BS: Big Mouth Billy Bass

Subject: RE: BS: Big Mouth Billy Bass
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 05 Apr 06 - 06:52 PM

Back in the early days Skullduggery was more or less affordable. The skull I bought was $35. Last time I checked, that same skull repro was closer to $200 -- waaaaaay out of my price range.

Nice stuff, though. I'll have to Google 'em -- been off the mailing list for 20 years or so.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Big Mouth Billy Bass
From: Scoville
Date: 05 Apr 06 - 10:24 AM

Pump-jack art is a wide, weird, world all its own.



I LOVED Skullduggery. We couldn't afford them but my uncle has a saber-toothed cat on his mantle (appropriate, since he's a dentist).

Subject: RE: BS: Big Mouth Billy Bass
From: JennyO
Date: 05 Apr 06 - 08:21 AM

Skulls, ears, noses and fingers for Valentines Day!

Oh good. Now I don't feel so bad about the toad :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Big Mouth Billy Bass
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 05 Apr 06 - 07:58 AM

I've got a bobble headed moose velcroed to my car's dash.

I also sort of accumulate (rather than collect) political humor -- so I've got a catnip Newt Gingrich that I won't let the cats play with. They'd just get cat spit on it. (Also a "jerk in the box" same as Tip O'Neil had, Clinton nesting doll, and a huge amount of Bushwah.)

Tom and I give each other body parts for significant gift giving occasions. It all started out almost 25 years ago when I gave him a museum-quality repro skull from Skullduggery (back when I could afford one) to remind him of, oh, mortality and dentist appointments. Since then we've given each other ear-shaped paper clips, a bag of eyeballs, pen shaped like a finger, pencil sharpener in the shape of a nose, etcet etcet. Very romantic -- especially for Valentine's Day.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Big Mouth Billy Bass
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 05 Apr 06 - 03:49 AM

LH - are those nodding donkey things in Texas not really those dunking birds then? There goes another childhood illusion....

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Big Mouth Billy Bass
From: Scoville
Date: 04 Apr 06 - 09:59 PM

My boss the veterinarian had one. The resident clinic cats HATED it.

I hated them until he started pushing the button for comic relief whenever we were having a really bad day. He was a jackass most of the time but it actually did help to have the stupid thing singing at us when things weren't going well. Funny what kind of associations you form.

Subject: RE: BS: Big Mouth Billy Bass
From: Desdemona
Date: 04 Apr 06 - 09:20 PM

Sinsull--the gift shop at the museum where I was formerly employed carried Mr Wonderful, and we were all ga-ga for him; I gavew him to a number of female chums as prezzies!

http://www.brandsonsale.com/mr-wonderful-doll.html

"Have you lost weight, darling?"

~D

Subject: RE: BS: Big Mouth Billy Bass
From: Little Hawk
Date: 04 Apr 06 - 09:03 PM

I think you can't make them bigger than a certain size, sadly. But who knows? Man, it would sure be an awesome sight, wouldn't it? 500 foot tall dipping birds bobbing majestically up and down on the fringes of every town and city, standing guard on the coastlines...

Subject: RE: BS: Big Mouth Billy Bass
From: number 6
Date: 04 Apr 06 - 08:49 PM

Interesting theory .... guess it really wouldn't work.

sIx

Subject: RE: BS: Big Mouth Billy Bass
From: Little Hawk
Date: 04 Apr 06 - 08:40 PM

That's called a "dipping bird", and it's a sort of perpetual motion machine as long as the water lasts.

There was a theory that one could power the world by setting up hundreds of thousands of giant dipping birds to generate hydroelectric power.

Subject: RE: BS: Big Mouth Billy Bass
From: number 6
Date: 04 Apr 06 - 08:38 PM

What about those birds that bobbed up and down into a container of water ... the kind of things old ladies used to have sitting on top of their T.V. ... you know the kind, they would have a picture of the Queen on the wall just above the T.V. and and that stoopid bird bobble thing.

sIx

Subject: RE: BS: Big Mouth Billy Bass
From: Little Hawk
Date: 04 Apr 06 - 08:30 PM

It would be amusing to have a Jar Jar Binks bobble head doll. Odd that you don't see more of those around....

