Gary Dahl, Inventor of the Pet Rock, Dies at 78

by Raydal
21 replies
  • OFF TOPIC
  • |
A broke freelance copywriter who became a millionaire overnight from one
stupid idea that rocked and which he got while stoned in a bar.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/01/us...ies-at-78.html

-Ray Edwards
#dahl #dies #gary #inventor #pet #rock
  • Profile picture of the author tagiscom
    Yes, l saw those in the 70's, and thought what a dumb idea, why are people buying these things.

    But not so dumb for the inventor!

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9975957].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author lanfear63
      Originally Posted by tagiscom View Post

      Yes, l saw those in the 70's, and thought what a dumb idea, why are people buying these things.

      But not so dumb for the inventor!

      Back in the seventies, people got stoned which made them boulder, so they bought one.
      Signature

      Feel The Power Of The Mark Side

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9975988].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Justin Tyme
    What an example of a truly lucky guy!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9975977].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author bizgrower
    haha - He wrote "Advertising For Dummies", which was published in 2001, It's probably good.

    Dan
    Signature

    "If you think you're the smartest person in the room, then you're probably in the wrong room."

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9976476].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author BigFrank
      Banned
      Inventor? OK. If you say so.

      Seeing as how he was a copywriter, I think he'd be more partial to being referred to as a creator as opposed to an inventor.

      Oh, wait. I believe it was the Creator that created rocks. I'm just sayin' . . . . . . .

      Let's go with 'marketer.' :-)

      Cheers. - Frank
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9976974].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Raydal
    How did this end up on the OFF Topic section? It was posted in the
    Copywriting section as the subject is of interest to copywriters .. I think.

    -Ray Edwards
    Signature
    The most powerful and concentrated copywriting training online today bar none! Autoresponder Writing Email SECRETS
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9977054].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
    What was truly amazing, was that...at his funeral..he was surrounded by hundreds of his pets. Do you think rocks have a sixth sense? How did they know he was going to die?

    This deserves investigation.
    Signature
    One Call Closing book https://www.amazon.com/One-Call-Clos...=1527788418&sr

    What if they're not stars? What if they are holes poked in the top of a container so we can breath?
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9977268].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author lanfear63
      Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre View Post

      What was truly amazing, was that...at his funeral..he was surrounded by hundreds of his pets. Do you think rocks have a sixth sense? How did they know he was going to die?

      This deserves investigation.
      I hear the cause of death was Shingles.
      Signature

      Feel The Power Of The Mark Side

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9977312].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Dennis Gaskill
    I had a pet rock once. I adopted it from a shelter. It was a rescue rock.
    Signature

    Just when you think you've got it all figured out, someone changes the rules.

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9977362].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author MissTerraK
      I petted a rock once.

      I also rocked a pet, too.


      Terra
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9977404].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
      Originally Posted by Dennis Gaskill View Post

      I had a pet rock once. I adopted it from a shelter. It was a rescue rock.
      I had a pet rock that got pregnant. We named it Chip.
      Signature
      One Call Closing book https://www.amazon.com/One-Call-Clos...=1527788418&sr

      What if they're not stars? What if they are holes poked in the top of a container so we can breath?
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9977419].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Kurt
        Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre View Post

        I had a pet rock that got pregnant. We named it Chip.
        That's what happens when you don't use protection when you get your rocks off...
        Signature
        Discover the fastest and easiest ways to create your own valuable products.
        Tons of FREE Public Domain content you can use to make your own content, PLR, digital and POD products.
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9977426].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
          Originally Posted by Kurt View Post

          That's what happens when you don't use protection when you get your rocks off...
          I hate you sooooooo much right now.

          Nicely done.

          And I used to be so good, I could get a rock off. Now, I have trouble just getting off a rock.
          Signature
          One Call Closing book https://www.amazon.com/One-Call-Clos...=1527788418&sr

          What if they're not stars? What if they are holes poked in the top of a container so we can breath?
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9977444].message }}
          • Profile picture of the author MissTerraK
            Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre View Post

            I hate you sooooooo much right now.

            Nicely done.

            And I used to be so good, I could get a rock off. Now, I have trouble just getting off a rock.

            You only have one?


            Terra
            {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9977463].message }}
            • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
              Originally Posted by MissTerraK View Post

              You only have one?


              Terra

              Motorcycle accident.
              Signature
              One Call Closing book https://www.amazon.com/One-Call-Clos...=1527788418&sr

              What if they're not stars? What if they are holes poked in the top of a container so we can breath?
              {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9977477].message }}
              • Profile picture of the author lanfear63
                Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre View Post

                Motorcycle accident.
                I always thought you were a bit of a "Nut" job.

                And anyway, you told me it was due to a fight you had with that Russian Martial Arts guy, Ivan Knockabollockoff

                Disclaimer: If what your saying is true, I apologize for my chronic, Kurt like insensitivity.
                Signature

                Feel The Power Of The Mark Side

                {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9977891].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author bizgrower
    Maybe this song was on the juke box when Mr. Dahl came up with his idea:

    PAUL SIMON LYRICS - Loves Me Like A Rock

    Signature

    "If you think you're the smartest person in the room, then you're probably in the wrong room."

