Sunday, November 10, 2013

Exclusive Fun Products by Mail

Regency Mail Order was based out of Niagra Falls, NY and was just one of countless mail order trick 'n gag providers who advertised their cheap, funny wares in comic books throughout the 60's and 70's. Sure, they had the same x-ray spex and joy buzzer stuff as nearly all the other guys, but if I had to pick which company had some of the best ad art, I'd definitely place Regency up near the top-- especially when you blow up their tiny ads about 600+% as I have done with today's post scans-- you'll see these minuscule works of art take on a whole new light.















7 comments:

Crafty C said...

cool! is this a mini monday thing????? :D

i really like that Jiu Jitsu pic. the font and the knife in mid air - cool!

and man - i am a total sucker for those stupid lists of free stuff - or any mystery box or jar of junk. they make me crazy!!!!

i love it when you blow teeny stuff up by 600%!!!

Mr. Karswell said...

Yes, Mini Monday, aka 600% Day-- you asked for it!

TwoHeadedBoy said...

Always wondered what those Monster Grow Kits consist of, despite not being someone who lives in the USA (and also someone who wasn't around in the 60s or 70s).

Probably just mould spores!

Mr. Cavin said...

That X-Ray Spex picture is solid gold (the x-rayed guy is surefire profile pic material if I've ever seen any). I also really dig the Pepper Gum and Loud Noise Blower brothers. But my fave has got to be the dude in his noisy car. This is some excellent brush cartooning for sure.

Mr. Karswell said...

I think nowadays most of these "grow" kits are mold or mushrooms... but back in the days of these ads they were probably something as misleading as balloons.

Mr. Karswell said...

Absolutely!

More mini ads blown way the hell up-- coming next Monday!

Kid said...

It strikes me that they'd have to change the text of some of them today to avoid false advertising. I've got a pair of 'X-Ray' specs and there's no way you could prove that you can 'see through anything' with them.