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For National Banana Day: Great Moments in Pop Culture, Banana Edition
I have no idea who decreed it to be National Banana Day, but the instant I learned of its existence I thought of this post, for the banana is one of your top comedy fruits, as well as one that inspires surreal-leaning musicians and visual artists. The psychedelic late ’60s to early ’70s were particularly rich in banana. Ground-zero for banana-mania appears to be 1967. Classic comedy films, comics and cartoons have long leant on the “slipping on a banana peel” physical gag — there are so many instances of the trope, that I didn’t even try to include it here. There would be thousands. (BTW, I tested it once. It works, and how. Step on a banana peel and your feet will go out from under you, even from a standing position.) I also didn’t include bananas playing second fiddle to comedy apes. Once again, too numerous. Here then, however some other great moments in banana.
The original Banana Man, who pulled endless things out of his coat in vaudeville, was a guy named A. Robbins. Later, a second gent picked up the mantle and appeared on the kids tv show Captain Kangaroo. Learn more here.
Vaudeville novelty song we wrote about here.
Josephine Baker premiered her danse sauvage with the famous banana themed costume in La Revue Nègre in 1926
Chiquita Banana (1944-present)
The commercial mascot character for Chiquita Bananas was clearly based on Carmen Miranda, and introduced during that great era of pan-American friendship the 1940s. She was originally drawn by Dik Browne of Hagar the Horrible and Hi and Lois and for many years was voiced by big band singer Monica Lewis. In my day, she was humanized, meaning not made more empathetic, but turned into a human. Well, sorta. The character remains stereotypical. She may ultimately go the way of many similarly problematic mascots, if she hasn’t already.
“Please No Squeeza Da Banana” (1945)
And you thought you knew all the banana songs! This one is by Louis Prima and pals.
Top Banana (1954)
In burlesque (not vaudeville), the top banana was the lead comic, in a kind of hierarchy which also had a second banana, sometimes a third banana. Later the term received wider use outside of burlesque. Phil Silvers played an ex-burlesque TV comedian, based on himself and Milton Berle, in this hit 1951 Broadway show, which then became a 1954 film.
“The Banana Boat Song” (1956)
This hit calypso song put Harry Belafonte on the map, with both pros and cons for his future image. The positive aspect is that it made him a household name. The negative is that he became over-identified with it, much as Don Ho is with “Tiny Bubbles”. Belafonte was actually a highly accomplished guy, not just in the music business, but also in politics, theatre and the movies. More on him here.
“Mellow Yellow” (1966)
Donovan’s hit single informs us of the joys of “e-lectrical banana”, which, as has always been whispered, refers to smoking banana peels to get high. It’s not actually a thing, and is very much not recommended. Surely you’re not that desperate.
The “Banana Album” (1967)
The album is actually titled The Velvet Underground and Nico but many people call it by the image on its cover, designed by the impresario who brought them and their roadshow the Exploding Plastic Inevitable into being, Andy Warhol. Warhol was originally a commercial artist. Suffice it to say, ahem, this wasn’t his first banana.
Dick Shawn in The Producers (1967)
I refer of course to but a single glorious moment in Mel Brooks’ debut masterpiece, when Dick Shawn’s character, one “L.S.D.” concludes his audition piece (a song called “Love Power”) by peeling a banana, throwing away the fruit, and holding the peel to his head as he sucks his thumb.
We wrote about this crucial psychedelic kids show here.
Woody Allen, Bananas(1971)
Allen intended to evoke Marx Brothers’ zany movie titles (e.g., Monkey Business) in his name for his early comedy set during a South American Revolution.
Paul McCartney, “Hi Hi Hi” (1973)
In which one of the most consequential lyricists of his generation sings the immortal line of poetry “I’m gonna do you, sweet banana”. In his earlier song “Monkberry Moon Delight” (1971) he had also informed us that his “banana was older than the rest”. John Lennon was unquestionably the surrealist of the Beatles, so it seems a pity to include McCartney rather than Lennon here, with these sophomoric phallic references. But it is fitting and proper to include at least one Beatle.
Bananas magazine (1975)
This great kids mag, published by Scholastic, mixed elements of Dynamite and Mad, and lasted about a decade. This, it would seem to me, represents the apex of the pop culture fascination with the tropical fruit.
Bananarama (1980-present)
This popular band is best known for their #1 hit remake of Shocking Blue’s classic “Venus”.
Herbie Goes Bananas (1980)
This was the fourth in Disney’s popular “Love Bug” series of films about a sentient West German compact automobile. This one is set in Mexico and bananas actually feature in the plot. I’d dismiss it peremptorily but it has too many excellent people in the cast: Cloris Leachman,Charles Martin Smith (of American Graffiti), John Vernon (of Animal House), Harvey Korman, Fritz Feld, Vito Scotti, Iris Adrian,Alex Rocco, et al!
Bananas Gorilla, and His Bananamobile
I’m not sure just when Richard Scarry (1919-1994) debuted this loveable character and his whimsical conveyance. At some point Bananas starred in his own books, but I’d lay dollars to donuts he was first introduced within the broader landscape of Scarry’s earlier irresistible children’s works (you know, in one of those pictures of a town or something with dozens of characters doing dozens of things with dozens of tools).
Going Bananas #1 (1984)
Live action Saturday morning kids show about an orangutan with superpowers. Bill Saluga (Raymond J. Johnson Jr) was in the cast and Irene Cara did the theme song.
Going Bananas #2 (1987)
Okay, by this point I think we can see that the banana has drifted very far from the center of the universe. This movie, starring Dom Deluise and Jimmie “J.J.” Walker, makes me want to put something very different on my cornflakes.
Bananagrams (2006)
This game, invented by folks from my home state of Rhode Island I am proud to say, is more addicting than smoking banana peels. My kids introduced me to it of course. It’s kind of like a stripped down, speed version of Scrabble. Best of all, it doesn’t require a board, and comes in its own banana shaped pouch, making it a perfect thing for bringing along on trips to kill time during dull moments. It’s also the perfect thing for kids and adults to play together. And, no, I’m not receiving Bananagram payola for this endorsement.
Alright, time for breakfast! And you know just what I’m having! That’s right — prunes!
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