Buzz
If you tuned into American television during the late 1980s, you likely recall the Noid, the manic pizza-hating villain who became Domino's Pizza's mascot with the slogan "Avoid the Noid." (Domino's pizzas were, naturally, Noid-resistant.) Though Domino's eventually retired the Noid, here are six fascinating pieces of trivia about this quirky character.
1. The Noid Sparked a Hostage Crisis
In January 1989, Kenneth Lamar Noid, a 22-year-old, took Domino's advertisements as a personal attack on his identity. Convinced he was in a feud with Domino's founder Tom Monaghan, Noid escalated the situation by storming a Domino's location in Georgia and taking hostages. As reported by Time magazine:
Kenneth Noid, a 22-year-old, entered a Domino's Pizza store in Chamblee, Georgia, armed with a .357 Magnum revolver and held two employees captive. Upon the arrival of the police, he demanded $100,000 in cash, a vehicle for escape, and a copy of The Widow's Son, a 1985 novel centered around secret societies in an 18th-century Parisian prison. In the end, Noid only received the pizza he had ordered. Following a five-hour standoff, the two employees managed to escape, and Noid surrendered.
Noid faced charges of kidnapping, aggravated assault, and extortion. He was acquitted on the grounds of insanity. Domino's discontinued their Noid advertisements, and life went on.
2. "Budget Entertainment": The Avoid the Noid Video Game
Game image provided by The Internet Archive
In 1989, California Merchandising Concepts created an Avoid the Noid video game for DOS. Marketed as "Budget Entertainment!" the game is notoriously bad; players assume the role of a Domino's Pizza delivery driver attempting to deliver a pizza to Doom Industries while dodging the Noid and his strange obstacles. Your only defenses are jumping and a limited-use Noid Avoider. The game concludes when the Noid ruins all the pizzas. You can try it online thanks to the Internet Archive, though it's unlikely to be an enjoyable experience.
3. Yo! Noid Introduced Pizza-Smashing to Nintendo
Capcom
Riding on The Noid's popularity, Capcom modified an existing Japanese game for the Nintendo Entertainment System titled Kamen no Ninja Hanamaru. The 1991 revamp, named Yo! Noid, was unexpectedly intricate and challenging—likely because it was initially designed as a completely different game, with the pizza-themed elements added later.
In Yo! Noid, the Noid takes on the role of the protagonist, wielding a magical yo-yo to fight his way across New York City, ultimately facing off against Mr. Green (another Noid, but with a green hue).
Yo! Noid has garnered an unexpected online fanbase. For instance, explore the Yo Noid! Shrine or try an online version of the game.
4. The Noid's Cameos in TV & Film Beyond Advertising
Beyond his advertising career, the Noid has made guest appearances in episodes of The Simpsons and Family Guy. He also has a fleeting moment in Michael Jackson's Moonwalker. (Thankfully, Jackson successfully avoids him.)
5. The Noid & The California Raisins: Long-Lost Siblings?
Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
The Noid was crafted using claymation by Will Vinton, the visionary behind '80s legends like The California Raisins (the official mascots for the California Raisin Advisory Board) and The Adventures of Mark Twain.
Today, Vinton continues to create commercials, such as the computer-animated ads featuring the M&M characters.
6. The Noid's Voice Came from Masters of the Universe
Pons Maar in Return to Oz // IMDB
The Noid's voice was provided by actor Pons Maar, who brought the character to life with bursts of maniacal laughter and quirky vocalizations, making him truly bizarre. Beyond his role as the Noid, Maar is most recognized as the lead Wheeler in the film Return to Oz. He also voiced several lesser-known cartoon characters over the years—most notably, the hissing Saurod from Masters of the Universe. Additionally, Maar contributed to puppet work in major projects like Team America: World Police, Monkeybone, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
A Classic Noid Commercial
Take a look at the Noid in action with this example:
