How The California Raisins Became a National Phenomenon

Weird History Food is taking you back to the 80s to revisit the California Raisins. in 1986, Will Vinton and his advertising team at Foote, Cone & Belding launched a particularly innovative campaign that revolutionized the California raisin industry for the better part of a decade: the California Raisins.
A fictional singing group made up of a quartet of claymation raisins who sang popular hit songs, the California Raisins - and Michael Jackson - appeared in television commercials in an effort to create an allure around the rather unremarkable dried fruit.
#80scommercials #foodhistory #WeirdHistoryFood

[@hexprincess9582]

My grandpa LOVED the California Raisins! He used to joke that he looked just like them. When he passed away, I inherited two vintage stuffed raisins that I used to play with when I was little. They mean the world to me, and I intend on restoring them in his memory.

[@tempesttking5715]

💕

[@samholdsworth420]

Was your grandpa black? Cuz a white man cant look like a raisin that's for sure.

[@dawn8542]

My dad collected them. I asked mom, why? She said he wanted something to collect. Ooooookay. That Christmas I bought him 8 Star Wars action figures.

[@AidenLS]

really sad to hear that but thank you for sharing :')

[@tracyosick1099]

For whatever weird reason, I was a pre-teen obsessed with the Raisins! My entire bedroom was decked out in Raisin gear - curtains, bed sheets and comforter, posters, figurines, tshirts, robe, slippers……. I remember my mom being a little confused about the whole thing and why her sweet, 12 year old daughter was into these Motown fruits, but bless her heart, she bought me all the Raisin crap I wanted. ❤️

[@patrickmarsh2538]

Poor Sunmaid is like...damn

[@donavonseibert507]

Lolol I love this. Most girls would of had New Kids On The Block or something like that. But you chose raisins. Hilariously wholesome.

[@Yourmomgoestocolledge]

That's extremely weird 🤣🤣 that being said I'm almost 37 and have 350 action figures so what room to talk do I have 😅😅

[@ChloeDunIT]

Lmao awesome

[@ramblingrob91]

Same!!!

[@amandaengelman5168]

When I was in elementary school, it was pretty common for students to bring treats for birthdays or when they were moving away and changing schools. My family was moving, so I begged my dad to bring cookies and juice for my class. He brought boxes of raisins. I was so mad lol. But he taught the whole class how to use the empty boxes as noisemakers, so I forgave him lol.

[@ThatGirlHoney]

Oh wow! Lol that reminds me of when my mother was hospitalized and my grandfather was put in charge of taking a classroom snack. I was expecting cupcakes and he had the nerve to show up with 24 oranges! What a scandal!

[@AllisonWonderland101]

Gotta love that irritatingly shrill raisin box whistle! It’s like a prize you get at the end for eating them all.

[@amandaengelman5168]

@@AllisonWonderland101 Glad to know we were the only ones to do it lol.

[@AllisonWonderland101]

@@amandaengelman5168 yes; and it seemed to work best with the smallest “kid” size box, right?! Lol

[@marslander2488]

I absolutely ADORE this story! Sounds like something my mom would have done. Lol

[@angelam5782]

I full on yelped with laughter at "grapeshit". Had to look around and make sure no one heard me lol

[@Lawrence_Talbot]

Did they grape you? Grape you in the mouth?

[@chayden153]

a video about the cereal mascots would be dope

[@laurenholloman]

The Vinton Christmas Special is a tradition at our house and we still have all of our Hardee's California Raisins figurines, which they also have away with their cinnamon raisin biscuits. That Christmas claymation was the reason my family and I couldn't get through a Christmas church service without cracking up. Once you've seen camels in tennis shoes singing We Three Kings, you just can't unsee it.

[@barbarastrayhorn4667]

Have to agree with that. There are certain songs that make me see raisins.

[@user-yj6bm1kg7b]

3FOR SALE..MAY BE THE ONLY ONES LEFT IN EXCELLENT CONDITION . LOOKING TO SELL..SEE MY COMMENT

[@raggededge82]

I owned the cassette of both the raisins sing the hits and the christmas special. I listened to those things for literally years.

[@forceoffriction]

When I worked for a minor league baseball team in Central California, we did business with Sun-Maid. They have a product now that are meant to be raisin-based fruit snacks (no added sugars, no gelatin/gummy additives, etc) and they were kind enough to donate a few crates of the sour ones (which are actually pretty good, imo) for one of our kids events. The product went over pretty well (kids like sour things, who knew), BUT the best part was when I went to their HQ to pick up the product and got to see a TON of OG California Raisins merch and product and just... stuff. It was honestly really fascinating and pretty cool.