Subject: RE: BS: Big Mouth Billy Bass
From: number 6
Date: 04 Apr 06 - 08:19 PM

dogs, football players, hockey players.

sIx

Subject: RE: BS: Big Mouth Billy Bass
From: Little Hawk
Date: 04 Apr 06 - 08:12 PM

I thought it was usually dogs they did for that.

Subject: RE: BS: Big Mouth Billy Bass
From: number 6
Date: 04 Apr 06 - 07:58 PM

LH ... do you also have those bobble head dolls on the back window ledge of your car ... you know one for the Pittsburgh Steelers, one for the New England Pats, one for the 49'ers ...

sIx

Subject: RE: BS: Big Mouth Billy Bass
From: Little Hawk
Date: 04 Apr 06 - 07:53 PM

What a lovely place it sounds like! You should also get some lifesize dinosaurs out in the woods, emerging dramatically from the foliage.

Subject: RE: BS: Big Mouth Billy Bass
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 04 Apr 06 - 07:28 PM

I didn't mention earlier the assorted flamingoes (including in bathing attire), bats, and other than decapod or octopod marine creatures (think glow-in-the-dark jelly fish) that inhabit our rather uniquely decorated abode here in the middle of the woods. Rubber geckos climbing up posts and realistic looking rubber snakes wrapped around the beams above the bed and the guest room bed. (Oh, and the guest room walls are covered with gravestone rubbings.)

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Big Mouth Billy Bass
From: Little Hawk
Date: 04 Apr 06 - 07:27 PM

How about a Howard Dean alarm clock with "snooze" feature? Anyone have one of those?

Subject: RE: BS: Big Mouth Billy Bass
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 04 Apr 06 - 06:35 PM

I had a chicken that clucked when you squeezed her.. I used to call her the 'Bantam of the Opera'. Her batteries died a long time ago....

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Big Mouth Billy Bass
From: SINSULL
Date: 04 Apr 06 - 06:18 PM

My very best is Mr. Wonderful, the perfect man gifted to me by Tinker. Squeeze his hand and he offers to massage my feet, tells me I am beautiful in the morning, asks if he can go shopping with me and carry my packages - you get the idea. I fitted him with a miniature banjo - just perfect. All he needs is a paying job.

Subject: RE: BS: Big Mouth Billy Bass
From: Leadfingers
Date: 04 Apr 06 - 11:35 AM

My brother has a 'soft toy' lion , hugging a mouse ! Give the lion a prod in the right place and they duet on 'Wimoweh' - Tasteful Huh ??

Subject: RE: BS: Big Mouth Billy Bass
From: Purple Foxx
Date: 04 Apr 06 - 11:13 AM

To be honest RtS he looks kinda cool.

Subject: RE: BS: Big Mouth Billy Bass
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 04 Apr 06 - 11:01 AM

You think you got trouble, look who's sharing my "study":HERE .He's always criticising my washboard playing as well as my singing.

RtS
(HE belongs to HER, the axe was a present to me from a "friend")

Subject: RE: BS: Big Mouth Billy Bass
From: Purple Foxx
Date: 04 Apr 06 - 10:31 AM

Sinsull I think you would like Magaluf on the island of Majorca.
A town whose entire economy seems to be built on selling this sort of thing.
Every shop you go into has lorryloads of these "objets d'art"
You'd probably get a Squid there as well,Bat Goddess.

Subject: RE: BS: Big Mouth Billy Bass
From: catspaw49
Date: 04 Apr 06 - 10:19 AM

I like the simple turkey too Sins.....not quite the Chicken mind you, but a pretty cool character! That damn train clock on the other hand..................

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Big Mouth Billy Bass
From: SINSULL
Date: 04 Apr 06 - 10:15 AM

Ahhhh Singing fish and lobsters... Ranger1 accepted Bill with grace. Tom Paxton adored his Larry. But the Elvis Lobster was tossed intot he back seat of a car. Very strange. He found a home with Linn and Tom.
As Spaw will tell you, I am partial to stuffed toys that light up, sing, flash, blow horns at odd times or otherwise make a nuisance of themselves. I have received my share including a Santa on Wheels and an obnoxiuos penguin. Can't understand why anyone woulcn't love the little critters.
The best? A jiggling Pilgrim Turkey singing:
"Turkey in the straw
HEH HEH HEH
Turkey in the straw
HO HO HO
Folks all dance through the barnyard door
And we all get together singing
Turkey in the straw"

Subject: RE: BS: Big Mouth Billy Bass
From: JennyO
Date: 04 Apr 06 - 09:17 AM

I was going to mention my two weird critters. Then I realised I actually have a lot more than I thought! For a start, I have a garden gnome that lets out a wolf-whistle as you walk past, and a reindeer in a rocking chair that sings "Grandma got run over by a reindeer".

