The History Channel, New York City, is taking to the streets with a mobile tour bringing a little history to 50 cities. The History Channel Time Machine, a 48-foot mobile museum featuring interactive looks at U.S. history, will stop at 150 schools and festivals through September 2001. The History Channel will provide supplemental study materials for student lessons.

Salisbury, MD-based Purdue Farms debuted Choo-Choo chicken nuggets, train-shaped poultry pieces based on a design submitted by a contest winner. The seven-year-old winner of the company’s fall 1999 Nugget Design contest saw his creation translated into actual product last month. To drive purchase of the new shape, Purdue is executing an on-pack self-liquidating offer for a Thomas The Tank Engine drinking mug. Through a deal with London-based Britt Alcroft Ltd., shoppers mail in a proof-of-purchase and $2.99 for the 10-ounce mug. The program runs through the first quarter. DVC Group, Morristown, NJ, handles.

Omaha, NE-based ConAgra Foods is running a Pokemon: The Movie on-pack rebate offer across its Banquet frozen-food line. Shoppers who buy two Banquet products can redeem coupons for three dollars off the purchase of the video or DVD. The effort runs through March. FSIs support.

Universal Studios Consumer Products, Universal City, CA, signed a three-year licensing deal with toy maker Lego Co., Enfield, CT, to create product based on July release Jurassic Park III. The line features the Lego & Steven Spielberg MovieMaker Set.

February 2001

Start Your Engines Kick-start that ho-hum corporate Web site with Engines, 15- to 30-second promotional commercials that tell a company’s story using Macromedia Flash technology, logos, original graphics, music, and audio tracks. Not wanting to stick potential viewers with the World Wide Wait so often associated with graphics-heavy Web sites, maker FutureEngine, Inc., Studio City, CA, produces the spots using low bandwidths significantly smaller than AVI or MPEG formats. Set-up requires no more than a link from a company’s Web site. Engine spots have been used by such big-name advertisers as McDonald’s, AT&T, Disney, Honda, Universal Studios, and Warner Bros. (for last fall’s Battlefield Earth). More info: 818-992-7999 or FutureEngine.com.

Sears, Roebuck and Co.

, Hoffman Estates, IL, and America Online, Vienna, VA, have been giving winter shoppers the option of buying AOL Internet service at retail. Sears shoppers can sign up for AOL at checkout in 860 stores and pay with their Sears credit cards. Those who do are entered into a $100,000 Good Life sweepstakes in which five winners (one awarded each month) get $100,000 and others receive a $50 sears.com gift card. Shoppers who link AOL billing to their card score an extra pack of coupons.

Howard Johnson International, Parsippany, NJ, this spring makes hotel stays extra kid-friendly with the introduction of Crayola Kids Rooms. Courtesy of a promotional partnership between the hotel operator and Easton, PA-based Binney & Smith, the rooms will boast Crayola-branded easels, lamps, alarm clock radios, videocassette players, micro-fridges, and graphics-treated walls. Families booking the rooms will receive Crayola “Kids Go HoJo Fun Packs” upon check-in.

A growing number of hotels are attempting to make themselves more kid-friendly. Last fall, Embassy Suites, Memphis, TN, struck a three-year, $20 million marketing deal with New York City-based kid’s television network Nickelodeon (January PROMO).