[@joshuadougherty8077]

I also used to go to Fresno Grizzlies games, sun maids plant is in kingsburg a small n proud town

[@forceoffriction]

@@joshuadougherty8077 I worked in Visalia!

[@MsXrisD]

I loved the California Raisins growing up and I even had some of the happy meal toys. I always looked forward to watching them and as an adult couldn’t remember what their deal was but now I know! This really brought me back thank you so much! 💜

[@stevedaniels3661]

Glad to see this, my memories of my great grandfather in the early 1990's, a raisin farmer in Fowler, CA always include him wearing a red California raisins hat.

[@559footballtalk2]

🔥

[@12neef]

Loved the California Raisins as a kid. Had me fall in lovs with claymation. 👏🏾👏🏾🤩👏🏾👏🏾

[@baronvonsvengoonie1767]

Okay just screw Ray harryhausen

[@wellillbeitsme007]

Hell yeah 🍇

[@kchapy720]

We had the California Raisins Christmas special recorded on VHS. I remember watching it several times as a child. Ah memories.

[@valerieschoen7494]

Without raisins, oatmeal raisin cookies would be just oatmeal cookies. This is a fact.

[@patrickaker4380]

Profound.

[@KaylaNoelle1]

I meaaaan. I put chocolate chips and shredded coconut in mine and that’s better than raisins would ever be 😅

[@gregorsamsa1364]

Word?

[@LordOfCrabz]

There's so many better things to use than raisins.

[@josheichholz1666]

Why would anyone want to eat oatmeal in a cookie

[@jamesmoss3424]

The California Raisins are still cool 😎 today. 😀👍

[@celestialrogue6006]

Could you do the history of vegemite/marmite, please? And why their flavour is so controversial. Curious minds would like to know.

[@maxdanielj]

This would be interesting because in places like 🇺🇲 most people have never even heard of it (or have only heard of it in an old 80s song)

[@celestialrogue6006]

@@maxdanielj as an Australian living in the United States, I come across a lot of confusion when I mention Vegemite. I do have a jar here in my house.

[@kandipiatkowski8589]

I've been wanting to try it, but can't see spending $5+ for something I may not like. I requested a sample of marmite once, but it never arrived (it may have only been available to those in the UK, but I didn't see that in the "fine print").

[@loneshewolf74]

The other day on Reddit someone from the UK on r/tooafraidtoask demanded to know what Cool Whip was because they saw it everywhere in American culture. They must have gotten it mixed up with Miracle Whip because they asked was it mayo. Or yogurt, or ice cream. It was too funny, but then people started talking about Vegemite and Marmite. I used to have no clue what Vegemite was, but I've heard "A Vegemite sandwich" being mentioned in the 80's song "Down Under" by the Australian rock band Men at Work, which got me so curious I finally looked it up. Yum??

[@dickJohnsonpeter]

I'm American and I really love Marmite. I just had some on bread for a snack this morning actually. Vegemite is a bit stronger or something and I don't like it much. The division about it is just because it has a strong unique flavor that either you like or hate, simple as that. My only complaint about marmite is it makes the cover stick so bad I need to use a channel locks every time I open it lol.

[@nickiegoldinhart]

I still have the California Raisins pillowcases 😁😂

[@moniquepartee415]

My grandmother had a big hand in these commercials! She was one of the heads of Foot-cone!! Of course during that time they didn’t mention the women who had a hand in it. She also has all of the commercials she worked on VHS! But she had hour’s and hours of commercials!

[@libibean]

Haha we have these in our house too cuz my step mom and uncle worked at will vinton, I was obsessed as a kid

[@user-yj6bm1kg7b]

3 FOR SALE SEE COMMENT

[@umgetoffmychannel]

I'm 24, and when I was growing up and would go to my grandma's house, she had a ton of toys, mostly from my mom's childhood, and there were three raisin jazz musicians action figures. I loved them and never really questioned them and then in the last few years I've been hearing about them, and it feels like an answer to a childhood question I never bothered asking

[@pamelamays4186]

I loved The California Raisins. Their Christmas special remains one of my favorites, up there with Charlie Brown, Rudolph and Frosty.

[@Dbear1977]

30+ years later and we still listen to “Christmas With the California Raisins” during the holidays.

[@miguelare3]

7:33 "people went grapeshit" lmao 🤣 😂 😆

[@madamesalamander16]

I believe that was a young Molly Ringwald in those "Nature's candy" commercials. Apparently, she's never not been adorable.

[@rzombi666]

Yep, your right. That was Molly Ringwald I believe just before her Facts of Life and Different Strokes stint.