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9977509].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author yukon
    Banned
    Anyone that can sell rocks is awesome.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9977661].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Midnight Oil
      You Can Still Rock In America and R.O.C.K. In The USA.

      You can Rock That Body, Rock Me, Rock Me Gently, Rock Me Tonite, Rock Me All Over, Rock The Cradle (And The Cradle Will Rock), Rock Your Baby, Rock My Baby, Rock Your Mama, Rock The Night, Rock This Party, Rock The House, Rock This Town, Rock The Nation, Rock The Casbah and Rock The World.

      You can Barnyard Rock, Bayou Rock, Black Rock, Bluff City Rock, Castle Rock, Cherokee Rock, China Rock, Cincinnati Rock, Crazy Rock, Crocodile Rock, Hillbilly Rock, Jailhouse Rock, Jingle Bell Rock, Jungle Rock and Planet Rock. And you gotta lose your mind in Detroit Rock City.

      You can Rock Me Amadeus, Rock Candy, Rock Lobster, Rock Your Socks, Rock Around The Clock, Rock The Boat and Rock Me On The Water. Between a Rock And A Hard Place? We'll Rock With You. We Will Rock You. Rock You Like A Hurricane. Rock You All Around The World.

      You can Rock Your Heart Out, Rock The Blues Away, Rock the Hard Way, Rock-A-Lott, Rock Forever, Rock Bottom, Rock On, Rock Steady, Rock It Davy Crockett and Rock Rock Till You Drop.

      For Those About to Rock, You Rock My World. You can be a Monster of Rock, a Rock Doll or a Punk Rock Girl. Rock Soldiers. Cops Rock. Raise Your Hands To Rock. Let There Be Rock. Long Live Rock. Let It Rock and Let The Good Times Rock. I Like To Rock. Born to Rock. Raised On Rock. I Wanna Rock. All I Want To Do Is Rock. Everywhere I go, the Kids Wanna Rock. It's a Generation Rock. Sammy says There's Only One Way To Rock.

      Don't Rock the Jukebox? Rock You To Hell. Don't Knock The Rock.

      Vive Le Rock!
      Dr. Rock
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9977732].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author bizgrower
        Originally Posted by Midnight Oil View Post

        You Can Still Rock In America and R.O.C.K. In The USA.

        You can Rock That Body, Rock Me, Rock Me Gently, Rock Me Tonite, Rock Me All Over, Rock The Cradle (And The Cradle Will Rock), Rock Your Baby, Rock My Baby, Rock Your Mama, Rock The Night, Rock This Party, Rock The House, Rock This Town, Rock The Nation, Rock The Casbah and Rock The World.

        You can Barnyard Rock, Bayou Rock, Black Rock, Bluff City Rock, Castle Rock, Cherokee Rock, China Rock, Cincinnati Rock, Crazy Rock, Crocodile Rock, Hillbilly Rock, Jailhouse Rock, Jingle Bell Rock, Jungle Rock and Planet Rock. And you gotta lose your mind in Detroit Rock City.

        You can Rock Me Amadeus, Rock Candy, Rock Lobster, Rock Your Socks, Rock Around The Clock, Rock The Boat and Rock Me On The Water. Between a Rock And A Hard Place? We'll Rock With You. We Will Rock You. Rock You Like A Hurricane. Rock You All Around The World.

        You can Rock Your Heart Out, Rock The Blues Away, Rock the Hard Way, Rock-A-Lott, Rock Forever, Rock Bottom, Rock On, Rock Steady, Rock It Davy Crockett and Rock Rock Till You Drop.

        For Those About to Rock, You Rock My World. You can be a Monster of Rock, a Rock Doll or a Punk Rock Girl. Rock Soldiers. Cops Rock. Raise Your Hands To Rock. Let There Be Rock. Long Live Rock. Let It Rock and Let The Good Times Rock. I Like To Rock. Born to Rock. Raised On Rock. I Wanna Rock. All I Want To Do Is Rock. Everywhere I go, the Kids Wanna Rock. It's a Generation Rock. Sammy says There's Only One Way To Rock.

        Don't Rock the Jukebox? Rock You To Hell. Don't Knock The Rock.

        Vive Le Rock!
        Dr. Rock
        You're a rock star.lol
        Signature

        "If you think you're the smartest person in the room, then you're probably in the wrong room."

        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9978158].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Cali16
      Originally Posted by yukon View Post

      Anyone that can sell rocks is awesome.
      Especially the way he did it.

      I'll bet there was a ton of people who wished they'd come up with the idea back when pet rocks were selling like hotcakes. It was brilliant marketing.
      Signature
      If you don't face your fears, the only thing you'll ever see is what's in your comfort zone. ~Anne McClain, astronaut
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9977839].message }}

Trending Topics