Pickle History

How to get an inflatable pickle? This was the question I was faced with. The story goes like this: Skankin' Pickle, a great ska band out of San Francisco, wrote in their June newsletter (which I received) that their beloved inflatable pickle, which they take to all their shows, had been kidnapped when their tour van got stolen. I said to myself, "I can get them an inflatable pickle!" How?

At this point I knew I could not just write pickle companies and ask for an inflatable pickle. So, I thought, what can I do to get an inflatable pickle? Then I had an idea: what was available at Ithaca College for everybody, in every major, and was just out to make everyone happy? I really could not think of anything. I know that most groups are open to the IC community, but, they usually focus on just one thing, maybe it's business, sports, communications, pyschology, or the government.

I felt I could start something where students could come once a month and have a good time, meet other students, and not worry about being on any committee. Granted, my group would have an overlying pickle theme, but, we would be open to doing anything and talking about anything.

The next step was coming up with a name, it took a couple of hours of brainstorming, but, it all worked out. I remember it clearly, it was a warm evening in late July, about 12:30 AM (is that evening? I don't know). My friend Mark Lambert, of returnaround fame (great band from Apponaug, RI, go see 'em if you get the chance), and I were sitting on a curb back home in ol' East Greenwich, R.I.

We were throwing out ideas left and right--I wanted something that rhymed, Mark was into the whole light-hearted idea, and, we both wanted something that was serious, yet not serious. Pickle Preservation Society--rhymes, you preserve pickles and at the same time it let's us promote the idea of pickles as a great way for people to get together and have a good time, all built around a foundation of pickles; sweet, dill, bread & butter, garlic, and whatever your favorite is!

That is how the whole thing came about. I then wrote a letter, with the aid of Andy Marchand, to 34 different pickle companies, and received 11 responses, all supporting the society. I was sent various pickle promotional items, ranging from squeaking pickles to scratch n' sniff stickers to inflatable pickles. I then got together an executive board, we came up with some great ideas for activities. We founded a newsletter, "The Life and Times of Harry Pickle," which includes our original mascot, Harry Pickle himself.

Our membership is open to anyone who knows what pickles are, even better if you like them! We want people who like pickles to meet other people who like pickles. What a concept! A common bond that is so awesome and prominent that it is amazing to me that it is so often overlooked when people first meet. I hope for the future of the P.P.S. to bring together pickle lovers all over the world. Pickle Power!

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Page Last modified on 8/02/99