The commercials starred two puppets and aired in the late 1950s an early 60s, and they’re extremely short. They all have the same basic plot: Wilkins asks Wontkins something about coffee ...

which offered a set of plastic children's toy hand puppets featuring the dueling duo. The popularity of Wilkins and Wontkins and their clever banter proved to be a highly successful marketing ...

In 1958, 25,000 pairs of vinyl Wilkins and Wontkins puppets were sold. By 1992, Wilkins Coffee was no longer the presence it once was. (It seems to be defunct today.) It authorized marketing ...

As for those souvenir Wilkins and Wontkins Muppets ... I’m sitting here regarding a pair of puppets that I acquired in the late 1950s when I was 11. They’re about seven inches tall and ...

Henson created two puppet characters to star in the commercials: The cheerful Wilkins who liked the coffee and the grouchy Wontkins (!) who did not like it. Henson produced 179 short spots for the ...

and the company sold 25,000 pairs of vinyl Wilkins and Wontkins puppets in 1958. Between the short format video and branded merchandise, Wilkins would fit in just fine in the TikTok era of 2021.

Explore Jim Henson's puppets and Muppets in the Smithsonian's collections along with related collection items. Learn their backstories, their missions, and the inspiration for each of them. National ...

clips of “Sam and Friends” with a Yorick puppet and clips and toys of Henson’s 1957 to 1969 Wilkins Coffee Company commercials, featuring his Wilkins and Wontkins puppets. Also in this area of the ...