Shinola’s Gilda Radner Watches: Explained Simply

What Is This All About?

Imagine a company that makes watches (things you wear on your wrist to tell time) wanted to say "thank you" to a very funny lady from a TV show. That’s what happened!

• Shinola is a watch company from Detroit, a big city in Michigan.
• They made special watches to honor Gilda Radner, a comedian (a person who makes people laugh) who was born in that same city.
• Gilda was one of the first actors on a TV show called Saturday Night Live (or SNL for short—a show where funny people do skits live on TV).
• She got very sick with a disease called cancer (a bad sickness that makes your body unwell) and died in 1989.
• Gilda also wrote a book about her life called It’s Always Something that talks about her sickness.

Heads-up: If you buy one of these watches through a link on the Rolling Stone website, Rolling Stone may get a tiny thank-you payment (called an affiliate commission) because they told you about it.

The Watch Collection Called "Great American"

Shinola released these watches last month (around the time Gilda would have had a birthday). They are part of a series called the Great American series, which honors important people from the United States.

• Previous watches in this series celebrated:
  • Muhammad Ali (a famous boxer)
  • The Wright Brothers (men who built the first airplane)
  • Maya Angelou (a beloved writer)
  • Georgia O’Keeffe (a well-known painter)
• The shiny new Gilda watches are a quiet tribute—her name is gently stamped on:
  • The back of the watch
  • The band (the strap that goes around your wrist)
  • The box it comes in

The Watches and a Bonus Box

There are two main watches and a small case to carry jewelry. Here they are:

• Gilda Radner Runwell Automatic Watch – Only 400 of these were made, and it costs $2,500.
• Gilda Radner Runabout Watch – Only 300 were made, and it costs $1,995.
• Travel jewelry case – A little box to keep your watch safe; it costs $225.

Important: Some of the money from these sales will go to Gilda’s Club Metro Detroit, a group that helps people who are touched by cancer (either because they have it or someone they love does).

A Video with Two Funny Friends

Shinola made a short video (called a campaign) with two women from SNL:

1. Molly Shannon – She was on SNL a while ago.
2. Ashley Padilla – She is on SNL right now.
3. Alan Zweibel – One of the first writers of SNL, also appears in the video.

The boss of marketing at Shinola, Dana Mosa-Basha, said Molly and Ashley were perfect for this because they are super funny but also not afraid to be real and human—just like Gilda was.

What Molly and Ashley Said (In Kid-Friendly Words)

• Ashley said: “I can’t believe they picked me! It was such an honor to talk with Molly about Gilda. It was a no-brainer—I said yes right away.”
• Molly remembered: “When I used to babysit kids, after they fell asleep I’d watch SNL. Gilda was the first woman I saw doing such original funny characters. She helped all the women who came after her.”
• Ashley is a “YouTube kid” (she grew up watching videos online). She found old Gilda clips and learned Gilda was the very first person hired for SNL. Ashley thought it was amazing and a little scary to be a woman doing comedy in the 1970s when the show was new.
• Molly and Ashley first met at the SNL 50 party (the show’s 50th birthday) and then again when Molly visited the show during a funny episode hosted by Will Ferrell.
• Ashley says Molly is super kind and gives good advice.
• Molly shares tips with newer comedians (like Bill Hader and Jeremy Culhane) about meeting the SNL boss, Lorne Michaels: “Just be yourself and ask questions—you don’t need to act silly.”
• Even Molly gets nervous doing live TV! She recently laughed with Will Ferrell about how crazy it is to perform in front of everyone week after week.

Summary

Shinola, a Detroit watch company, made limited-edition watches and a jewelry case to quietly honor Gilda Radner—a pioneering funny woman from Saturday Night Live who died of cancer. The watches came out last month, are part of their Great American series, and feature her name on the back, band, and box. Two SNL stars, Molly Shannon and Ashley Padilla, helped tell Gilda’s story in a video, and some of the money helps a cancer support group in Detroit. It’s a sweet way to remember someone who made the world laugh.

FAQ

1. Who was Gilda Radner?
Gilda was a comedian from Detroit who became famous on the first cast of Saturday Night Live. She wrote a book about her life and died of cancer in 1989.

2. What is Shinola?
Shinola is a company based in Detroit that makes watches and other goods. They have a series of products honoring great Americans.

3. How many watches were made and what do they cost?
The Runwell Automatic is limited to 400 pieces at $2,500. The Runabout is limited to 300 pieces at $1,995. There is also a $225 travel jewelry case.

4. Where does some of the money go?
A portion of the proceeds (the money from sales) benefits Gilda’s Club Metro Detroit, which supports people impacted by cancer.

5. Why are Molly Shannon and Ashley Padilla in the campaign?
They are both SNL performers who admire Gilda. The company felt they showed the same funny-but-real spirit Gilda had, making them great to help share her story.