Little Mikey
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The story of Little Mikey is an urban myth.
Contents |
[edit] The Myth
In the mid-1970s, John Gilchrist appeared in a popular advertisement in the US for Life Cereal, a product of Quaker Oats, playing a boy called Little Mikey. Around the same time General Foods, launched a product called Pop Rocks that popped in the mouth when exposed to moisture.
The myth went something like this:[1]
"Did you hear what happened to Little Mikey from the cereal commercial? Well, he was at home and he ate six packets of exploding candy, he drank a can of soda, and about an hour later, his poor little stomach exploded. Poor kid was killed there and then and his blood and guts were everywhere. It's a known chemical reaction so don't try that candy...."
[edit] The Truth
The truth is that the actor who played Little Mikey, John Gilchrist, is still very much alive and works in advertising.
Exploding Candy cannot explode in the stomach or anywhere else; the exploding sensation is caused by a minute release of carbon-dioxide, a little like when one drinks a carbonated drink too quickly and the bubbles seem to rush through one's nose.[2]
[edit] Recurrences
The myth resurfaces every few years, and always surrounds an identifiable child actor, who died in those shocking circumstances.[3] A recent example in the UK was The Frosties Kid, who also advertised breakfast cereal.
The Little Mikey myth was tested on an episode of Mythbusters.
[edit] References
- ^ Barbara and David P. Mikkelson (missingdate). Pop Rocks. Urban Legends Reference Pages.
- ^ missingauthor (missingdate). missingtitle. — the original patent
- ^ Justin Viles and J.C. Navarro (missingdate). missingtitle.
