Why Did It Have to Be Teeth?

So for some 60 years, we've been able to enjoy the presence of a wind-up set of mechanical teeth that chomp away to the delight of we easily amused types everywhere, thanks to a denture commercial.

Toy inventor Eddie Goldfarb, the article says, saw an ad for a holder for false teeth called a "tooth garage," and the idea of a rattletrap set of dentures pulling into a driveway cracked him up and gave him an idea. He pitched to manufacturers Marvin Glass and Irving Fishlove and lo! the Yakity-Yak Chattering Teeth were born. The clockwork motor that animates the jaws has also been at the heart of other toys like the chattering skull and walking hat (called Mr. Schmoo) pictured in the story. The teeth have been a source of fun or at least a small chuckle for people ever since.

Except, of course, for Pollyanna Jones.

(The author swears he remembers an early 1980s comedy show in which Raiders of the Lost Ark was parodied using Karen Allen as "Dr. Pollyanna Jones," in which she found herself needing to navigate a room full of her own personal phobia -- chattering teeth -- to get to the treasure. Her response: "Teeth! Why did it have to be teeth?" But searching the net produced no signs of the sketch, so you will just have to take his word for it.)