Popeye’s Comic Strip Glasses

My first encounter with Popeye's happened during a family trip to Florida back in the 1980s. While the food didn't immediately win me over, I was completely taken with the restaurant's branding. I had always adored the Popeye character and couldn't believe there was an entire chain dedicated to him. Walking into the restaurant, my excitement knew no bounds (it was almost as exhilarating as my first time at Wimpy's!).

Although I don't quite recall what we ordered, it was probably a family pack of some sort, and I can vividly remember munching on the drumsticks while playfully pretending to be King Henry VIII. However, what truly etched that experience in my memory was discovering that they had glasses available for sale. With Popeye-themed designs, I was able to persuade my mother to buy me one. Unfortunately, the glass didn't survive the journey back to New Jersey, but it held a special place in my heart.

The commercial featured here is from an earlier promotion in the 1970s, but the glasses shown bear a resemblance to the ones I remember. Two things about this commercial stand out to me: first, the oddly satisfying sight of people filling glasses at a soda fountain, and second, the delight in knowing what glass design to expect each week.

Though the physical glass may be gone, the fond memories of that trip and my fascination with Popeye's endure. The character's enduring charm, combined with the excitement of those themed glasses, created a lasting impression that continues to bring a smile to my face even today.