Scared Stiff

For those of you that enjoyed AEET's previous Mitzi of the Movies double feature post HERE, how about a couple more fun films recently added to the ever expanding Karswell SUPER 8 Kollection. This time it's two of my favorite comedy creep classics: the Martin & Lewis haunted island castle hilarity of Scared Stiff from 1953 (watch the silent subtitled version of this Ken Films 8mm version HERE on youtube, and also check out the trailer HERE!) Plus, the all-time madcap mummy-rama from 1955, Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy! (see that trailer HERE!) Condensed film versions like this will never not be a chuckle-filled blast, and are made even more collectably cool by that beautifully painted artwork on the box lids. I need TROG!

Mitzi of the Movies: Double Feature

Not to be confused with the many other various illustrated publications using the exact same title, "Movie Comics", published by Fiction House from 1946 to 1947 lasted a mere 4 issues before calling it quits, --and it's a shame too because it's full of fun stories and truly incredible art. Each issue depicted real life movie stars and starlettes in actual films of the time era (via Paramount, Universal, and MGM --ie Dan Duryea and Ella Raines in "White Tie and Tails" and Mickey Rooney and Bonita Granville in "Love Laughs at Andy Hardy", just to name a few.) Each issue also squeezed in filler page bios on screen legends such as Joan Crawford, Ann Blythe, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Clark Gable etc. But for this AEET post, we're going to double feature it up with a pair of marvelous Matt Baker tales starring fresh faced, fictionally frisky, "Mitzi of the Movies!" Mitzi Mason, aspiring midwestern girl lured to the bright lights of Hollywood, CA, --instead finding her lowly, lonely self schleppin' along in menial jobs while getting equally caught up in one suspense-filled shenanigan scrape after another! It's great stuff, and the beautiful Baker art deserves a non-stop barrage of all over chef kissery. So let's take off to the movie sets of a pirate picture, as well as a good 'ol wild wild western, and see just how our magnificent lil minx is makin' out, shall we? From the February 1947 issue of Movie Comics #2, and the June 1947 issue of #4. I've also rounded out the post with some cute vintage ads as well, --enjoy!

Earl's Drain Oil Service & Happy Prize

It's the late 1970's, and you've suddenly just found yourself in need of prompt and efficient drain oil service and road oiling. At the same time, you've also discovered that you need a "Happy Prize" to help ya drain some other type of sticky gunk, --you know, with that same level of top notched promptness and efficiency. So, who ya gonna call? SING! "429-1707! Earl's Drain Oil Serrrvice! Callll now!" Something tells me that coifurred calendar cutie is less 1977 and more likely via 1967, but who's splitting hairs! Get liftin' and watch those magical painted lady dainties just drift away like oil down a drain. SING MORE!"Gimme the beat boys, and free my soul..."

Life-Saver

Well, our power went out during another major midwest storm on the afternoon of July 4th, so apologies, I haven't had much time to put a proper AEET post together. But alas, a few days later the electric is finally back on here now (as of like 15 minutes ago, seriously whew!), and as long as I was logged in and updating THOIA, I wanted to get something cool posted here quickly in the meantime as well. I stumbled upon this fab image in an old 1940's LIFE Magazine back issue, and luck be damned, the exact issue number and date unfortunately has gone amiss from my notes. So after a few grueling days minus AC and streamin' TV, a cute Wint-O-Green gal snowskiing in a bikini with dreams of a Palm Beach getaway seemed like the perfect post subject.

Bathing Beauties

It might sound weird to some, but it's actually too goddamn hot to go swimming on this freakishly sweltering 4th of July-- *pants! But that ain't gonna stop me from enjoying (and sharin') the sizzlin' sight of a trio of sweet lil bathing beach beauties! This was a nice collection I spotted at an antique mall last week (didn't buy 'em, if you're wondering), and I just liked the way they were arranged in the case, along with that equally interesting painting leaned up there in the background. Unlike the rare, and much higher quality, earlier era bisque bathing beauties from Germany, these porcelain gals were made in midcentury Japan, and are somewhat common in this time zone, --though these three with their unique poses and lovely, glossy paint jobs were new to me! Post rounded out with an adorable old beach post card I found recently as well!

Murray-Go-Round & Round

We're kickin' off July 2026 whilst kickin' up our heels with a collection of oppressive dance moves courtesy of this swingin', midcentury, Arthur Murray (Dance Studios) waaay back magazine back issue. Yes sir, Murray-Go-Round is absolutely full of great photos and fun articles, in particular, the "do's and don'ts" of proper / improper dance floor / ballroom etiquette. And of course, the "don'ts" are way more interesting than the "do's", so that's what we'll focus on today for all the show-offs, hikers, hoggers, and marathon champs (you know who you are!) reading this helpful, timeless info. Okay then, have yourselves a ball, and to the ladies: please feel free to grind your face powder into my dinner jacket. Honestly, --I don't mind!

Contract Trickery

What started out as simply another look at the fun midcentury cartoon stylings of Joe Carpenter, aka "The Master of Circular Drink Tray Art" (CLICK HERE if you missed it earlier this month), has now equally turned into an educationally Googled lesson into the wild world of psychological gaming manipulation and strategic card shark maneuvers. Yep, I never knew diddly squat about playing cards (except for Go Fish and War!), but now I know everything I could ever hope to know about false-carding, sandbagging, "Hold Ups", ducking, etc. I still don't drink alcohol, but I feel like I'm ready for Vegas anyway, baby! Annnd of course, don't forget to enjoy the funny Joe Carpenter art below while serving up all of this dirty handed deception 'n card party dranks!