I have a lot of friends with birthdays in October, so this post goes out to every single one of 'em, --even those who aren't smokers (*gag! choke! cough!) It's yet another funny 'ol boxed up gag gift mailer from the 60's, open it up to get the joke and the stink remedy punchline, plus some cool, monstery lookin' illustrated people puffin' it up. The line at the very bottom calls the clothespins "imported cigarette holders", but I find it funnier to think of them as scent saving nose pinchers.
How about lots of cute Halloween art highlights from the Oct. '46 issue of Children's Play Mate Magazine? Plus, games, poems, fun party projects and more! So many great artists worked on this issue, but boy I sure do love the unique illustrative style of Fern Bisel Peat, a name that more people should absolutely be familiar with as she stayed consistently busy applying her distinctive doodlry on many children's books throughout most of the 1900's, until her death in 1971.
One of the spookier Daguerreotypes from the 1800's that I’ve picked up recently, unfortunately missing the front cover housing, but the inner gold frame design still looks as beautifully bright as ever. The scratches on the silver plated copper image though add a very eerie effect to her haunted, lovely face (could she possibly be a long lost descendant of actress, Christina Ricci?), making everything about this feel a bit more moody and sinister than normal. And this of course only makes Daguerreotype Girl the picture perfect post for an already ominous October...
Folks!! Meet Sherry Flippe, the girl detective! Follow her now in her first adventure, --from the August 1944 issue of Suspense #5, --as she comes across some shady business in a haunted house! She's not at all like Torchy, in the same way that the phone on page 6 is not at all phallic in any way, shape, or limp form. And if you think this comic is about anything other than showin' off her long legs in stockings, --well, you're only foolin' yourselves...
Ben Cooper's "Chattermouth" series of Halloween costumes was a fun concept (and definitely better than the Hoot 'n Toots!), though seemed somewhat short-lived. Take for example this neat Robot from 1977, highlighted by the animated mask with "the mouth that moves when you talk." Interesting mask design, you'd tape the bottom half to your own chin so that when you talked the hinged mask would make you look more alive. Even better is the frock smock image, though the "comin' atcha" perspective of the left arm seems like a weird choice. Great box design here, with the Rocky Horror style lips creating the window on the lid, plus the typical additional character illustrations on the lid sides: witch, skull, devil, and clown. I had another Chattermouth years ago, a Super Spy character that looked like Dick Tracy, not sure where that costume is now though...
Popped into a local thrift store the other day and bought a cute little $4 mystery grab-bag of "Halloween items." Got home and found the usual assortment of bandit masks, spider rings, and googlie eyed glasses, but! --also these 3 amazing vintage claws 'n fang packages with the fangtastic header card art-- which of course made it all the more worth the $4 splurge! It's officially October-- stay tombed for tons more horror and gore!
Aww ain't this sweet-- a mid century wee-wee travel urinal for lil' squirts, hahaha... and never used as you can see as it's still in the original packaging. This appears to be a rather rare find, and the header is wonderfully designed too, with great lettering and color combo. (I especially love that bear mascot!) Lil' Squirt blondie about to perform a wee-wee is also ultra adorbz-- just don't forget to read the ever important directions on the back first.
