Garage Logic – MISCHKE: Snowman Showman

Date: December 4, 2025
Host: Tommy Mischke (Garage Logic, Gamut Podcast Network)
Guest: Bob Eckstein (author, "The Illustrated History of the Snowman")
Theme: The social, historical, and cultural meaning of snowmen, followed by listener calls, life stories, and musings on music and nostalgia.

Episode Overview

This episode is a celebration of the humble snowman—a whimsical deep-dive into its fascinating history, iconic place in pop culture, and the unlikely ways it weaves through art, commerce, and memory. Host Tommy Mischke brings both humor and sincerity as he interviews snowman historian Bob Eckstein before shifting into a listener phone call that roams through music, legacy, and the oddities of growing up.

The show is marked by playful banter, historical oddities, and Mischke's unique, wandering conversational style, making it as much about connecting over stories as it is about its snowy centerpiece.

Key Segments & Discussion Points

1. Announcements & Open (00:00–01:12)

• Mischke notes the podcast is now airing twice weekly, joking about the difficulty of spelling "Wednesday".
  • “Wednesday is kind of tough to spell…you want to spell it W, E, N, Z, but that of course would be a mistake.” (A; 00:08)
• Sets playful, musical tone with "hoots" and rhythmic chanting.

2. The Social & Cultural History of Snowmen (01:12–24:38)

The Timelessness and Universality of Snowmen (01:12–05:57)

• Mischke expresses childhood nostalgia and bonds over the tradition of making snowmen.
• Discusses "The Illustrated History of the Snowman" by Bob Eckstein.
  • “It's the snowman time of year. They're gonna be around for a few months. Tip your cap when you see them…It connects us to our ancient ancestors.” (A; 02:23)
• Mischke jokes about the similarities between snowmen and Kim Kardashian: “Snowmen had the whole Kim Kardashian thing going long before Kim. She's got a snowman butt.” (A; 02:55)

The Deep Past of Snowman Building (03:35–06:46)

• Bob Eckstein discusses ancient snowman traditions and earliest evidence:
  • “I'm convinced that goes back to prehistoric times. Prehistoric man made likenesses of himself with any materials available.” (C; 04:04)
  • “[Making a snowman is] the first and probably the last time one will create a life sized human figure.” (A; 04:16)
  • “Snowmen are the first selfies and it's one of the oldest forms of folk art.” (C; 04:36)
  • Mentions 7th-century China and a 1308 illuminated manuscript as early snowman depictions.

The Snowman as Icon & Ubiquity in Culture (04:42–09:36)

• Mischke marvels at snowman's status:
  • “With the exception of religious figures, the snowman is the single most recognized icon in the world.” (A; 05:08)
• Eckstein notes snowmen in adult stories predating Frosty.
  • “Before Frosty, you have stories about snowmen that are very adult in nature...used like fables to depict something serious.” (C; 05:57)
• The snowman as royalty-free, universal mascot:
  • “It shows up in all these places because it's royalty free. And that's the reason why it showed up so much in advertising.” (C; 07:11)
• Mischke is stunned at the snowman's versatility in advertising.

The “Frosty” Phenomenon & Commercialization (08:43–10:19)

• Discusses the commercial intent behind "Frosty the Snowman":
  • “The reason Frosty the Snowman was written, it was a pure money grab…Frosty was the perfect thing to use because everybody could relate.” (A; 08:43)
  • Eckstein humorously notes, “After that, they tried to cash in again with Peter Cottontail…Someone must have stopped him and said enough already.” (C; 09:36)

Humor & Musical Interlude: Turkey Rap (10:01–11:40)

• Mischke improvises a darkly comic “Turkey Rap” song, blending absurdity and musicality.

Snowman in Commerce & Gender (14:30–18:07)

• Explores snowmen in advertising—selling everything from cars to Kotex to cocaine.
  • “In advertising, the snowman hawked everything from soup to soap, from insurance to asbestos...With the snowman, you were starting with a clean slate. It's a PR person's dream, a totally pliable public image…” (A; 18:10)
• Mischke jokingly laments the perils of making a female snowman:
  • “It’s a hassle and they fall off. And when they fall off, the guys in the neighborhood make the sick jokes.” (A; 16:46)
• Bob Eckstein highlights famous female snowperson creations, including a revolutionary French sculpture and the largest snowwoman in Maine.

Bizarre Advertising: Snowman Sells All (19:34–22:27)

• Snowman featured in unexpected ads (cocaine shirts, tampons, etc.)
  • “The snowman was used to add levity to any unusual situation.” (C; 20:39)
  • Mischke: “Hitler should have been used in a bad breath commercial. Do you got Hitler breath?” (A; 21:16)
• During Prohibition’s end, snowman ad usage "quadrupled" as alcohol companies jumped on board, marking the “fun drunk” era of the snowman.

