“Who Was Paul Stanley?”
For more than three decades, Paul Stanley helped define the golden age of animated advertising through his extraordinary motion displays, signs, and point-of-purchase creations. Working with breweries, soft drink companies, bakeries, and many other nationally recognized brands, he transformed ordinary retail displays into captivating works of art that combined creativity, engineering, and motion. Today, his handcrafted creations are prized by collectors and historians alike, standing as enduring examples of the imagination, craftsmanship, and innovation that established Paul Stanley as one of America’s most influential commercial advertising designers.
Featured Displays
Created for Coca-Cola during the golden age of animated advertising, the Coca-Cola Clown is a whimsical example of Paul Stanley’s talent for turning an ordinary store display into a miniature performance. Designed to stop shoppers in their tracks, the colorful clown combined playful character design with mechanical motion, bringing the Coca-Cola brand to life in a way a traditional sign never could. Handcrafted, animated, and created for in-store promotion, surviving examples are now rare reminders of a time when advertising was not simply seen—it moved, entertained, and became part of the experience.
Created for Hamm’s Beer in an era when store displays were designed to move, entertain, and capture attention, the Hamm’s Beer Bear Helicopter is a playful example of Paul Stanley’s talent for combining character, motion, and imagination. Featuring the beloved Hamm’s bear piloting his own helicopter, the animated display brought the brand’s fun-loving personality to life and gave shoppers a reason to stop and watch.
Handcrafted for retail promotion, surviving examples are rare reminders of a time when beer advertising was more than something hanging on the wall—it was a show.
Created for Mother’s Cookies in an era when animated store displays brought brands and characters to life, the Mother’s Cookies Cowboy is a playful example of Paul Stanley’s ability to turn a familiar character into a captivating in-store attraction. With his colorful Western styling and mechanical movement, the cowboy was designed to catch the eye of shoppers and bring personality to the Mother’s Cookies brand. Handcrafted for retail display, surviving examples offer a rare glimpse into a time when advertising did more than promote a product—it moved, entertained, and made people stop for a closer look.
The Hunt Continues
Paul Stanley displays were produced in extremely limited quantities, and many have disappeared over the decades.
Do you own one? Have you seen one?
We are actively searching for Paul Stanley displays, signs, sketches, photographs, documents, and related materials.
We buy collections and individual pieces. We arrange pickup and pay shipping.
* Special thanks to collector Helmut Jordt for graciously allowing us to share this photograph.