Classic and prototypical 50’s sports shirt, a prized possession of mine, worn only for the finest relaxing weekend occasions. Not a rip, stain, snag or anything on this honey. I’m not a fisherwoman but this vintage Catalina, the King of Atomic Age casual shirts, is the Katch O’ The Day for sure.
I, like so many others of my vintage, was a Howdy Doody freak. Howdy was a pop star before there was such a thing. Although I wasn’t big on Western TV motifs I was really into Buffalo Bob Smith’s fringe laden shirt and I was so laden with freckles growing up I was totally into Howdy’s speckled face too.
Howdy Doody ran on NBC from 1947 until 1960. One of the first TV shows in color, NBC, which also owned RCA who manufactured color TV sets, used the show in part to sell color sets to an enamored tot audience.
These salt and pepper shakers were one of the first pieces of memorabilia I found when I discovered thrift shops.
To this day, every time I shake one of them I get a hit of my childhood. I wanted to be Princess Summerfall Winterspring and Flub-a-dub, 8 animals in one – combo duck, cocker spaniel, seal, cat, elephant, dachshund and pig – was a true inspiration to my budding multimedia self.
Although the thought of anything food related like these S&Ps coming from a town named Doodyville isn’t the most appetizing of thoughts I like shaking Howdy’s head every time I need to spice things up.
Not sure what it is about gum that allows it to have more flavors than any other consumable substance on earth but French Fires is one of my favorite flavors and if I can save calories by chewing rather than sucking down actual spuds I’m all for it!
Bubbles Fries come with a pack of play ketchup to smear on the 23 individual fries.
These were as hard as a rock when I bought them 15 years ago so I’m certainly not willing to risk my teeth for a sample chew now. I’ll just enjoy the essence of potato loveliness the packaging promises and chomp on some some bubblewonderful golden nuggets or a pink cigar for my mouth aerobics today.
Bottle openers have captured the minds of designers since the Crown Cork metal bottle cap was patented by William Painter in 1892. This ladies shoe has a matching men’s oxford with the opener molded into the sole.
I have a bunch of Hoppy memorabilia but none so rare as this 1950’s can of “hybrid yellow” popcorn, actually called Hopalong Cassidy’s Favorite. H. Cassidy lunch boxes, paper plates, comic books, roller skates, wristwatches, guns and jackknives were just some of the products that made this cowboy one of the most successful personality brands from early TV.
William Boyd played Hopalong Cassidy from 1935 in films through the 1950’s on radio and tv and was one of the earliest stars to own the copyright to the character he played.
Hoppy’s favorite kernel kontainer is made of tin by the Maryland Popcorn Cooperative Association, Inc.
A couple of weeks ago I featured the world’s happiest gal dancing to my song “Neutron Dance”. Now, the Krown Princess of Kitsch Khoreography turns her attention to the sweeping horns and strings and theatrical chorus melody of another one of my most danced-to songs. Black leather against backlit drapes encourages an even more dramatic performance, made exceptionally special by how the dancer’s mouth moves aggressively though rarely quite mouthing the words. Other favorite aspects of the performance are the freeze poses and excellent recovery from a stumble in the first chorus. The moves in the instrumental are especially impressive. Kudos from the author to this Neutron Dancer in Boogie Wonderland!
Look how proud “I’m The Chef” is of his well seasoned steaks! This apron is speckled with the residue of much pit grease but it makes me think of my father who faithfully grilled every Sunday, making certain that vegetarianism was the one socially conscious practice I could never embrace (without a provision for T-bone Sunday).
