This thing kills me. Not only does it still reek of the scent of the powder that was pumped into it five decades ago but it exemplifies a common marketing tactic taken by some of the most brilliantly kitschy products when a staunchly middle of the road company attempts to be hip and takes on a pop culture trend. In this case, it’s The Fuller Brush Company attempting to cash in on the folk singing craze of the early 1960s by covering a bath mit in fabric that looks like something that would have been stretched over the armrest of an Ethan Allan Early Americana couch.
I don’t even know what half of the instruments are let alone what a Declaration of Independence type scroll, leaves or half of the other icons on this have to do with Bob Dylan, Peter, Paul & Mary or anyone else who inspired teenagers and young adults to buy acoustic guitars, don turtlenecks and rip into a chorus of “If I Had A Hammer”.
The box is as brilliant as the mitt. I love the backdrop of musical notes, although I have no idea what the melody is as despite the copious number of hit songs I’ve written I don’t know how to read music. But that story’s for another time. What’s important here is the illustration of a pert and sunny sorority looking girl who’s more apt to be dancing in front of her TV with American Bandstand on than attending a Hootenanny while she’s being serenaded by the Ray-Ban man and someone else whose pants are way too short.
michael mc ginnis
Lest we forget, fol music was all about true patriotism of he people. Songs of the folk!
GO Fuller Brush!!
Kathy Cunningham
My Mother, bless her soul, bought many a Fuller Brush product from the gumshoe Fuller Brush Man in the 60’s.
However, when the usual FB man retired, he was replaced with a truly annoying, nasaly voiced brute who hawked the stuff rather than “suggesting”..hence..we didn’t get this one, Allee!
I think Paul Stookey is due some royalties!
Peter, Paul, Mary and Fuller.
Diana
I love it! But it’s not a far stretch from the folks in the graphic to an early Oscar Brandt & Joni Mitchell. His pants are too short and she is wearing a neat little a-line dress.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nv0GmHMNFTw
Tacky Julie
On the fabric, I see dulcimers, lutes, banjos, and a harmonica. The lute is the only instrument I’ve never seen when I go to a “hootenanny.”