A cymbal-banging monkey toy (also known as Jolly Chimp) is a mechanical depiction of a monkey holding a cymbal in each hand.[1] When activated it repeatedly bangs its cymbals together and, in some cases, bobs its head, chatters, screeches, grins, and more. There are both traditional wind-up versions and updated battery-operated cymbal-banging monkeys. The cymbal-banging monkey toy is an example of singerie and kitsch.
History
The Japanese company Daishin C.K. manufactured the classic Jolly Chimp during the 1950s to 1970s under the name "Musical Jolly Chimp". It screeched and showed its teeth when its head was pressed. It had a black on/off lever on its back and came with a green arm tag.
Later versions from other toy makers copied the facial expressions but often changed the toy's outfit and name. In the mid-1960s through the early 1970s, the Japanese-manufactured "Charley Chimp" was sold by street peddlers on the streets of lower Manhattan in NYC. Other brand names include "Wind-up Monkey Playing Cymbals" from Russ, "Pepi Tumbling Monkey with Cymbal" from Yano Man Toys, "Clockwork Musical Monkey with Clashing Cymbals", "Musical Monkey", "Magic Monkey", "Mister Monkey" and "Jolly Chimp". There is also one called "Charlie Chimp" from Lincoln, which is different from "Charley Chimp".
With many other companies manufacturing various versions in the United States, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan and the Philippines, the toy's appearance varies. The change in manufacturing countries was primarily due to factories going out of business and seeking the lowest manufacturing costs. This is still the case today. The monkey has been seen wearing red-and-white-striped pants and a yellow vest with red buttons, or red overalls and a stocking cap. Other outfits include green-striped pants, blue-striped pants, a red shirt with either green or blue pants, and plaid blue overalls. The monkeys are sometimes rendered with red rings painted around their wide-open eyes, creating an appearance some find disturbing, perhaps explaining their many appearances in horror, sci-fi, and comedy media. They can also symbolize emptiness and mindlessness.
In the early 1970s, the National Clearing House of Drug Abuse Information aired an anti-heroinpublic service announcement with a Jolly Chimp banging its cymbals for some time while a child says, "They say people addicted to heroin have a monkey on their back. Isn't it cute?" before the monkey stops and the public service announcement cuts to an image of a screaming monkey, with the text "Why do you think they call it DOPE?!" This has become a popular internet screamer.
The character Jinx from League of Legends has a big emotional connection to Jolly Chimps. Other than explosions which give her happiness, Jolly Chimps give her peace to her mentally ill mind. This connection can be seen in her starring 2021 animated series Arcane: League of Legends.
Most recently the Chimp has featured in the popular Netflix series Stranger Things in 2022.
References
^"History". The Classic "Cymbal Banging Monkey" Toy. Retrieved 2019-11-14.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jolly chimp.