Today we learned through the Seattle Times that the billboards fished out of Elliott Bay last summer were part of an elaborate hoax brought to us by the P.R. team for Ivar’s restaurants. It left me a little disappointed and then I got steamed!

If you are going to have a little fun at the public’s expense, why not own up to it soon afterwards? Why wait 3 months and be forced into revealing the hoax by the media?

Oh, I see. They waited because the hoax was effective. Their sales of clam chowder increased a good deal over those 90+ days

They went on to say that the hoax was right in line with Ivar’s penchant for public pranks. I’m old enough to remember Ivar and I’m not so sure. He never struck me as being quite so cynical.

So another stunt that demonstrates contempt for public sensibilities. Not a good blow for the public relations industry or Ivar’s Restaurants. I wonder if Ivar would “keep clam” about this?