Will she or won't she?

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All Atwitter - Pink Flamingo Fans Call for Boycott After Maker Drops Artist's Signature

BOSTON (AP) - For years, Don Featherstone's signature on the behind of the pink flamingo let everyone know it was a true replica of the original lawn ornament he created in 1957.

But last year, the company that makes the curiously popular ornaments dropped the signature, puzzling Featherstone and ruffling the feathers of flamingo fans.

Some, including the Museum of Bad Art and The Annals of Improbable Research, are calling for a boycott of the new, bare-butted bird.

"They're desecrating this oddly beloved object," said Marc Abrahams, editor of the Cambridge-based annals, which awarded an Ig Nobel - a mock Nobel Prize - to Featherstone in 1996.

Thomas Herzing, author of "The Original Pink Plastic Flamingo: Splendor on the Grass," called the decision "disrespectful" and a "sharp stick in the eye of high art."

The company, Union Products Inc., has refused to explain the change - even to Featherstone, its former president.

Featherstone, 65, a sculptor with a classical art background, modeled the ornament on a bird he saw in National Geographic. He created more than 650 other pieces, penguins and snowmen among them, but none took off like the pink bird. More than 20 million have been sold.

Featherstone's signature was added in 1987 to make it more like a piece of art and harder to copy, Featherstone said.

He retired in 1999 as Union Products president and his signature disappeared soon after.

"There was no bad blood," Featherstone said of his relationship with company managers. "I'm puzzled and disturbed."

-- Anonymous, January 16, 2002

Answers

sounds like a publicity stunt to boost sales when they put it back.

-- Anonymous, January 16, 2002

Sounds more like some folks at the company have decided to co-opt the control of that cash bird for their own uses, without having to deal with the signature of the creator on it. Greed and desire to distance themselves from the person who would otherwise collect royalties seems like a more likely explanation to me.

-- Anonymous, January 16, 2002

Speaking of boycotts, I believe the South Carolina branch of the NAACP has started a campaign to get travellers coming into the state to spend as little money there as possible. I think it's over the stars & bars issue. I predict the campaign won't work worth a damn.

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2002

Oh, that's a blow. I was thinking of getting another flamingo (making three) and altering them so that one is black, one is Hispanic. . .

I boycott Jif peanut butter because of that "choosy mothers choose Jif" commercial. I hated that sob. I also boycott milk, except for Maola and organic, because my hormones are screwed up enough as it is. I boycott Chinese goods if American are available. What else do I boycott? Oh, yeah, tablecloths with grapes on 'em, lol!

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2002

Git, what always bothered me about the Jif commercials was the reference to fewer (or was it less) "sugars". Even as a kid I could see how presumptuous that was.

Good idea on the flamingos.

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2002

I also hated Betty Crocker commercials and never bought any of those products, either. I think that led to my distaste for HER, you know, begins with M. Ditto for Folger's coffee. And although I like Ovaltine, I've gorn orf that too because of those stupid commercials they do now. I'm very easily put off.

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2002

How about Priceline? Bad enough that they featured Shatner's developing senility, but this low class downunder bloke is too much. I'd like to say I was boycotting, but can't travel right now anyway.

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2002

Priceline? Oh, right, the travel thingie. Actually, I thought those commercials were hilarious. It's a Firesign Theater thing.

And I'm tired of the Gateway talking cow.

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2002

(The citizens of the barn stir restlessly...the Gateway Cow is their ideal, their role model, their hope for a future away from the grinding muck...)

-- Anonymous, January 18, 2002

You folks see a lot more TV than I do.

-- Anonymous, January 18, 2002

You're right, Meemur, helen must have installed a tv in the barn...

-- Anonymous, January 18, 2002

Re: TV in Helen's barn . . .

Well if vets and kennel owners can put cable near the animal cages and run "Animal Planet". . .

-- Anonymous, January 18, 2002

Just trying pacify the natives...

-- Anonymous, January 18, 2002

I'm coming to live with you, Helen, and I'm bring my front paws declawed (I didn't do it!!! She came to me that way) older Siamese. We'll live in your barn and help you with all of the chores.

Your barn sounds more comfortable than some houses.

-- Anonymous, January 18, 2002

I'm getting tired of the Dell surfer dude too. Gawd, I love getting old--I can bitch all day!

-- Anonymous, January 18, 2002

since when does one have to be old to do that?

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2002

Oh you don't. It's just that nobody argues with you when you get old--they just figure it's not gonna do any good, so you have more time to bitch, more things to bitch about. It helps even more if it's a cane day, lol!

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2002

I actually know who you mean! I tuned into TV for the local weather and caught a Dell commercial. What a loser! Can't Dell afford a better pitchman than that? At least the Taco Bell dog was CUTE.

-- Anonymous, January 20, 2002