la cybernétique

Expo Ernie by ShowAmerica, for the Canada Pavilion, 1982 World’s Fair, Knoxville, and event mascot for Expo 86, Vancouver, Canada. "Expo Ernie is one of the more unique robots developed by ShowAmerica. Created for the Canadian government and premiered at the recent World's Fair in Knoxville, Tennessee. Ernie is slated to be the mascot of the World's Fair of 1986 in Vancouver, B.C. The robot is presently on a national tour across Canada to build awareness for the fair." – The Personal Robot Book, by Texe Marrs (1985).

"For those who visited Expo 86, if they were lucky, they may have seen the event’s mascot, Expo Ernie. Rather than someone in a giant foam suit, Ernie was a remote-controlled robot that could interact with visitors. The idea for Ernie came about when Expo 86 Commissioner General Patrick Reid saw a robot at an American airport and thought it would be a great mascot. Responsibility for its design and construction fell on Ken Larson, who built Ernie, operated him, and provided the voice. Larson described himself as a freelance actor from Florida and he refused to have his picture taken because he felt Ernie should remain a robot in the minds of the public. Larson left the post of handling Ernie in 1985 when he moved back to Florida to work on acting and film production work. With Larson gone, Craig Wheeler, a 22-year-old acting student took over operation from Ernie. Leading up to the big event Ernie was a world traveler. [In] 82 He spent six months at the Canada Pavilion during the Knoxville World’s Fair." – Expo 86, Canadian History Ehx, by Craig Baird.

"H.J." promotional robot by ShowAmerica Inc., Elmhurst, Ill. (1982). "Officials at the H.J. Heinz Co. can stop worrying. H.J. – their saucy ketchup bottle robot – has been found. The 6-foot-tall automated mascot, used to promote the firm's more than 57 varieties of products at industry shows and other events, mysteriously disappeared Oct. 8 on the way to a show in Cleveland. United Airlines officials said the big bottle apparently had been sitting in the airline's San Francisco freight terminal for several weeks before anyone noticed, a Heinz spokeswoman said. H.J. then was sent to its listed destination, Cleveland, much too late for that show. An observant airline worker pieced together the whole story and shipped the robot to Chicago. H.J. was taken back to his home at ShowAmerica Inc. in Elmhurst, Ill., where he was greeted by H.J. II – a twin who filled in for him at some scheduled shows. Heinz officials said a reward offered for H.J.'s return, two cases of ketchup, will go to the airline employee who recognized the robot." – Ketchup robot found, UPI Archives, Nov 5, 1982.

The second photo shows the happy reunion of H.J. (left) with H.J. II (right) at ShowAmerica Inc. HQ – The State-of-the-Art Robot Catalog, by Phil Berger (1984).

"H.J. II" promotional robot by ShowAmerica Inc. for H.J. Heinz Co. (1982). Heinz was the "official ketchup" of the 1982 World’s Fair, held in Knoxville, Tennessee, known officially as the Knoxville International Energy Exposition. "A human-sized H.J. Heinz Co. robot shaped like a ketchup bottle added a little flavor to the experience of attending the 1982 World’s Fair. … The robot — which was appropriately 5 feet, 7 inches tall in tribute to the “57 varieties” company slogan — often got noticed by people entering the fairgrounds. Featuring mechanical arms but otherwise shaped like a giant ketchup bottle, it served as sort of an inanimate fair ambassador. ... Another Heinz ketchup robot named “H.J.,” which was based out of the Chicago area was to make a promotional appearance at a Cleveland, Ohio, department store, but its crate could not be found upon arrival via air travel. As a result, the Knoxville robot [is] apparently named H.J. II." – As World's Fair robots went, this one had to play ketchup, by John Shearer, Knox news.

Peeper (1983) by ShowAmerica Inc., Elmhurst, Illinois. "QUADRACON welcomes PEEPER [right] into the family of celebrity robots from ShowAmerica, Inc. Both models are able to move wirelessly around an exhibit area or across a stage. They are able to shake hands and converse freely with astonished spectators." – The Personal Robot Book, by Texe Marrs.

Quadracon (1979) ShowAmerica Inc., Elmhurst, Illinois. "Ed Fish, otherwise a man of taste and judgment, runs with a buddy who is a terrible smart aleck. Heartless, really. But Fish understands his boon companion. And well he should – Fish is the brains of the outfit. The 29-year-old actor is the voice, personality and power behind a robot named Quadracon, an android with a sharp tongue. He has written a book, My Life as a Robot, which might be adapted into a movie or a television series. Fish, who lives in northwest suburban Wonder Lake, is the electronic puppeteer who operates Quadracon – and a troupe of other robots – as promotional tools for corporate clients. Usually, Fish is hidden away while his robot visits with fascinated onlookers. Some people actually think the robot is an independent, rational being – and they begin to speak in confidence."