The Snowman as Forrest Gump-like Figure (22:27–23:34)

• “Because everything that took place…is reflected in the Snowman. Like in Forrest Gump...any benchmark of a moment, there is a snowman.” (C; 22:35)

The Enduring Nature of the Snowman (23:34–26:09)

• Mischke and Eckstein marvel that building snowmen remains one of the few nearly unchanged rituals from ancient to modern times.
  • “There’s no replacement for the Snowman...there is no alternative to that moment in this high tech, industrialized world. It’s the same thing it’s always been: with your hands, you start molding this stuff and you decide yourself what it’s going to look like.” (A; 23:34)

Snowman in Modern Culture (Kids & YouTube, 25:03–26:09)

• “There are, count them, 90,000 YouTube videos right now that are just on how to build a snowman…” (A; 25:03)

Snowmen & War (26:09–28:26)

• Eckstein recounts the snowman’s surprising connection to wartime:
  • “I have found in my research an abundance of war photographs of people posing with a snowman…an activity like that bonded them together.” (C; 26:38)
  • Mischke spins a scenario about soldiers using snowmen as decoys in the Battle of the Bulge.
  • Story of the 1690 Fort Schenectady massacre: guards substituted snowmen for themselves, leading to disaster.

More Bizarre Ads (28:26–29:40)

• Cigarette ad double entendre: “It’s not how long you make it, it’s how you make it long.” (A; 28:52)
• Eckstein: “I think that these cigarette manufacturers were trying to tackle the problem of how to repair the image of smoking being dark...always thinking of a way of adding a snowman to make it cool, refreshing…” (C; 28:52)

3. Bob Eckstein’s Other Work & Museums (30:01–31:57)

• Eckstein plugs his other books: "Footnotes from the Most Fascinating Museums in North America" (raising awareness post-COVID) and "Inspired by Cats" (portraits of authors and their cats).
• Endearing exchanges about quirky cat owners.

4. Listener Loop: Phone Call Segment (37:41–61:10)

Meet Andy (37:41–41:18)

• Andy is driving his son to voice lessons; he reflects on his son's surprising talent and joy in performance.
• Mischke reminisces about the thrill of pretending and receiving attention as a young actor.

Andy’s Journey: Punk to Bluegrass (40:05–41:03)

• Andy recounts his own life story:
  • Radio school, punk bands, moving to Florida, starting a bluegrass band with friends and neighbors.
• The connection between punk’s community and current bluegrass collaboration.

On Songwriting and Tragedy (43:44–46:28)

• Andy shares the story behind “Paso,” a song about a friend’s suicide in a Minneapolis skyway.
  • “I only hope that you found peace hidden above the cold wet streets…” (B; 45:03)
• Mischke ties this to his recent episode about near-death experiences.

Aging and Evolving Tastes in Music (46:28–47:49)

• Andy admits punk/metal doesn’t play much in his life anymore, drawn now to jazz and country.
• Mischke riffs on whether any elderly punks are still cranking music in retirement homes.

Iconic Punk Rockers, Band Names, and Bob Costas (48:07–59:05)

• Banter on surviving punk icons: Iggy Pop, Keith Morris, the Circle Jerks.

• Andy tells the humorous tale of wearing an offensive punk shirt at the Metrodome, offending Bob Costas, and causing a new uniform policy for Minnesota Twins employees.

  • “I was wearing my circle jerks group sex T shirt…It really offended Bob Costas.” (B; 50:16)

• Discussion on old-school cigarette ads, nostalgia for a time when smoking meant cool independence.

Naming the Band: AI, Mary Oliver, and Soft Animals (57:40–59:40)

• The band can’t settle on a name: “Friends and Neighbors” is too wholesome, “Soft Animals” too weird.
• Mischke and AI suggest: “The Cypress Keys Revival”.
  • “Here is a unique band name that combines the classic sound of bluegrass with a distinct Florida flavor...The Cypress Keys Revival.” (A; 59:05)

Closing Reflections and Goodbyes (60:47–61:10)

• Heartfelt mutual appreciation between Mischke and Andy.
  • “Thank you so much for all your years of service...You make a weird old dude like me feel a little bit more at home every time I hear you.” (B; 60:52)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the timelessness of snowmen:
  “Making snowmen may very well be among the handful...we still share with our ancestors.” (A; 05:08)
• On advertising's absurdity:
  “With the snowman, you were starting with a clean slate. It's a PR person's dream…” (A; 18:10)
• On commercialization:
  “The reason Frosty the Snowman was written, it was a pure money grab.” (A; 08:43)
• On embracing change through music:
  “I find music the meaning of life. I try to listen to as much different stuff as I can...” (B; 46:38)
• On mischievous legacy:
  “I was wearing my circle jerks group sex T shirt...and it really offended Bob Costas.” (B; 50:16)
• Listener appreciation:
  “Thank you so much for all your years of service...You make a weird old dude like me feel a little bit more at home every time I hear you.” (B; 60:52)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• History of Snowmen & Folk Art: (03:35–06:46)
• Snowmen in Advertising: (07:11–08:43; 18:10–20:44)
• Frosty & Commercialization: (08:43–10:19; 14:30–15:28)
• Gender & Snowfolk: (16:10–17:26)
• Listener Call (Andy): (37:41–61:10)
• Musical Journeys, Punk to Bluegrass: (41:18–46:28)
• Humorous Bob Costas Uniform Anecdote: (48:28–50:52)
• Band Name Brainstorming: (57:40–59:40)
• Heartfelt Closing: (60:47–61:10)

Summary

This episode is a curious, warm, and often hilarious journey through the world of the snowman—from deep history and international iconography to the wacky world of advertising and the enduring ritual of rolling up snowballs. Mischke's style—part philosopher, part prankster—keeps things moving, never missing a chance to make even tragedy feel laced with hope, humor, and humanity.

A delightful listen for anyone nostalgic for winter or curious about how even ephemeral things—like a snowman—can become immortal in culture and memory.

This summary omits all advertisements and focuses only on the episode’s original content and core conversations.