Bobblehead is a figure whose head is much larger in proportion comparing to the body. The head us secured to the body by a spring so that even the smallest movement of figure makes the head begins to sway.
Bobblehead figurines appeared in 1950 in the United States. Major League of Baseball firstly introduced them and after that, mass production began. Baseball teams were ordering one figure for each team. With the increasing popularity of this gadget, other organizations and companies have begun to use it as a promotional item. Personalized bobbleheads became widely wanted. The most popular was a set of figures created for “The Beatles”. The using of new production techniques significantly lowered their cost of production. As a result, they have become a gadget handed out for free in addition to tickets for matches of San Francisco Giants. In 1999, 35 000 figures of Willie Mays were given while promoting the leading player of this team.
Personalized bobbleheads in pop culture. Personalized bobblehead appeared in the comedy series “The Office” in the episode “Valentine’s Day”, when Dwight Schrute receives its thumbnail in the form of a bobblehead. He had small collection of various figures of this type on his desk. In the TV series “Scrubs” in episode “My Way Home”, the surgeon Turk wanted to please his boss Bob Kelso by giving him a gift of bobblehead figurine. “The Big Bang Theory” series in the episode “The Mommy Observation” shows how Sheldon receives personalized bobblehead figure of Howard as a reward. In the TV series “Prison Break”, hero Fernando Sucre steals a van loaded with bobblehead figures of St. Mary. Bobblehead figurines were also used in the clip promoting the next season of the series “Monk”.
Similar to these figurines, one bobblehead was extremely popular. It is personalized bobblehead of Elvis Presley. It is used as a decorative item for the parcel shelf or the dashboard of a car. It was made as a 15 cm high Elvis Presley doll standing on a nail, while its head is attached by a cord. In contrast to usual bobleheads, this one does not shake his head, but oscillates with movement of the automobile with his hips and outstretched left arm. Personalized bobbleheads are wide known in all parts of the world. People buy them as a toy or for a gift. In any case, it is recommended to have one of them.
