1982 BUFFALO BILLS WHAMMY WEENIE #1 Shaker BELLS Super Market RECALLED / RARE

  

1982 BUFFALO BILLS WHAMMY WEENIE #1 Shaker BELLS Super Market RECALLED / RARE The "Whammy Weenie" was created by Bells Supermarkets in 1982 and was designed by Art Rago and manufactured by Bon Chance. This green 8 plastic hot dog with a brightly painted yellow logo and two internal noise-making ball bearings inside was introduced as a game day noisemaker to hex and create havoc with the opposition until it was recalled after three games. Since 1982, Whammy Weenies have become one of Western New York's most sought after sports collectible. Thank you and good luck! WHAMMY WEENIE ORIGIN The infamous "Whammy Weenie" was created by Bells Supermarkets in 1982 as a fan friendly way of cheering on the struggling Buffalo Bills and was introduced as a game day noisemaker to create havoc with the opposition.

When waved in the face of the opponent, its menacing sound is guaranteed to cause sudden sloppiness, frequent fumbles, inopportune interceptions and downright disorganization. The "hex" was in the shape of a green 8 plastic hot dog with a brightly painted yellow logo and two internal noise-making ball bearings inside. Art Rago produced the original design for the promotion and marketing firm Bon Chance was contracted to produce the Weenie. The rollout of the "Whammy Weenie" was to be the promotional crown jewels in Bells Markets President Charles Barcelona's 1982 football tailgate marketing campaign. In anticipation of the start of the season, large, full-page ads were placed in the Buffalo Evening News and supported by radio & television advertising.

In-store displays not only featured the weenie but also offered fans Weenie branded coffee mugs, travel pouches, bumper stickers, headgear and apparel. The promotion extended to game day at Rich Stadium. At one game early in the season, stadium PA announcer and Bells spokesman Danny Neaverth told everyone to "stand up and shake your Weenies". You can only imagine what actions those words prompted among the drunken adult fans. The promotion was pure genius until about three games in.

Reports began to surface that the yellow paint contained a high level of lead. Immediately, thousands of Weenies were taken off store shelves and destroyed. Weenie fans across Western New York disposed their green shakers thus ending the Whammy Weenie's brief, but historic run in Buffalo sports history. Since 1982, Whammy Weenies have become one of Western New York's most sought after sports collectible as only a few remained in the collections of die-hard fans. NOTE: I found an original ad on line so I downloaded it to inform collectors of the ten Whammy Weenie Boutique items that were available in 1982 and what they originally cost.