Kidnapped Garden Gnomes Forced Into Jobs In The Entertainment Industry
Garden gnomes, those tacky but lovable yard ornaments, are showing up on the television again. Travelocity's hugely successful advertising campaign featuring a "roaming gnome" has returned to the airways, rekindling the public's interest in these adorable yard ornaments.
Travelocity's gnome has been on more vacations than George W. Bush, traveling to exotic locations, enjoying the sights and several very interesting activities, all while wearing his signature pointed red cap. The gnome has soaked in hot tubs, enjoyed cruising and bobsledding, skiing and working on a windjammer ship. Throughout all of his travels, he has stoically endured wearing the same outfit, since his luggage has apparently been lost somewhere along the way. He is undoubtedly forced to work for less than day rates with no benefits and job security.
This catchy and very effective advertising campaign capitalizes on the garden gnome urban legends that surface from time to time. Everyone has heard the story of a gnome kidnapped from his yard and forced to endure an unplanned trip. Usually, the gnome is further humiliated by candid and often unflattering photographs that are sent to his housemate in an effort to collect some kind of ransom.
These stories are circulated every few years, and may have even been based on fact at some point. The exact origin of the tale has been lost, but almost everyone will claim to know someone who was the victim of gnome-napping. Other variations of the include the case of "bunny boo-boo," another larcenous tale of a stuffed rabbit forced to endure a European tour and those terrible souvenir photographs against his will.
Travelocity does not bear the guilt for exploiting these gentle garden gnomes alone. A long running English soap opera called "Coronation Street" shamelessly exploited a traveling gnome plot to boost ratings during the 1980's. Even more recently in 2001, those lazy French filmmakers had to sell a movie called "Amelie" on the back of yet another underpaid and under appreciated garden gnome.
Some gnomes fall under the spell of their kidnappers and begin to experience the "Stockholm Syndrome". These gnomes often start to identify with their captors and begin acting like they are part of the plot. One such gnome is Nigel, whose shocking kidnapping and subsequent journeys with his captor are documented on the website, nigelthegnome.com. Sadly, the gnome does send emails to his mother, but is unable to break away from his captor and call the authorities.
Fortunately, the vast majority of garden gnomes live in safety, quietly hiding outside of their roommate's houses. They have no desire to travel, and don't even own a suitcase. For these gnomes, there's no place like home!