I never learned how to play Chess. Checkers was way more my speed, especially as I loved the sound the vintage wood ones made as you plunked them down on the board. Plastic ones sounded good too and that was about as complex thinking as I was willing to ponder when it came to games. My standards were always based on design, what sound do the game pieces make, how do they feel texturally, how’s the color palette, etc.  Mind  you, I love the sound these plastic Chess Men make clicking together too. But for Chess you also have to burrow way deep into your brain to strategize about where to move them and I like to reserve those deep recesses for things like writing songs, painting and knowing the quickest routes to local thrift shops.

One thing I could always wrap my brain around though was excellent packaging. And the color technique for cheap, stripped down, straight-to-the-point things like Chess was excellent in 1969 when this was made.

My cat, Niblet, has developed a crush on the box. She’s very attached to sleeping right next to it, in this case on a lucite chair right under it, and stretches every time I shake the box.

I have too many deadlines and too many other things I should be attending to now besides stopping and finally learning how to play Chess. So this gorgeous vintage box and its contents shall just act as a collectible artifact and cat sitter until the time my brain feels there’s space to wrap itself around things like King’s, Queens, Pawns and whatever all the rest of these beautifully sounding pieces are.

4 Responses to “Allee Willis’ Kitsch O’ The Day – 1969 Vintage Chess Men”

  1. Heidi Ehrenreich

    I’m right with you on this one Allee. I too played checkers and loved the sounds. Chess-way to much for my non-linear brain.
    However, the sound I liked the best were the mahjong tiles that were slapped down by the Jewish women at the pool club. And I loved what they’d say too. Crack! Bam!
    Maybe I’ll go over to our local senior center and sit in at the mahjong tables and learn something. After all, I do turn 63 tomorrow!

    Reply
  2. Allee

    Yes, mahjong tiles! Those make a heavenly sound too. Though that was also a game that seemed way too complex for where I was willing to take my brain when contemplating relaxation.

    HAPPPPPPPPY BIRTHDAY! Do you have any special plans? Do they include playing checkers?

    Reply