This tropical treasure is swaying to Hawaiian rhythms, wearing the traditional green hula skirt trimmed with a purple sash. She has on yellow shoes and a yellow bracelet, and elbow-length white gloves. (The Raisin guys sport wrist-length gloves.) Her hairdo is extremely fashionable, and her eyes are open and fringed with thick dark lashes. She's also one of a pair. Her partner is a handsome surfer dude Raisin, who says "Baywatch" has all the best beach bod's? This wrinkled purple fellow has made a career out of sunbathing -- those UV rays made him what he is today! Now he's ready for more, lounging in his favorite beach chair, wearing orange shades and sandals, with his best tanning lotion within reach, and his best girl by his side. This wrinkled Raisin beauty is enjoying the beach, and getting a dark purple tan. Both her eyes are open, with thick black eyelashes enhancing her femininity. She's got purple sunglasses propped up on her hairdo, and she's wearing lime green pumps and a green bracelet. (A girl always has to look her best, even on the beach!) Notice that her gloves are nearly elbow length, where the Raisin guys' gloves are wrist-length. Cowabunga dude! Wrinkles rule!

This purple wave jockey is wearing green and purple-checked swim trunks and yellow beach sandals. He's carrying a purple surfboard, ready to rock the surf. He's also one of a pair: his partner is the Hawaiian hula dancer.

The Story of the California Raisins

"Oh, yeah, I heard it through the grapevine!"

They were plump, they were purple, and they were "jazzed!" So on a summer's day in 1986, this boisterous bunch of singing raisins sauntered out of their cereal box to put a new wrinkle in advertising history.

The California Raisins became an overnight sensation. In fact, for awhile there, they were so hot that they even had their own 800-line! In their claymation conga line, created by Foote, Cone and Belding's and Will Vinton Productions, they strutted their stuff, belting out soulful tunes, and making a dried up old fruit (the raisin) a lot more exciting. The California Raisin Advisory Board (CALRAB), which sponsored the ads, was thrilled to see their raisin sales plump up more than 20%. And Post Raisin Bran Cereal, with the California crooners inside their box, couldn't have been happier. The Raisin Bran box also advertised "Free Stuff from the California Raisins Revue."