[@deadfishparty]

Oh man, I drove a 90 minute round trip this past winter to pick up 5 of the 3” tall raisins for $10. So worth it.

[@michaelnevison2209]

don't matter what version of the song I hear if heard it through the grapevine comes on I think of the claymation version

[@fergusonfluffington777]

Me too. The first times I heard heard it through the grapevine it was sang by rasins so now anytime I hear it I think of the claymation rasins 🍇

[@tperk]

And that is sad.😢

[@michaelnevison2209]

"@tperk, how come it's a good memory?"

[@3frenchhens818]

I really enjoyed those commercials. Cooking-wise, I found the raisins were looked forward to when soaked overnight in sherry or brandy. Raisin bread or braids were so popular there was never any left over at potlucks.

[@raventoocute3006]

Okay so this is definitely telling my age because I absolutely loved the California raisins when I was a kid. I collected almost all of them when I was little. Wow this really took me back LOL

[@funnylittlecactus4672]

Wow, you guys are really bringing back my childhood lol. I think I had little plastic figurines of the California Raisins when I was a kid. I still don't like raisins though 🤷.

[@peekaboo21284]

"Grape shit"... yea that was indeed a good one! Lol 😆

[@catherine4970]

I was born and raised in California and yes! I remember them well! 😀👍🏻

[@user-by5hq1ow1k]

When I was a 5 or 6-year-old girl, one of my fondest memories was sleeping in my twin-sized bed with my California Raisins tent. If only I could have that tent again, I would be On Top Of The World. My raisin tent made me feel safe and secure. I have so many memories of different 80's products that I wish I could have kept.....

[@bcrnl9603]

I still remember my dad taking me to Hardee’s, getting a cinnamon roll and a California Raisin figurine. Good memory. Thanks for the backstory.

[@CwL-1984]

Some where in my parents hording is my set of the California raisins figures.

[@LunaSoShy]

my cousins and I were obsessed with them! We never missed any of their programs and drove our parents crazy singing the songs lol!

[@littlemaridee]

Memory unlocked: My childhood babysitter had all the raisins VHSes. We BEGGED to watch them, especially the Christmas one. We loved the dinosaurs and it made total sense that they would be hiding a Christmas special

[@nickd3157]

I watched your video on the olestra stuff, I remember thinking I’ve never seen the futurama clip you featured in your video before, but i was watching futurama the other day and and saw it i laughed my a*s off. Made my day lol

[@StuckInProgrammers]

I was in elementary school at this time, & my sister and I went crazy collecting these guys from Hardee’s. I had no awareness they were an advertisement for actual raisins, though! I thought they were just funny tv characters.

[@howyoudurrinhunneh]

I've loved raisins and raisin bran for as long as I can remember, before the California Raisins came out.

[@amandaengelman5168]

I had the figurines. I loved the California raisins. It's how I learned how claymation works.

[@coupdsantana206]

Best narrator by far 💯💪🏾🔥

[@kbrock9146]

I had each of the action figures and the sandwich stage that played, "I Heard It Through the Grapevine." I was caught up in the California Grapes. 🤣

[@amyofthewood2578]

Oh lawdy do I remember the California Raisins! So well that in fact, I cannot hear "I heard I Through the Grapevine" without picturing raisins singing it. I was the perfect age to have grown up thinking they were they original performers, were it not for a music obsessed family to set me straight 😂

[@robertfaler1947]

I could have sworn that one of the raisins was named Rocksteady. I must be thinking about the Ninja Turtles.

[@nickiegoldinhart]

Ninja Turtles were Leonardo, Michaelangelo, Donatello & Raphael

[@spaceracer23]

Bebop and Rocksteady where the rhino and warthog that worked for Shredder in the original TMNT cartoon. The movie used two different mutants because they didn't have the rights to the characters.

[@The.Nasty.]

It worked man, I loved raisins as a kid and I loved the California raisins.

[@dtdimeflicks6708]

I remember my mom sitting me in front of the TV when they first officially premiered.

[@fone9665]

I remember them and I live in the uk 🇬🇧 So, they obviously had international fame under their hats, too x

[@QueenCityHistory]

I had every one of the California Raisin toys from Hardee’s. Almost 40 years later we still remember them. I watch a Claymation Christmas every year

[@Shicksalblume]

I was 5 when the first California Raisins commercial aired. I don't recall being particularly wowed by them, but I do remember seeing that claymation Christmas special a few times over the years.

