Another whimsical staple of the Paul Stanley Company was the troupe of animated monkeys — playful figures brought to life with costumes, oversized gestures, and mischievous charm.

These lively characters were famously produced for Lone Star Beer and Burgermeister Beer, where they danced, clutched beer cans, and performed comic routines designed to stop shoppers in their tracks. Beyond these celebrated campaigns, Stanley’s design sketches reveal plans for monkeys in service of other brands — clever concepts that, though never manufactured, showcased his boundless imagination.

Like the clown, each monkey display carried its own twist: one might juggle bottles, another might hold onto a spinning beer can, while others tipped their hats or strummed instruments. With subtle variations in design and movement, Stanley gave each figure a distinct personality.

The monkeys embodied Stanley’s philosophy that advertising should entertain as much as it sold. More than displays, they were miniature performances — proof that Paul Stanley could turn even the most ordinary aisle into a stage.

Built to Travel

To maximize their value, Paul Stanley’s animated displays were designed to travel from store to store as part of rotating promotional campaigns. Each display was accompanied by a custom-built wooden shipping crate, carefully constructed to protect its unique shape and mechanical components during transportation. Once a promotion ended, the display could be packed away, shipped to another location, and reassembled for a new audience. Today, surviving original shipping crates are nearly as rare as the displays themselves, providing an important link to the history of these remarkable advertising creations.