Squadron of Goods

More recent fun finds from my excursions into antique malls and local used record stores...















Indeed...

Assorted Japanese Trinkets

There were so many fab toy stores at Nakano Broadway in Tokyo last year, that I went back nearly a half dozen times in my week long visit just to make sure I didn't miss anything! One store in particular (that I unfortunately cannot remember the name of, but do remember it was on the first floor in the back hallway on the right) had a cool deal on vintage 60's - 70's dime store items, and for $10 (or 1000 yen) you could stick your hand into a giant dump bin assortment overflowing with super stuff and pull out some real treasures!

Some highlights for me were these cardboard discs of varying sizes, featuring the likes of Gold Bat, Kitaro, Ultraman, Cashaan, Monkey King, Getter Robos, and more! I guess these are pogs, yes?



How cute are these Astroboy charms? All you need is some string for a couple of fine necklaces:



Dig this neato plastic belt holster that holds your Ultraman trading cards! Good lord though, this thing doesn't even come close to fitting my waist-- nor would it fit even a 4 year olds!





I'm already ready for New Years Eve with this awesomely loud clicker ( I believe this is Tatsunoko's Space Ace, though he's a bit off model), plus a really great Mazinger Z pinback:



And finally, a couple of neat little cardboard cut-outs of Mighty Atom and Tetsujin 28... whatever purpose they serve, I do not know. If anybody does though-- please let me know! :)



I'll update this post if I can ever remember the name of the store!

Mary Jane and Sniffles in "Trick or Treat!"

I know it's spring, but let's keep the Halloween fun going for one more post with this super cute, and adorably weird Mary Jane and Sniffles story-- PLUS some random holiday themed game and project pages featuring a few of my favorite WB cartoon characters!

From Gold Key's Golden Comics Digest #47.

Halloween in May! (2019 Edition)

When it's early May, you know we're at the halfway mark to Halloween, so here are some halloweenie highlights from not one, but two October issues of 70's Jack and Jill ('77 and '78.) Full of fun artwork and activities, spooky stories, and recipes, not to mention a TON of bats 'n cats and wicked 'ol witches. Eeeeek! And get ready, because in October I'll be posting the '79 and '80 Jack and Jill Halloween issues too! Boo!

Creepin' Up On You!

Mr. Karswell hates to admit that he's yet another year older on this glorious first day of May in 2019, but at the same time he's actually quite pleased to provide you all with a recently acquired vintage greeting card that certainly and perfectly sums up what he'd love most of all in this world FOR his birthday! So gimme gimme!!! (and NO, not the dawg!)

Flamingo Chuckwagon Dinners, Hawaii

I lived in Honolulu, Hawaii for about 6 months back in the late 90's, and while there I dined on what I still consider to be some of the best food of my life. The traditional Hawaiian favorites, the seafood and South Pacific / Japanese / Korean staples etc... all incredible. But the whole time I was there (and this even happened one time while I was sitting at a luau), I kept hearing about the Flamingo Chuckwagon Dinners. Apparently, nothing was as good as the Flamingo Chuckwagon Dinners. I have no opinion on the subject of Flamingo Chuckwagon Dinners because while I was there I don't remember there even being a Flamingo Chuckwagon Dinners restaurant, nor did anyone speaking of Flamingo Chuckwagon Dinners ever bother to mention if a Flamingo Chuckwagon Dinners still existed on Oahu, or on any of the Hawaiian islands or not. But apparently Flamingo Chuckwagon Dinners was a place to go to POUND some serious / bottomless food down, and it sounds like the Flamingo Chuckwagon Dinners price was just right too (which is important on crazy expensive Hawaii!)

Anyway, today at an antique mall I was casually flipping through a stack of boring old postcards, and what did I happen to find?







I have no idea what the date of this postcard is, it's blank and unsent sans postmark, but looks to be either 60's or early 70's by my retro lovin' eye. So yeah, Flamingo Chuckwagon Dinners looks pretty good too: cool kitschy restaurant front, and fun interior buffet. If anyone has any Flamingo Chuckwagon Dinners memories they'd like to share --especially people from Hawaii-- let's hear about it! Because of course, I'm curious about Flamingo Chuckwagon Dinners!

Girl Watcher: Illustrative Excerpts

A handful of sexy / funny articles from my recently aquired copy of Girl Watcher (March 1959) magazine, with examples highlighting a variety of incredibly cute, even beautiful artwork styles. Though not very PC, I'm sure some of you will still find something to smile about, just as much as there are those who will likely find something to frown about in this day and age, I'm afraid...