Cultural References
Kirby's name was spoofed in the animated series The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show, where a man's hat was called the "Kirward Derby". It supposedly had magic powers that made its wearer the smartest person in the world. Kirby considered suing, but his business manager pointed out that it would only bring more attention to the show. (Jay Ward, producer of The Bullwinkle Show, offered to pay Kirby to sue him.)
In the Mary Tyler Moore Show episode "Phyllis Whips Inflation" (Season 5, Episode 18; aired 18 January 1975), the character Phyllis Lindstrom explains that the drop in the price of her Polaroid stock is because the company hired Laurence Olivier to do their television commercials. She says they should have saved money and hired Kirby (a reference to his Polaroid commercial incident).
In the movie Pulp Fiction (1994), the character of Mia Wallace (Uma Thurman) orders a "Durward Kirby" Burger. This is a humorous reference to the soundtrack in the scene, when "Bullwinkle" is being played.
The eponymous title track on the album Scraps by the band NRBQ includes the line: "I know a Melarooney boy named Durward Kirby; I yelled in his ear and wondered if he heard me."
Read more about this topic: Durward Kirby
Famous quotes containing the word cultural:
“Unfortunately there is still a cultural stereotype that it’s all right for girls to be affectionate but that once boys reach six or seven, they no longer need so much hugging and kissing. What this does is dissuade boys from expressing their natural feelings of tenderness and affection. It is important that we act affectionately with our sons as well as our daughters.”
—Stephanie Martson (20th century)