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ANTIQUES PEEK by Jessica Kosinski
ANTIQUES PEEK

Gifting For Gags

iving gifts is always fun, but there’s a special kind of gift Changing Eras and
that can sometimes be extra fun – a gag gift. Gag gifts are Changing Gag Gifts
Gextremely popular. In fact, certain types of gag gifts are so Until about 1980,
popular that they are part of our common culture. Others are more a gag gift was typi-
specific to the situations or people involved. Let’s take a more in-depth cally less of a gift
peek at gag gifts. and more of a prop.
Typically, a gag gift
Popular Gag Gifts was used as part of
A gag gift has a meaning that is both specific and non-specific at the a practical joke, such
same time. Specifically, the as making someone
phrase “gag gift” generally jump when they
refers to an item used or grabbed a hand
given by one person or buzzer. From 1980 to
group of people to pull off a the present day, gag
practical joke on another gifts have also includ-
person or group. However, ed any gifts designed
the non-specific aspect to make the recipi-
comes in because everyone ents smile or laugh.
has a different sense of Examples include
humor. A gag gift that might t-shirts, signs, coffee
work for one person or in cups, or just about
one specific situation may be anything with a silly
completely inappropriate saying.
under other circumstances.
Almost anything can be a Gag Gifts of the 1950s Falsies gag gift
gag gift under the right 1950s through 1980s
circumstances. However, The 1950s and 1960s were an especially interesting period in the
certain items are widely history of the use of gag gifts here in the United States. Many of the
accepted as common gag gag gifts of that time were quite risqué for the time. For example, one
gifts. Some of those items popular gag gift of that time was a box containing false teeth with the
1920s Adam’s Fine Marshmallows tin have been popular for years saying “falsies for that glamour look!” and an image of a well-endowed
aka “snake in a can” and include: woman on the cover. Other gag gifts of the period were less risqué
but could often cause minor harm to those on the receiving end. For
• Joy Buzzers/Hand Buzzers example, there were trick matches designed to “go bang” when lit.
• Whoopee Cushions As time progressed into the 1970s and 1980s people became much
• Rubber Chickens more difficult to pull pranks on. Sensitivity and litigious behavior
• Snakes in a Can increased. Therefore, pranksters were reluctant to use any items that
could cause physical discomforts, such as itching powder or joy buzzers.
Despite those standouts, popular gag gifts change over time, not just Instead, many gag
according to the situation. For example, gag gifts popular today are not gifts that came in
the same as those that were popular back in the 1950s and 1960s. Some boxes with sayings on
of that is due to how the term “gag gift” has changed in meaning over them hinting at what
the years. may be inside, but
with a funny spin.
For example, one box
said “how to succeed
in business” and con-
tained a gold-colored
screw.

Classic Gag Gift
Origins
It might surprise
you to know that
some classic gag gifts
go quite far back. For
example, versions of
a whoopee cushion
have been used as
far back as the
time of the ancient
Romans. In particu-
Vintage gag gifts at the Brimfield Antiques Flea Market lar, a young emperor 1938 advertisement for a whoopee cushion
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