Screaming Yellow Zonkers was a popcorn snack food, produced and marketed by Lincoln Snacks in the USA from 1968 to 2007, with subsequent limited editions. Zonkers were noted for the bold graphics and funny text of their packaging.

Development

In 1968 Lincoln Snacks developed a nut-free, kosher sugar glazed popcorn with a strong

yellow Yellow is the color between green and orange on the spectrum of light. It is evoked by light with a dominant wavelength of roughly 575585 nm. It is a primary color in subtractive color systems, used in painting or color printing. In the ...

color—as a variant of their other popcorn products,

Fiddle Faddle Fiddle Faddle is candy-coated popcorn produced by ConAgra Foods. Introduced in 1967, the snack is commonly found in US discount and drug stores. Fiddle Faddle consists of popped popcorn covered with either caramel or butter toffee and mixed w ...

and Poppycock. When Lincoln executives invited major ad agencies in Chicago to pitch ideas for a name and marketing concept, a small agency, Hurvis, Binzer & Churchill won the account, naming the product "Screaming Yellow Zonkers" and presenting it in a black box with bold graphics, detailed illustrations and funny text.

Packaging

From the inception, part of the value of the snack was the entertainment provided on its packaging. The box text was written by

Allan Katz Allan Katz (born in Chicago, Illinois) is an American writer, producer, actor, and director. He began his writing career as an advertising copywriter. In 1970 he created the original award-winning campaign for the popcorn snack Screaming Yel ...

and Howie Kraków who wrote the copy for the first several boxes, and crafted the TV and radio campaigns. The graphics were designed by Rollin Binzer, co-owner and creative director of HBC. Text might describe how to wash or mate Zonkers. The bottom of the box might explain how to determine if it were indeed the bottom: "Open the top, and turn the box upside down. If the Zonkers fall out, this is the bottom. If they fall up, this is the top. If nothing happens, this box is empty." Other text might suggest that 8 oz. (226 g) = of a metric ton. Text, graphics and illustrations varied over a series of 'editions', and noted illustrators were invited to design the packaging, within the established framework. Airbrush artist Charlie White illustrated the front of the 'circus' box along with

Seymour Chwast Seymour Chwast (born August 18, 1931) is an American graphic designer, illustrator, and type designer. Biography Chwast was born in the Bronx, New York City and in 1949 graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School in Brooklyn where he was int ...

's work. White also illustrated a giant Zonkers circus poster, with text by Katz; the poster was offered on the 'circus' box for $2.95 including shipping and handling. The circus box was subsequently displayed in the Louvre in Paris.

Discontinued

Zonkers were discontinued when

Conagra Conagra Brands, Inc. (formerly ConAgra Foods) is an American consumer packaged goods holding company headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. Conagra makes and sells products under various brand names that are available in supermarkets, restaurants, ...

acquired Lincoln Foods in 2007. Conagra reintroduced Zonkers on a limited edition basis for

Walgreens Walgreen Company, d/b/a Walgreens, is an American company that operates the second-largest pharmacy store chain in the United States behind CVS Health. It specializes in filling prescriptions, health and wellness products, health information, a ...

, as of 2012.

References

{{reflist, 25em Brand name snack foods Discontinued products Popcorn brands Products introduced in 1968 Products and services discontinued in 2007

Development

Packaging

Discontinued

See also

References