I have commented on inflatables in the past. My favorite is the infamous giant rat that is frequently employed to protest the unfair treatment of unionized workers. The rats are ubiquitous urban icons. Another category of inflatable, the animated dancing man—a tall, gyrating air-propelled tube—is often seen beckoning customers into all kinds of retail establishments.
On first sight they appear a bit cheesy, like the one below, but they serve a very necessary role in consumer culture: They grab attention.
The concept was originally conceived by Peter Minshall, an artist from Trinadad and Tobago, along with Doron Gazit and Arieh Dranger, for the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Minshall called his creation the “Tall Boy,” but Gazit eventually patented the concept of an inflatable dancing human-shaped balloon, which has grown into a thriving advertising display genre.
Today the concept has evolved from simple gesticulating tubes into dozens of other representations of products and objects with moveable appendages. The beer bottle below surprisingly appeared at a local bar and grill a week ago, and has become a welcome neighbor and expression of good vibes. Propelled by a small fan, an outstretched arm rapidly makes a waving motion, inviting the customer to partake in cool beer, a game of pool and an extra-large screen perpetually playing sports.
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