Previous Artifacts - November 2009
Wonder Woman Underroos
Underroos for New Exhibit!
IA marvelous article of American Pop Culture from the 1970s has strong-armed its way into the museum with a little help from our partner in crime, the Siouxland Heritage Museums Alliance. This artifact made it just in the nick of time to be featured in our newest exhibit.
In 1975, the television show Wonder Woman, starring Lynda Carter, aired on ABC. The show generated a market for merchandise based on this popular superhero. Products included superhero dolls and of course Underoos underwear. In 1977 Underoos came out with Wonder Woman underwear, which included a pair of blue and white star panties and a red tank top with a gold eagle in the center just like Wonder Woman’s superhero costume. Underoos also produced other superhero-inspired underwear like Superman, Captain America, and Batman for boys. Fruit of the Loom still makes Underoos for kids based on current popular cartoons like Dora the Explorer and Sponge Bob Square Pants.
A few staff members at the museum remember having a pair of Underoos while growing up in the 70s and recall them living up to their slogan as “Underwear that’s Fun to Wear!”
You can catch sight of this artifact of the month and other unmentionables in our latest exhibit, Underwear: A Brief History, at the Old Courthouse Museum.
