing Potatoes in a major article, and the wire services followed, "couch potato" became an instant part of the American language. And Bob, until pirates wore him down, made a nice little living licensing the trademark for Coleco dolls and other merchandise. The Potatoes were an unabashedly all-male club but under spousal pressure formed an auxiliary club for women called the Couch Tomatoes (motto: "Equal Rights to the Couch.") Armstrong sold C.P. (see button #80) and Couch Tomato memberships which included nifty buttons, created under commission from Kitchen Sink. The Potato buttons sold out almost immediately and the Tomatoes are next to impossible to find too. $12.00

    One note, for serious button collectors, you may want to read the KSP BUTTON TEXT which explains the numbering systems for identifying the various buttons produced over the last 30 years, or see the COMPLETE KSP BUTTON LIST. The list is VERY long, so be patient while it loads.

    $12.00