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The Clapper
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The clapper tv commercial
The Clapper is a sound-activated electrical switch, sold by San Francisco, California based Joseph Enterprises, Inc. Robert E. Clapper, Sr., and Richard J. Pirong marketed the clapper with the slogan "Clap On!" and as a separate phrase "Clap Off!". The Clapper works with any American standard electrical outlet.
The Clapper allows control of up to two devices. An upgraded model known as the Clapper Plus includes a remote control function, in addition to the original sound-based activation. It also includes an away setting that will optionally turn on selected devices when a sound is heard or motion is detected.
Although meant to activate by clapping, The Clapper can inadvertently be triggered by other noises, such as coughing, a dog barking, a cabinet or door being closed, laughter, yelling, banging, knocking on a door or a wall, other sharp sounds, or noises from televisions and speakers.
The clapper 1989
Patent
The Clapper, was issued US Patent #5493618 which was published on February 20, 1996. It was invented by Carlile R. Stevens and Dale E. Reamer
Advertising
The melody of the catchy jingle used in the commercials ("Clap on, clap off...") had been used earlier back in the mid 1980s for Sine-Off cold medicine, in a commercial featuring women at an army base.
In popular culture
It was used in the movie The Burglars with Omar Sharif and Dyan Cannon in 1973. Dyan Cannon's lover slaps her and the lights are now "slap-on" and "slap-off." This may be the first time this 70's device was used in a movie.
It was used by the baseball coach of Cataldo to signal play calls.
Prior to the Clapper being marketed, the idea showed up in popular culture. On the 1970s show Nanny and the Professor (S1E2), the Professor's oldest son, Hal, shows off his invention of a sound activated switch that is triggered by him clapping. Coincidentally, the show also goes on to show the problems of the switch with other loud household noises - something the commercial version would also contend with.
In the cartoon Animaniacs, Yakko, Wakko, and Dot say the jingle in one of the closing stingers after the credits. In Episode 40, Slappy Squirrel advertises a parody of the Clapper, entitled "The Slapper" is shown, which is a machine that looks like a giant hand coming out of a purse. The purpose is to "slap" people who are being a nuisance.
In the 1989 film Uncle Buck, the title character uses The Clapper to turn on the lights in his apartment.
In the 1991 film What About Bob?, Richard Dreyfus turns off his lights with the clapper, "Oh well, lets not let that spoil our vacation...*Clap*."
In the pilot episode of Tyler Perry's Meet The Browns, Leroy Brown talked about how he went to a store and asked an employee if the store were selling The Clapper. Brown, however, referred to The Clapper as "The Clap".
A commercial for the Clapper appears briefly in the opening of the film Wayne's World.
In the 2003 dark comedy Duplex, Alex (Ben Stiller) installs the clapper in Mrs. Connelly's TV so that he can turn it off from his apartment below by clapping. One night the two of them go back and forth in a clapping battle, Alex turning her loud TV off, and Mrs. Connelly turning it back on, and back off, and then back on, etc.
In 2007, The Clapper has been spoofed on the Adult Swim show Robot Chicken as "The Shouter", where customers in their commercial parody "Shout On" and "Shout Off" instead of the 2 claps.
The Clapper appears in Bruce Almighty where God clapped off the lights, then recites "The Clapper" jingle.
In the 19th episode of The Simpsons' ninth season, titled "Simpson Tide" originally aired on the Fox network on March 29, 1998, a reference to "The Clapper" is made where Homer tells his wife Marge that "We live in a highly technological age where fighting a war is as simple as turning off a light!" then proceeds to clap with his hands... and the light remains on.. he continues clapping while Marge says "We don't have a clapper" the gag ends with the lamp flying out the window to turn it off.
Justin Long has a disco ball that works via the Clapper in the movie Accepted.
In the 1999 comedy Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, Austin Powers (Mike Myers) claps twice to activate the "seduction lighting" in his apartment. An impressed Ivana Humpalot (Kristen Johnston) asks "When did you get ze Clapper?". Austin, thinking she means "the clap" replies "Dutch East Indies, shore leave."
In the Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen film Passport to Paris, the twins clap their hands- turning off the lights.
In The Big Comfy Couch, Loonette and Molly clap their hands twice to turn their big lamp on and off.
In 9 to 5: The Musical, written by Patricia Resnick and music by Dolly Parton, in the finale it is referenced as one of the characters was said to have invented it. The stage appears in a blackout until Dolly Parton, projected to the stage, claps.
In the Space Quest 6 demo (But not in the full game), Roger Wilco uses a clapper (Or a "ClapMaster" in the case of the game) to defeat the evil Bjorn who have invaded his space ship.
In the Recess episode "Weekend at Muriel's", Miss Finster claps and turns off the light in her room.
In the musical The Book of Mormon, during the song "Turn It Off", there is a scene where the missionaries are dancing and all clap their hands twice in unison, and all of the stage lights and spot lights turn off. They go on to clap twice in unison three more times (turning the lights back on, then off, and then back on). The second time the lights switch off and then back on, all of the missionaries are wearing red vests that they weren't wearing before the lights switched off.
In the Men in Black animated series episode,"The Head Trip Syndrome", alien allies of MiB, When asked by Jay what other devices they gave to MiB to patent for funding, the alien replies by clapping the lights of the room on and off, much to the confusion of the crowd.
The use of a Clapper is an essential plot point in the 1993 Apple Macintosh point and click game A Mess O' Trouble.
In the Murdoch Mysteries episode "Invention Convention", it is indirectly referenced at the end of the episode when George Crabtree suggests that a sound activated device, like the episode's murder weapon, could be used to turn the lights on and off.
A Capital One commercial in 2017 features Charles Barkley's television being run on a Clapper.