[@TracksWithDax]

4:44 "Off to the raisins" proooobably woulda been the line of choice xD

[@peadar-o]

I still don’t understand why some people hate raisins. I love them. Such complex flavours.

[@lp-xl9ld]

I've always been a big fan of raisins and didn't need this ad campaign to convince me to buy them. But I'll concede that the MJ one cracked me up when I first saw it (still does, come to think of it)

[@bigk8210]

You ought cover pistachios. I remember when they had the red gunk but Americans taking over the pistachio market and mechanizing it ended it.

[@bridaw8557]

The Pom Wonderful company owns lots of things like cuties and pistachio orchards in CA. Tons of water goes to high end ag

[@Pikazilla]

I love these guys. They have the perfect charm and audacity.

[@SanskritBlue]

Loved the California Raisins! As a kid, my sister’s dance teacher choreographed a huge dance number for the whole dance school and had them enter the theatre that way doing the dance up the aisles. Ironically- along the whole “dancing turd” idea- they achieved the raisin look with trash bags. They just added white gloves & wore giant sunglasses. 🤦‍♀️

[@kellygates6468]

I just posted a similar story. We did the exact same thing with the trash bags!😂

[@SanskritBlue]

@@kellygates6468 🤣😂👏👏👏

[@SanskritBlue]

@The Duke It was really something! 😂

[@GeeTmbrTmby]

I remember and miss the California Raisins. I still have one of the Raisins toys from a Hardee’s kids meal. Their merch was everywhere in the 80s.

[@lashayeenamitchell]

I use to have a bucket full of the toy raisins. I loved those action figures back then. I would play with the raisins action figures all the time .❤

[@MelandriaSurewind]

I loved this growing up. Their first album was the first cassette tape I ever owned, and I was excited to have the Christmas special as apart of my Christmas that year. Thank you for making this video!

[@hollykilberger5989]

My momma would always call them nature's candy (I was born in 89) so I totally loved raisins. I never heard of the California Raisins until that show I Love the 80s.

[@shellyirby9828]

When I was a kid, my grandma had the California Raisin bed sheets in her guest room! It was so cool!

[@ismaellovera4767]

Love listening to these vids with my coffee at work

[@weirdhistoryfood]

Cheers

[@mrs.g.9816]

When I was a preschooler in the early 1960's, my sister and I considered a little box of raisins a real treat. I think I had stopped enjoying them somewhere in my teenage years. They _are_ good in pastries and sweet breads, though. And you can't make mincemeat filling without them. I thought the California Raisins were cute, but I had no idea that such a big national fuss was made over them.

[@jaymevosburgh3660]

I still have the toy set that was made for these. Little figurines holding instruments and the came with a little stage. It was my older brother's, back in the 80's or early 90's he was really into them. I just really like toys 😆

[@cameronking3551]

Seems like those California raisins t shirts and sweatshirts were everywhere back in the late 80s.

[@WaitingtoHit]

I was a big California Raisins fan. I remember how my sister and I looked forward to going to Hardee’s during that summer where they were offering the figurines. I collected all or almost all of them. They’re currently safe and sound in my walk-in closet, but maybe it’s time to put them back on display.

[@bearing_aficionado]

At one time, I had all the California Raisins toys from Hardee's.

[@gwendolynhandy7415]

Loved the California Rains Commercial. ❤️

[@kellygates6468]

I remember doing an elementary school recital where a bunch of us dressed as California Raisins and sang "I Heard it Through the Grapevine" in a chorus line. We wore trash bags stuffed with newspaper. 😆 I also remember watching the Christmas special. I still don't like raisins but I do buy them all the time to feed to the birds.

[@paisan8766]

That Christmas claymation special brings back some serious nostalgia

[@jimmyispromo]

we still have some of the california raisins toys. they are so hefty and no toy near its manufacturing. so glad we kept them from my parents.

[@jeremy28135]

I collected all the Hardee's Toys. Couldn't wait to go get them

[@joandrearushin1261]

I remember them well and still enjoy seeing them when they show up somewhere.....

[@sgtpointeblank]

I recorded the Christmas special on VHS and used to watch it every year. 'We Three Kings" was gold.

[@vonamon316]

I was a California Raisin for Halloween one year & had the toys of them too. They were just the weirdest looking things to me & they had music so I was in love as soon as I first saw 'em

[@armymedic_bnw]

I LOVED THE CALIFORNIA RAISINS! AND THE RAISINETTES! The Christmas special is still one of my favorites! 🥰🥰

[@melissadye4416]

My brother had a California Raisins birthday party in the 80s. Thank you for this video!!

[@illintentpersonified1912]

i didnt grow up in the time period to have seen these first hand, but i was an only child for the first 11 or so years of my life, and i remember my dad would show me all sorts of old commercials and music and what not on our old family laptop, one of which being the california raisins!! i somehow got a few of my moms old toys of them, and i found the mj raisin figure at a flea market!!!! they always bring me really nice memories despite how silly and uncanny they are! i still have my raisins in my room as decoration! :P

[@wickidbloodymetalqueen7901]

I ❤️ Alanis!!! her music helped me get thru my worse years growing up in the 90s and I'm a mid 80s baby

[@skyden24195]

As mentioned in the biofilm, "Straight Out of Compton," the story of the rap group, N.W.A., the California Raisins contributed to the rise of the infamous 1980's most dangerous band. The connection between the C. Raisins and N.W.A. was the recording producers of the songs that were attributed to the California Raisins. These producers would end up recording and releasing the first "commercially available" albums from the Los Angeles based group of rap artists.

[@calibmatlock]

The raisins haunted my dreams for years. I love claymation as an art form but my God were they bizarre.

[@bridaw8557]

Mr Bill was early claymation. Then it just took off with the raisins. Tedious to make but so satisfying

[@JustinCase-ey4ok]

The California Raisins Christmas special, and A Wish for Wings that Work get watched every year in my house.

[@nomdeplume5446]

I was born in ‘86 and there’s a good chance I’m here today because the California Raisins set the mood.

[@arielvaldez1050]

Not only do I remember the California Raisins, I have a VHS with both specials.. that I’m not afraid to say was played in the last six months!

[@robynwroot2460]

I loved that Christmas special. Good childhood memories ❤

[@lionelt.9124]

I have fond memories of the California raisins. I never realized it was a commercial.

[@Quirky_QF]

Now do one about the Tang Talking Lips. I forgot that was a thing up until that shot of Will with his creations.

[@bridaw8557]

Yes. The whole story of Tang would be a cool Topic!

[@LivvieLynn]

To think, my grandfather loved both Arby's AND California Raisins. No wonder my grandmother gave us creepy raisin toys to play with in the bath.

[@kerrycoley6551]

I forever would love the California raisins when I was small infant I use to love love looking at the raisin tape on rewind lol good time

[@TheMaxx111]

I had the California Raisins album on cassette tape as a kid and was a huge fan. They were huge!

[@Robert5hw]

I used to get the Raisin toys from Hardees as a kid. We had dozens. The Claymation Christmas special was a staple of my childhood. We recorded it on VHS and would watch it every year.

[@beasefcik2469]

I loved em! I was a little kid back then. I had the toys, the bedding and many other things. And I watched em on tv.

[@Pixis1]

Loved the "Raisin D'etre" joke. I actually gave that a slow clap as I was watching this. I have fond (and slightly disturbing) memories of the California Raisins. The Motown songs were fun but there was definitely something unsettling about Will Vinton's claymation specials.

[@CherryFruitSnack]

I remember the weirdly inescapable allure of the California raisins as a kid. We were genuinely excited and obsessed with them, the merch and the music! Someone of that nostalgia still exists in my brain as an elder millennial 😂😂😂🤩🤩🤩

[@joshuasinger8385]

I think I remember loving the California raisins when I was a kid and wanting the toys from Hardies

[@EclecticPotpourri]

I remember the toys. Unlocked a memory. I’m really enjoying this new offshoot channel.

[@danderson8431]

I own that first Raisin Record.

[@anthonyoverbay4448]

I had no idea the Noid And the Mark Twain animation were by the same guy.. nice

[@fvances]

I watched this growing up! I loved the Christmas special. I forgot about the mark twain claymation movie!

[@DW3010]

I remember that Christmas special a claymation Christmas being heavily advertised for the California raisins… We were out that night, and recorded it on a timer on the VCR. We got home and kept fast forwarding it looking for the California raisins, and they didn’t show up until almost the end. My young self was so angry!

[@artbabyjade]

This made me laugh several times. Nice narration 🙌🏻

[@AngryReptileKeeper]

I'm old enough to remember the commercials and toys. They were fairly popular. My grandma had the entire set of the little figurines.

[@nslouka90]

Sounds like the weirdest fever dream, a bunch of clay animated raisins selling music albums.

[@saitojharry]

Should've had a collab with the Sun Maid girl. Missed opportunity loljk 😅✌

[@robertfaler1947]

That happened. There was a commercial where the California raisins sang the Temptation song "My Girl" to the Sun Maid girl.

[@saitojharry]

just saw it.whoo the vocals of those raisins 💯 sun maid girl didn't do much tho 😔