Gonk

For the Herbert Chappell song, see Dawn of the Dead (soundtracks).
Australian fairground gonks from the late 1970s
A 1990s gonk, made in New Zealand

A gonk is normally an egg-shaped or spherical furry novelty toy with googly eyes and sometimes small arms and legs originally popular in the 1960s and 70s.[1] The term Gonk was also used as a contraction for Gonk Troll in the UK.

They were created by Robert Benson and Sheila Stanton. They were associated with Op art, hep and mod culture.[2][3] Gund sold Gonks in the US, including inflatable vinyl versions.[4][5] Gonks were also homemade.[6]

They were featured in the film title design of the 1965 film Gonks Go Beat.

References

  1. ↑ "Cheaper toys 'are Christmas hits'". BBC News. October 28, 2009. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
  2. ↑ "'Living Dolls for Christmas". The Beaver County Times (Penn.). November 25, 1965. p. B-9. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
  3. ↑ Macdonald, Iain (May 12, 1964). "Just a Crazy Mixed up Gonk". Evening Times (Glasgow). p. 12. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
  4. ↑ "Going, Going, Gonk". Newsweek 64 (2). pp. 106, 109. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
  5. ↑ Raiffe, Bruce S.; Alex Baron Raiffe (2005). Gund. Images of America. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing. p. 103. ISBN 9780738537108. OCLC 62380934. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
  6. ↑ "Girl Scouts Work on Decorations for University Women's Christmas Party". Lawrence Journal-World (Kansas). December 6, 1966. p. 7. Retrieved March 31, 2013.

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