Rubber Chicken

The rubber chicken is a novelty item that has been a staple of humor for more than a century. As indicated by the name, it is a toy replica of a plucked chicken made out of rubber. The source of the humor associated with the rubber chicken derives both from its seeming purposelessness--lending it a sense of absurdity--and its resemblance to an actual chicken, thus making it an effective prop for slapstick humor.

Fast Facts

1. Exact origin unknown
2. May date back to 18th Century
3. Mostly used for gags
4. Has been adapted into earrings and dog toys

Rubber Chicken Timeline

• 1789–1799: Purportedly hung from muskets during the French Revolution for luck (this may be a myth).

• 1875-1932: Used as a staple of the Vaudeville comedy circuit, usually as an implement for hitting.

• 1984: Appears in the comic strip Garfield, when Jon gives Garfield a rubber chicken for his 6th birthday. Garfield keeps it as a pet, naming it Stretch.

• 1990: Video game The Secret of Monkey Island features a "rubber chicken with a pulley in the middle."

• 2006: During the curling event at Winter Olympics, a nude man streaks across the ice wearing a rubber chicken over his genitals.

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