We've been having a March Mannequin Madness Fest over at THOIA, so I thought, why not have one over here at AEET as well, with a dozen or so funny gags, cover illustrations (and one napkin) highlighting the sillier side of these delightful department store darlings (note how I didn't call 'em "dummies!") These were all taken from various funny publications over the last half century and beyond-- so, enjoy the fine art of window dressing, and the highs and lows of public reaction!
Overheard someone today loudly talking about how March is "wedding month." I've always thought that May was the start of wedding season, but whatever, it's March 1st so here's a bride post for whenever "wedding month" actually is. She's a cute little figure and made of wood, I think, and most of her lip and flower paint has rubbed off. She's astoundingly dirty too all dressed in white with that smudged face and chest, and OMG she only gets dirtier when you flip her over. Ummm... you know what I mean. Turn her around. Uhhh... the figure in your hand... rotate it so that you can see the backside of the figure in your hand. Now. If what you are seeing looks completely unfamiliar to you, then you are probably too young to be on this ridiculous blog in the first place.
If you've been having as much trouble with your brassiere lately as I have, then this Renu-Back elastic, adjustable bra-extender might just be the thing you're looking for. Or maybe you're just into really attractive good-girl art gracing old time lady undergarment packaging. To be honest, the second I picked this thing up I thought it looked a lot like the risqué underground fetish style "Nights of Horror" banned booklet art that Joe Schuster was producing in the early 50's.
Here are a handful of wonderful key art examples found in the neat little midcentury booze booklet, "Food is more fun with... Wine," courtesy of Italian Swiss Colony California Wines. Basically a "cooking with" type recipe collection, the real highlight here are the adorable puppet couple (made of cork, no less!) featured throughout on most of the pages and intermingling with the various subject matter. No artist credit is given anywhere in the booklet, unfortunately. The female of the two wins by a landslide though as far as immensely interesting goes, so I'm focusing this post on her and leaving the dopey dude hanging on a dark shelf back in the cupboard. Sorry dude!
We haven't had a weird Werewolf Wednesday prowlin' around these AEET parts in quite a while, so let's check in with the rip snortin' Riverdale gang in their new loony location high up in the Carpushian Mountains. It's a kooky, two-part, monster mash of the hairiest scariest order, and from the October 1978 issue of Life with Archie #198.
What a cool find-- it's a dainty 4" tall, lead figure cowgirl a'rearin' up her stallion, and low 'n behold--she's even painted a bit on the saucy side! There's been quite a bit of paint loss on her over the years, and the same can be said for her rip roarin' ride. Apparently from the 1930's too, there's even a neat little piece of very thin, bent wire that simulates her lasso! You brave, young painters out there will likely tell me to "touch her up", and I'm thinking her face could absolutely use a quick make-over. It might even be extra saucy to get rid of those slap-dash black clothes of hers altogether and just have her truly bare-back ridin'! Giddy up Up UP, indeed!