Then there's the "message bag" which repeats any message you have recorded onto it, as you walk past. It looks like a sort of orange blob with little eyes and a very big mouth. There's a Y2K bug sitting on my monitor. He doesn't make any noise, but he's sorta cute. I got him for $5 the week after the new year in 2000.

The latest in the collection was a Valentine's gift - a strange looking green and yellow critter - supposedly a toad, holding a heart which says "You're toadally awesome". When you press its hand, it makes loud kissing noises.

If you go to the bathroom, you will find several plastic or rubber sea-creatures. There's a rather realistic looking shark, a blue and yellow fish that looks rather cartoon-like, and a blue and white puffer fish that squeaks.

Aaaarrrgggh !!!!!! I'd better stop before I think of any more!

Subject: RE: BS: Big Mouth Billy Bass
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 04 Apr 06 - 08:03 AM

I ended up with the "Super Star Lobster" that sings Elvis's "Don't Be Cruel" and "All Shook Up" after John Roberts declined the gift. (At least he didn't run over it in the driveway!)

Tasteful.

I have a non-working singing lobster that is probably going to end up as a lawn ornament because nobody makes lawn squid. (Then again, maybe I'll Freecycle it.)

I have a fish pillow -- and 3 stools that look like a lobster, a crab and an octopus.

And the largest collection of rubber and other non-edible squid in the state of New Hampshire. None of them sing, though.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Big Mouth Billy Bass
From: Purple Foxx
Date: 04 Apr 06 - 03:16 AM

I have also seen a pair of frogs that play "Duelling Banjoes" on,er Banjoes.

Subject: RE: BS: Big Mouth Billy Bass
From: Little Hawk
Date: 03 Apr 06 - 09:19 PM

"Rocky Lobster". Oh, joy. There also appears to be a "Singing Shark" out...a Great White that sings popular tunes from its gaping jaws.

Subject: RE: BS: Big Mouth Billy Bass
From: Peter Kasin
Date: 03 Apr 06 - 09:01 PM

I still have mine. It sings "Take Me To the River," and "Don't Worry, be Happy." If only they manufactured them with Shatner's voice.

Chanteyranger

Subject: RE: BS: Big Mouth Billy Bass
From: Desdemona
Date: 03 Apr 06 - 08:59 PM

I live near Boston, and I recall seeing this local variant in the airport gift shop, but he SHOULD have been singing (what else?) "Rock Lobster"...down, down!!!

http://www.gadgetsuk.com/Rocky-The-Singing-Lobster-p-16716.html

~D

Subject: RE: BS: Big Mouth Billy Bass
From: catspaw49
Date: 03 Apr 06 - 08:54 PM

Okay Hawk......I showed up......And Mario has already nailed it!!! No batteries=No worries!!! Same with that gawddamn Lionel train clock!! The freakin' gyrating turkey still has a good battery as does the singing reindeer. The latest addition from the "Madwoman of Portland Town," a dancing chicken is still entertaing anyone who squeezez a wing. For reasons known only to god, I find him pretty cool. I think it's because he tends to freak the cats out.

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Big Mouth Billy Basso Profundo
From: Severn
Date: 03 Apr 06 - 08:40 PM

If Billy sang Bass, then who sang tenor?

Does he need a tuna if he starts to go off key and loses track of his scales, or just a new set of batteries? Or is he just suffering (or Ale-ing) from A-trophy?

....Anyway, if any of you actually see Billy, could you please give him the message that he's gotta go home and rescue Fontella again. Thanks.

Subject: RE: BS: Big Mouth Billy Bass
From: ranger1
Date: 03 Apr 06 - 08:30 PM

LH, you can have mine, if you want it. But don't tell Sinsull!

