"SEL-MORE" Undies (STL)

After a week of over-indulgence party posts featuring sandwiches, booze, nicotine, and candy, it's now time to bid our guests a fond farewell, and finally turn in for the night. Not because we're tired, mind you, but because it suddenly feels as if our clothes aren't fitting properly anymore! Damn you, Pudgy Pie Maker! And I don't know about you, but I simply can not wait to get out of these duds and slip into something a little more loose fitting, and breezy-comfy. And if I were a daring dame of danger, I would most certainly choose something equally dynamic! Something made of exclusive acetate rayon, with a nylon crepe blend fabric, plus all nylon sheer trim! Enter Undies by "Sel-Mor." Now take a moment to admire the stunningly beautiful box design, and notice that it is indeed another long lost, forgotten Saint Louis brand. And if that scantily clad, deco dreamboat on the box can't sell these delicate dainties to you, nothing can! The colors, lettering, border shapes, and parrot, absolutely speak volumes in "art deco" style, but I actually believe this product is more from the late 40's and / or early 50's. While researching around the 'ol www again, I also found a variant version of the box lid design, and hello, it's for sale on ebay HERE! (see the last image below too.) Unfortunately, like our chocolate box in the previous post, this lovely Sel-More Undies box is just as empty. I guess we'll be retiring in our birthday suits instead, --which isn't such a bad thing either, now is it?

The Billy Burke Chocolates Mystery

We've had our share of pudgy pie sandwiches, red wine, and perfumed cigarettes over the last few posts, so there's only one thing left to do now-- satisfy our sweet tooth with some dessert! And if you're equally a fan of actresses from the earliest days of Broadway, radio, and silver screen cinema, then let's sink our choppers into some Billy Burke Chocolates! Made right here in St. Louis, MO in 1911, we're forced to not only imagine what a mouthful of these premiere chocolates might have tasted like (the box is empty, of course!), but we also have to ponder the unusual spelling of her first name on the lid and the bottom of the box as well. Mary William Ethelbert Appleton "Billie" Burke (speaking of mouthfuls!) was a popular American actress that most of you will likely know as Glinda the Good Witch of the North from the classic film musical, The Wizard of Oz (1939.) Now, what is really interesting is that every other variation of this candy box that you'll find online seems to spell her name correctly as Billie. The other colorful, red box designs (example) also show that the chocolates were produced in Boston by the United Candy Company. What. Is. Going. On? Skimming through her fascinating wiki page HERE, we learn that her father's middle name was "Billy", but alas, we learn nothing about her line of chocolates because, unfortunately, there isn't even a single mention of it. If any of you internet sleuths out there have some clues to share about any of this, we'd love to hear 'em!

Salome Ideal Cigarettes

I say, we've stuffed ourselves on pudgy pie sandwiches, and washed it all down with a nice Borghini wine, (HERE! HERE!) Now, retiring to the study to fill our glasses with something a bit stronger, we are intrigued to find unusual, antique tobacco products await! NOTE: As stated many times on this blog over the years, I do not drink, nor do I smoke. But! I do collect beautiful examples of 1920's, deco era packaging, so allow this antique box of Salome Ideal Cigarettes to become our stimulating, after din-din conversation starter. Manufactured by Rosedor Cigarette Co. Inc. and copyrighted in 1915 and 1924 in New York, Salome is the "delightfully different, original perfumed cigarette. Unrivaled for mildness..." and etc etc, (you can read the rest below.) Let's instead talk about the gorgeous, gold embossed red box, and stunningly sensuous Salome herself striking a rather perfectly pretty pose. Why, she's enough to make one truly lose their head! But hold on to that head, old man, because after you have opened the box, you'll see that Salome returns once more for multiple encore performances. After all, she is screen printed on each and every gold-tipped cigarette nestled within. If that's not enough, NY's seventh and ninth governor, DeWitt Clinton (1769 - 1828) makes a very special guest appearance as a 10 cent revenue stamp on the underside of the box. Not to be confused with a postage stamp, IR stamps, which exist in a variety of color and denominational series, were used to show that tobacco taxes had indeed been paid, annnnd my apologies for allowing this conversation to suddenly take a rather boring turn. Light 'em up, gentlemen-- the Dance of the Seven Veils is about to begin!

Decanter Lady Head Vase (of the Moon)

We've been gorging ourselves silly on pudgy pie sandwiches since our previous post, and now it's time to wash it all down with a Borghini red wine guzzled directly from a 1960's Sicas Sesto Fior, art deco-esque, decanter lady head vase. According to the internet, Sicas, aka Societa Italiana Ceramica Artistica Sestese (located in Sesto Fiorentino, Italy) began operations in 1945 directly after WW2, and continued into the 1970's producing their rather unique variety of Italian art wine pottery pieces. These days, the decanters tend to turn up missing the cork, the labels, and of course the wine. But my girl here seems complete, the only thing not true would be her earrings which were originally just simple, small gold hoops. But ain't she sweet? The sinister signs of ceramic crazing just adds further character to her fabulously feline, almost alien face. Near pristine condition, she looks stunning starring back at me from my desk. For reasons known only to me, when I look at her I feel the urge to watch Cat-Women of the Moon (1953.)

Pudgy Pie Sandwich Maker

After a steady stream of juicy Jersey Mike's subs vs. exotic Tiger 88 grilled pork banh mi's for the last few years, I think it's time to break free of this current tempt-taste rut by adding a third style sandwich option to my languishing luncheon list. And not only will this require me to turn up the heat and do-it-myself, but I will also be traveling back in time to the mid 1940's with the help of a flying saucer shaped De Luxe Model Toas-Tite Pudgy Pie Sandwich Maker! That's right, what a mouthful! It's also a plump, round, toasted pie-like sammy (these days they call 'em Hot Pockets) that you cook up over a stove top or any open flame within the silver sleek, handy dandy Toas-Tite press. This seals the toast edges and locks in the flavorful ingredients while also making it drip-proof! You can also get campfire creative with pot pies, egg surprises, hot dogs with a future (!!!) and fruit filled hand pie desserts too. I soooo like the idea of a Pop Tart pillow! Hey, howz'about glamourin' up those lingerin' left-overs with the ever easy pudgy pie treatment too! Okay, just how freakin' fun is this original PPSM, anyway? Is it as wingdingin' as the insanely cute art on the box lid and instruction manual? I believe so. And the wildest thing I uncovered while researching this online is that you can actually buy reproduction versions of the PPSM, --and in 3 different styles too! CLICK HERE for more info, and start gettin' pudgy, NOW! 

Advertising Book Matches (PART TWO)

And now for the exciting second half of Advertising Book Matches --see PART ONE HERE if ya missed it! These striking (literally) 1950's, or possibly early 1960's salesman sample catalog page highlights switch gears from the pretty pin-up options of our previous post and now blast-off into the rad realms of some o'my other favorite subject matter: Retro space gags! Hillbilly humor! And sexy vintage salon sirens! Please specify A-OK if you enjoy this type of post, because I can certainly deliver more hot 'n hilarious matchbook action in the months to come!