The Eat

We're still diggin' through the ever fabulous Esquire Handbook for Hosts hardcover from 1949 (see our previous post about the caricatured celebrity cover art HERE!) And speaking of the art, that's exactly what today's post is all about as well, because the unique, stylized hand of L. J. Allen returns for a perfectly proper look at the clever chapter headings and various other bits of quirky key art scattered throughout the first half of the book. Are you a man with the munchies, as well as one with cravings for drinky-dranks and throwing parties? Okay then, more on the latter in the coming month, but for now let's just focus on The Eat. And please note that the less than stellar quality of the images below were photographed and edited in a not so typical AEET fashion, -- but instead while I was laying in bed after spending 4 hours of my morning in root canal Hell. Yep, this was pretty much a test to see if I could even do it, (instead of waiting a few days until I was feeling better.) I eagerly await your reviews, complaints, and stupid suggestions.

Esquire's Handbook for Hosts Mystery

I bought this book a few weeks ago thinking I had found myself another neat example of Vampira illustrative goodness. Yep, right there on the back cover of Esquire's Handbook for Hosts, sandwiched between Clifton Webb and a goofy grinning Groucho Marx caricature, (and hovering above some tasty hunks of toothpick impaled party cheeses too, no less), wearing her trademark crimson lips, inclinating eyebrows, and ghostly, blood-drained pallor, --why, this looks to be every bit of Maila Nurmi's famous, midcentury, KABC-TV horror hostess, Vampira. There's only one catch-- this book was published in 1949, and Vampira wasn't created until 1954. So who the heck exactly was cover illustrator L. J. Allen caricaturing here then?! The interior of the book provides no information, and when I put the isolated image into a Google search engine, it delivers wildly random hits for Tallulah Bankhead, Katy Jurado, Caroll Borland, Yvonne DeCarlo, Jean Brooks, and silent screen queen, Theda Bara. But none of these seem even remotely correct either. And while Charles Adams did indeed do work for Esquire, his Morticia Addams character was strictly for The New Yorker-- plus, this doesn't really resemble the Morticia comic character's sleek uniqueness anyway. The truth is, it only resembles one person on planet Earth, and that's Vampira. If anyone has a clue to this Hollywood mystery, we'd sure love to hear it! And don't say Bette Davis, --she's already featured on the back cover in pearls!

Little Injun Scout Cook Stove

I was sorta feeling like I didn't have enough toilet paper shaped imagery here at AEET lately (see the previous post too), so let us now take a look at the Little Injun Scout Cook Stove --in a can! It's perfect for fishermen, campers, hunters, and anybody else who likes to cook things outdoors. And gee whiz, setting it up for a few photos was actually a lot easier than it looks too! Now, being "laboratory tested and approved" didn't really make me feel any safer from it just somehow suddenly exploding in my face, but I still put all of my trust into the rather amateurishly illustrated Little Injun Scout mascot, for I knew that he could not, and would not, never ever steer me into harm's way. So yes, all of that marvelous midcentury, campfire cooking goodness is absolutely crammed into one toilet paper roll sized can. Just don't forget to follow the rules of necessity, --and remember to bring a "reasonable size cooking utensil" too!

John Wayne Toilet Paper

Annnnd of course I would follow up a laxative post with one about toilet paper, wouldn't I? It's rough! It's tough! And it doesn't take crap off anyone! Wait, doesn't that completely defeat the point of TP? Butt still, it's John Wayne to the 'ol hole rescue! (Hee! I said "butt.") And as my cute new cohort in kitsch was quick to point out (before I even noticed, in fact), though this is actually a late 90's product parody, it still feels like a rather fun, old school gag of the sort I bin postin' 'round these parts now for a coon's age. Plus, the funny Dean McCartney artwork earns itself a Royal Flush Award for that rootin' tootin', sure as poop-shootin', Class A caricature of The Duke. Butt #2, after a dramatic dookie of your own, you may wanna just stick to some Charmin. I'm bettin' that barbed wire on the wrapper is an actual crapper warning, and there's no need'ta be left sore in the saddle as yer skiddin' off into the sunset! Uhh, if ya catch my drift...

Daisy & Maisie Need a Laxative

And from time to time, who doesn't? This is a very cute 'n funny old ad that I found in an early 40's Life Magazine, and highlighted by some really nice "good girl" art, too! So turn that sour stomach sweet again with something that sounds more like a font than an actual laxative brand...

PROM at the Drive-In

PROM Magazine was a somewhat slick fanzine style local publication, existing from March 1947 until July 1973, and was created exclusively for the youth (and old grads even) of St. Louis, MO. Representing all of the public and private schools in the city / county areas, and filled to the brim with interviews and articles on upcoming trends, proms, dances, parties, sports, fashion etc. If you subscribed to PROM, you were absolutely that much hipper on all current news and assorted teen social event info-- including the latest and greatest in song and silver screen releases too! Of course, I wasn't even around in the 50's (born in 1968, fyi) but I was very much a fan of movies and drive-ins during my tiny tot life of the 70's and 80's, and the two articles below, via a pair of 1954 PROM issues, provide a fascinating glimpse into the early days of the two drive-ins that my family frequented the most: South Twin Drive-In Theatre on Lemay Ferry Rd, and Ronnie's Drive-In Theatre on South Lindbergh Blvd. This is where I saw everything from cute Disney classics, to massive Spielberg summer blockbusters, and not to mention even a few trashy grind house style T&A flicks and gorefests (Flesh Gordan, anyone?) during my hellraisin' high school days. Both articles also contain great photos of those big, beautiful neon marquee signs that added so much color and memories to my formative early years. And just as important as seeing a dynamite double feature, head on over for some unforgettable, tempt-taste tantalizin' interior sights 'n smells and menus of the amazing concession stands! Nothing in the world tastes better than a box of shrimp and an ice cold Dr. Pepper in a wax cup from the 'ol drive-in. (NOTE: some banana pudding I had recently was def better, but still-- *wink!) Other interesting article details mention the then "new" in-car heaters, defunct soft drinks, as well as a glorious glimpse at an employee jacket that I would freakin' kill to have if only my mother hadn't finally thrown it out literally just a few years ago --yep, my stepdad apparently worked at South Twin and had one--arghh! RIP South Twin (1954 - 1983) & Ronnie's Drive-In (1948 - 1983.)