Subject: RE: BS: Big Mouth Billy Bass
From: Little Hawk
Date: 03 Apr 06 - 07:25 PM

Maybe. But I think they pretty well sold out at the time.

Subject: RE: BS: Big Mouth Billy Bass
From: Once Famous
Date: 03 Apr 06 - 07:10 PM

I would bet there are thousands of these things still in warehouses. Perhaps hundreds of thousands of them.

Subject: RE: BS: Big Mouth Billy Bass
From: Little Hawk
Date: 03 Apr 06 - 06:58 PM

Well, Michelle, I was asking because it's a sort of an old "in joke" started by Spaw a long time ago, and I was hoping to entice him out from whatever hole he lurks in most of the time by dangling some obvious bait. It hasn't worked so far.

Other than that, I was genuinely curious who would admit to having one of the damned things. ;-P

You have it in the original box? Wow! Hang onto that sucker. In another 10 years it will be a big ticket collector item, I'm sure. That's if we're all still here in another 10 years...

Subject: RE: BS: Big Mouth Billy Bass
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 03 Apr 06 - 06:42 PM

Useta be a buncha them Big Mouth Billy Bass thangs down 'ere in Floribama, but they's all gone now. Bubba an' Jim Bob fount thet If ya drink a six-pack of cheap beer ol' Billy's purty good eatin'. They done went an' started sellin' fried Big Mouth Billy Bass fillets down at th' Live Bait an' Sushi Bar. They figger, hell, anybuddy'd eat octopus'll probly eat fried rubber.

Subject: RE: BS: Big Mouth Billy Bass
From: billybob
Date: 03 Apr 06 - 06:23 PM

So thats who won the lobster! Where did Dave get it? Will have to ask Essex girl.

Subject: RE: BS: Big Mouth Billy Bass
From: jacqui.c
Date: 03 Apr 06 - 05:45 PM

Ranger1 has one - SINSULL gave it to her for her birthday just over a week agao.

Subject: RE: BS: Big Mouth Billy Bass
From: LilyFestre
Date: 03 Apr 06 - 05:42 PM

I have one...still in the original box it came from...likely that's where it will stay for the rest of its life!

I'm curious as to why you are asking....

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Big Mouth Billy Bass
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 03 Apr 06 - 05:17 PM

No BMBB but I do have 'Larry the singing Lobster'! I won it in the raffle at Dave Bryant's wake. It sits on the mantelpiece and gets played at least once a week.


Yes, I am that sad!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Big Mouth Billy Bass
From: Little Hawk
Date: 03 Apr 06 - 04:06 PM

Hey, this is great! Better results than I expected. Certainly better than in the case of the inflatable Hillary Clinton dolls.

Subject: RE: BS: Big Mouth Billy Bass
From: Rapparee
Date: 03 Apr 06 - 03:59 PM

My brother does. And I can get you one -- or even a similarily endowed deer head! -- if you will send me the correct amount for the cost, shipping and handling. Should it be shipped across international borders I cannot be responsible for its possible seizure by Customs (Douane), though.

Subject: RE: BS: Big Mouth Billy Bass
From: Purple Foxx
Date: 03 Apr 06 - 03:47 PM

"Some Class..." erm,Her Britannic Majesty Queen Elizabeth II Dei Gratia Regina et Fidi Defensor was rather taken with this object.
number6 I think you may have blown the Knighthood,LH if your ever in London she might let you play with Hers.
(She lives in the big house at the bottom of The Mall.Just ask for Betty.)

Subject: RE: BS: Big Mouth Billy Bass
From: MMario
Date: 03 Apr 06 - 03:43 PM

'spaw probably does - but he won't let anyone put the batteries in it.

Subject: RE: BS: Big Mouth Billy Bass
From: jeffp
Date: 03 Apr 06 - 03:42 PM

I have Travis the Rainbow Trout.

Subject: RE: BS: Big Mouth Billy Bass
From: number 6
Date: 03 Apr 06 - 03:40 PM

Come LH ... show some class will ya.

sIx

Subject: BS: Big Mouth Billy Bass
From: Little Hawk
Date: 03 Apr 06 - 03:38 PM

Anyone got one of those that still works?