Shazam! Placemat c. 1978

[MRP]

So I saw this at my lcs on FCBD but was on the fence, but when I got home, I regretted not picking it up. When I went today to pick up my pulls, it was still there, so I grabbed it. It's copyrighted 1978 to DC Comics, has a Pepsi logo and Pepsi trademark notices on it. The cover is from one of the Treasury editions, but I a trying to figure out where it came form. My best guess is a fast food chain or restaurant rather than retail because of the Pepsi logo and info, but does anyone have any idea which chain it might have been or if not a restaurant, where it might have come from?

5gWWCDP.jpg

MbZGpEl.jpg

[MRP]

Here are the copyright and trademark notices (I need a better pic of the copyright corner, but its copyright DC Comics 1978... VajtJGx.jpg 7LgRDcG.jpg

[palitoy]

Wow, that's awesome and gorgeous!

[MRP]

Wow, that's awesome and gorgeous!

When I saw it on FCBD, I didn't realize it was a placemat, in fact I wasn't sure what it was and it was a bit too crowded and I was in a bit too much of a rush to give it a long look, but I after I got home, I was like, man I should have grabbed that. I was a bit surprised it was still there today, but I grabbed it. I talked to the owner, and he said it was part of a collection he recently bought, and was sure it was from some kind of restaurant or fast food chain, but had no idea which one and hadn't been able to turn up much when he was researching pricing on it. I found a listing for one on ebay (for the same price I paid so I assume it's where he got his info) but it said nothing about what the source for these were. Nothing else comes up in any searches I have done, and no responses yet from any of the social media platforms I posted on or any of the comic forums, so I am still at a loss as to which places might have had these in the 70s.

-M

[MRP]

One of my acquaintances from a classic comics forum had no luck with which restaurant, but did find that Pepsi had also done promotional placemats featuring Batman & Robin, Superman, Flash, Aquaman and Wonder Woman in '78 as well, and they were part of the same promotion (though not necessarily the same restaurants) as the DC glassware promotional items from around that same time. Those I see quite frequently; this was my first sighting of the placemats.

-M

[MRP]

I've received one "educated guess" that Pizza Hut would be a strong contender since they were owned by Pepsi-Co circa '78 and already had a license deal in place with Dc having produced a series of promo reprint comics of DC issues in '77. Hoping I can get a confirmation or rebuttal of that from one of the places I've asked the question.

-M

[pmwasson]

That is amazing!

[Earth 2 Chris]

I have never seen these in person, so thanks for the up close detail! I'm guessing the art on the origin is by Kurt Schaffenberger. The front artwork is by C.C. Beck himself!

[TrekStar]

That is very cool, definitely wish I had that in my collection.

[PNGwynne]

I wish I could be happier for you, but I'm so damn envious...

Congrats, though--it's lovely.

[PNGwynne]

The thought of an Aquaman placemat somewhere is giving me fits.

[MRP]

Here's a pic of some of the other placemats my acquaintance posted when he suggested Pizza Hut as the likely source...

plac3.jpg

there's a Wonder Woman one as well.

-M

[Jorge Galvan]

My guess besides Pizza Hut would be Denny's? Shakey's pizza? I can't see McDonald's or Burger King doing something like that


I m thinking "California" for some reason. Maybe Jack in the Box?

[MRP]

My guess besides Pizza Hut would be Denny's? Shakey's pizza? I can't see McDonald's or Burger King doing something like that


I m thinking "California" for some reason. Maybe Jack in the Box?

Thanks. Any insight helps. I'll update if/when I get any concrete info. I've gotten educated guesses, but no corroborative facts.

-M

[MRP]

The only other image I have been able to track down is the comic side of the Superman mat...

Superman origin side.jpg

but no further info on which restaurant was doing this promotion.

-M