What's the value/story of this Atari promotional mug (pics)

[smokehouse]

I picked this guy up at a junk store many years ago for $3. It is a very interesting little thing. I would guess it was made for the Atari buy out by Warner Communications back in 1984. Does anyone here know anything about this mug? Didn’t Warner own Atari for a short time only? Is it rare? Is it a junk trinket? Any help would be nice. Here’s some pics:

Front You can see the “Warner Communications Company” under the Atari logo.
http://static.flickr.com/1/123511001_40adbd6928_o.jpg

Rear The NBC logo is present.
http://static.flickr.com/1/123511003_48a4940aec_o.jpg

[o2william]

Hmm, interesting. Perhaps it is some kind of tie-in with the 1984 Summer Olympics held in Los Angeles? I believe Atari was a sponsor, and NBC broadcast it.

According to this site (http://www.tv-ark.org.uk/international/us_nbc.html), that was the logo NBC was using in 1984, so the date checks out.

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

Warner bought Atari in 1978 or '79, while Nolan was still there, and held onto it until at least 1984 or '85 if memory serves correctly (but history's mileage may vary). So I think the Olympics theory is probably the way to go.

Or maybe they sponsored the Animalympics...or...somethin'.

[Cambot]

My guess is that it's a naturally occuring Atari mug born strictly of the elements.

Admit it, it's possible.

[Sothy]

Its haunted most likely.

[Push Upstairs]

If its haunted then sell it on Ebay for big bucks!

No whammie, no whammie, no whammie, STOP!

[smokehouse]

Hey, thanks for the info. The rest of you goons get bent LOL

Seriously, I really don’t want to sell the thing, I was just looking for some info on it. I know it’s got to be rare but that doesn’t mean it’s expensive, just rare. It’s a mug for crying out loud. Possibly it has to do with the Olympics…

Who knows.

[vulcanjedi]

Here ya go.

http://www.atarimagazines.com/v2n11/Atariusolympicteam.html

VJ

[c0ldb33r]

Wow thats a really sharp mug. :)

[o2william]

In addition, Atari has contracted with ABC Sports to air 25 commercials during the Winter Olympics in in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia (February 8-19), and 60 commercials during the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles (July 28 to August12).
Wow, I'd like to track down a recording of these Olympics with commercials. Wonder if any are out there...?

*bows to PDF for making the first Animalympics reference I've seen in 20 years*

[smokehouse]

Here ya go.

http://www.atarimagazines.com/v2n11/Atariusolympicteam.html

VJ

Awesome link, thanks! I bet that's what it was from, the Atari/NBC seal for the ’84 Olympics. I wonder how many of these puppies were made? I wish I knew who these mugs were given to.

[The Shawn]

Maybe you can drink coffee out of it.

No seriously, Nice Game room addition.