Jay Glatfelter: Crash Test Dummies
I think there is a reason a lot of people from my generation wear their seat belt: The Crash Test Dummies. In the 1980’s, the US Department of Transportation started PSA’s with anthropomorphic crash dummies named Vince and Larry.
Featuring the voices of Jack Burns and Lorenzo Music (voice of Garfield & Peter Venkman), “The Crash Dummies” effectively got kids to wear their safety belt. I can’t think of any of my friends that don’t wear their seat belt and I can guarantee you most of them can cite the crash test dummies as the cause (and their parents too).
The main reason for this article is the toy series by Tyco in 1991. It seemed like a great concept. Any kid loved taking their toys and crashing them into things. These toys were made to smash into things.
So for our blog today, we have original series one figures of Vince and Larry (after the first year they lost the US Department of Transportation license and had to use different characters in the lead roles) .
What was great about the figures was that when the buttons on their chest were pushed in, their arms, legs, and heads would fly off. Slightly sadistic, but a hell of a lot of fun to play with.
I love card backs. As a kid, this was the main way I would create my wishlist for what I wanted for birthdays and Christmases.
Here is Larry after he has been freed from his plastic prison for almost 20 years.
For today’s demonstration we are going to use the “Crash Car” with Larry buckled up and Vince going without his safety belt. Hopefully this crash test will convince you to wear your safety belt.
Remember always wear your safety belt!
PS. I need a name for my series of blogs here. It needs to be short and snappy and represent the 80’s & 90’s pop culture that severely influenced my life. Send your suggestions to YuBlog.org@gmail.com or leave them in the comments section below.
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Remember the band, Crash Test Dummies? With that song, “MMM,MMM,MMM.” I think there was a rumor going about that the lead singer had a 3rd nut, which gave him such a deep voice.
Nice article, Jay. Vince and Larry always could make me laugh when I was a kid. Good call on the voice actors too.
Oh, and Chris, I spent many afternoons and coffeespoons with the Crash Test Dummies you’re talking about. And TS Eliot.
Lorenzo Music was the man when it came to voice actors.
ps this was Jay not me
I remember those. I wanted one. But never got one. I remember the song Chris, but Weird Al’s parody was better. How about “Toy Time with Jay”
maybe “I Blog the 80s?” a take off of the VH1 shows??
I completely forgot about those PSAs until I read your article, and you are right about the effect they had on our generation. They should bring those back! Also, the sound effects and Lost music in the video= awesome.
Great post Jay. I am a product of those PSA’s as well. How a bout ” Aqua Net and Acid Wash” a tribute to growing up.
Haha, loved the LOST music.
Vague memories of using those figures as projectile weapons against my brothers and a ridiculously difficult game spin off game on the original Game Boy! Keep them coming Jay =) I have a cheesy suggestion for a name: Figuratively Speaking
Cool!
Did you know that if you pull off the steering wheel a small foam airbag is inside it?
It doesn’t deploy worth a damn but just something interesting.
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