292: The Pet Rock: A Fad is Born (An Old Timey Podcast)
<div>Wipe your slate clean of everything you *think* you know about the pet rock. You’ll marble (err, marvel) over its true history! Its inventor, Gary Dahl, thought he’d created a novelty gift that was set in stone. Imagine his surprise when the pet rock’s popularity began to crumble. Maybe he shouldn’t have taken it for granite? Ehh?? Get it??<br>
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In this episode, Kristin also addresses the often-asked question about whether she’s still friends with her former Let’s Go To Court co-host. <br>
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<em>Remember, kids, history hoes always cite their sources! For this episode, Norm pulled from: </em><br>
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“<a href="http://Amazon.Com">Amazon.Com</a>: Pet Rock - The Original by Gary Dahl : Pet Supplies.” Accessed July 10, 2025.<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Pet-Rock-Authentic-Approved-Original/dp/B07KN9FK4B?pd_rd_w=0pKDE&content-id=amzn1.sym.bb21fc54-1dd8-448e-92bb-2ddce187f4ac%3Aamzn1.symc.40e6a10e-cbc4-4fa5-81e3-4435ff64d03b&pf_rd_p=bb21fc54-1dd8-448e-92bb-2ddce187f4ac&pf_rd_r=KCXRAWBPT6QAAWDQQRJA&pd_rd_wg=Ahbc1&pd_rd_r=7d1b3d2e-5638-4b01-b252-973e84972efc&pd_rd_i=B07KN9FK4B"> https://www.amazon.com/Pet-Rock-Authentic-Approved-Original/dp/B07KN9FK4B<br>
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Bredt, Ted. “Has Success Spoiled ‘pet Rock’ Potentate? Outside of 3 Houses, 4 Mercedes Benzes, and the Best Saloon in Los Gatos, No.” <em>The Salt Lake Tribune</em>, February 20, 1977.<br>
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Coakley, Michael. “The Anatomy of a Fad: Pet Rock.” <em>The Boston Globe</em>, February 26, 1976.<br>
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Curtin, Andrew. “A Million-Dollar Pet Project.” <em>San Francisco Examiner</em>, December 25, 1975.<br>
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Dahl, Gary. “Why Didn’t I Think of That! At a Bar One Day, Gary Dahl Dreamed up the Pet Rock.” <em>Courier Post</em>, October 10, 1982.<br>
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Giuca, Linda. “Are You Sure It Won’t Bite?” <em>Hartford Courant</em>, December 17, 1975.<br>
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Horning, Jay. “Pet Rock Secured a Solid Future for Its ‘Father.’” <em>Tampa Bay Times</em>, May 9, 1982.<br>
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“How a Los Gatos Barroom Boast Led to the Pet Rock and Followed Gary Dahl until His Dying Day.” <em>The Mercury News</em>, April 3, 2015.<a href="https://www.mercurynews.com/2015/04/03/how-a-los-gatos-barroom-boast-led-to-the-pet-rock-and-followed-gary-dahl-until-his-dying-day/"> https://www.mercurynews.com/2015/04/03/how-a-los-gatos-barroom-boast-led-to-the-pet-rock-and-followed-gary-dahl-until-his-dying-day/</a>.<br>
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Isaacs, Stan. “Teen’s Idea Was as Solid as a Rock.” <em>Newsday (Nassau Edition)</em>, November 21, 1975.<br>
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LaBelle, Tom. “Career Opportunity of a Lifetime!” <em>The Grand Rapids Press</em>, October 13, 1976.<br>
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Leap, Barbara. “From Little Rocks, Some Big Fortunes Grow.” <em>Courier Post</em>, December 5, 1975.<br>
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<a href="http://Legacy.Com">Legacy.Com</a>. “Gary Dahl Obituary (1936 - 2015) - San Jose, CA - <a href="http://AL.Com">AL.Com</a> (Mobile).” Accessed July 11, 2025.<a href="https://obits.al.com/us/obituaries/mobile/name/gary-dahl-obituary?pid=174533679"> https://obits.al.com/us/obituaries/mobile/name/gary-dahl-obituary?pid=174533679</a>.<br>
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Mason, Margaret. “It Was a Gamble, a Risk. But the Pet Rock Paid Off.” <em>Pensacola News Journal</em>, December 25, 1977.<br>
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McKinney, Joan. “‘Rock Bottom’ Goes Sky High.” <em>Oakland Tribune</em>, December 25, 1975.<br>
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“Pet Rock Page.” Accessed July 10, 2025.<a href="https://www.virtualpet.com/vp/farm/petrock/petrock.htm"> https://www.virtualpet.com/vp/farm/petrock/petrock.htm</a>.<br>
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Po1sonator. “TIL about the craze of Pet Rocks in 1975. For about 6 months, they sold over one million Pet Rocks for $4 each. It was just a rock in a box with some straw and a care manual for tricks to teach. The creator had the idea in a bar as his friends complained about their pets.” Reddit Post. R/Todayilearned, February 2, 2021.<a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/lajcy8/til_about_the_craze_of_pet_rocks_in_1975_for/"> https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/lajcy8/til_about_the_craze_of_pet_rocks_in_1975_for/</a>.<br>
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“Press Release.” April 5, 2002.<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20020405084047/http://www.sjsu.edu/depts/english/2000win.htm"> https://web.archive.org/web/20020405084047/http://www.sjsu.edu/depts/english/2000win.htm</a>.<br>
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Robertson, Blair. “The Pet Rock: A Classic Tale of American Business.” <em>Carroll County Times</em>, December 7, 1999.<br>
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<em>Rock Island Argus</em>. “Pet Rock Promoter Opens Own Saloon.” March 6, 1977.<br>
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<em>Spokane Chronicle</em>. “Stoned? Pet Rocks Need Little Care, Love.” November 7, 1975.<br>
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<em>The Desert Sun</em>. “From the Man Who Brought You Pet Rock...” October 4, 1978.<br>
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<em>The Pet Rock: A Classic Tale of American Business</em>. n.d.<br>
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