The (Cookie) Art of Davi Botts

Good Housekeeping's 1958 "Book of Cookies" is much more than 60+ pages of tasty dessert recipes-- it's actually an eyeball poppin' collection of out of this world children's book style illustrations by Davi Botts too! Take a look at this small but superb sampling and see if you don't agree:

"Book of Cookies" is easily found in any used bookstore or antique mall (just look in paper sections where sellers have old cook books and recipe pamphlets.) There are dozens more fantastic illustrations to be found inside... and yes, some of the recipes are pretty darn delicious too!

Disneyland '55

For some of us it's hard to imagine Disneyland in a time before The Haunted Mansion, or Space Mountain, but alas these days did exist. And it's always fascinating to see how an amusement park developes over the years as things get added, subtracted, modified, forgotten. So here now from Karswell's Private Kollection is a rare brochure glimpse into the wonderful world of Disneyland in 1955-- the actual year that it opened, the year that Walt and his team of amazing Imagineers forever changed theme park history!



This ain't your daddy's theme park. Oh wait, yes it is... Grandpa's too! Who remembers Aunt Jemima's Pancake House?


If you've visited Disneyland recently then you know that it now has more than 8 points of interest (see map below.) Still, this 55 year old version of the original park, even without all the fantastic current rides, restaurants and shows, was, and always will be light years beyond any other theme park in the world. Ever.


*Note the map page box insert above dated July 17th, 1955... according to wikipedia this is actually the day BEFORE Disneyland opened to the general public on July 18th (the 17th was reserved for a "televised press preview.")

Something Fishy

Bugs Bunny in Something Fishy is a gorgeously painted kids book published by Whitman in 1955, and adapted by Alfred Abranz and Norm McGary. I've had this book ever since I can remember along with a towering pile of other great Tell-a-Tales that I will be posting here at AEET over time. I'd venture to say most Bugs Bunny fans like myself probably prefer the stories where Bugs is in complete control of the rules and carnage (in this one he sort of gets his bushy little tail handed to him), but it's still a colorful, fast paced story none the less and each page is nothing short of stunning eye candy.

Trix: The Happy Cereal

First introduced to stores as a breakfast/snack product in 1954 by General Mills, this ad for Trix "The Sugar Cereal with the Fruit Flavor" appeared in magazines and comics 2 years later in 1956. Pre-mascot days too as the silly Trix Rabbit wouldn't arrive on the scene for another 3 years in '59. Eat enough bowls kiddies and your eyes will turn into hopped-up sugared corn puffs too!



My favourite part of this superbly surreal ad though is the line at the very bottom-- "Now in Canada, too!" I guess that would make them "Fruit FLAVOURED" then, eh? Find out more aboot delicious Trix Cereal HERE!

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EXTRA! My buddy Mykal sends over another great 50's Trix ad, this one from the back of Tom and Jerry Comics No. 148, November 1956 (by the way, my Trix ad scan was from Bugs Bunny's Halloween Fun #4, same year.) Thanks Mykal!

AAA Autourist Art (European Edition)

According to AAA's 1959 Travel Guide to Europe, there's no more fascinating or convenient way to see Europe than traveling its highways and byways in your own car as an Autourist.



You go where you please, linger at whim. Your car makes it easy to visit remote villages, glamorous cities, historic castles... you get the full flavor of each country!



Yes, the moment you set foot in Europe, you'll discover there's nothing quite like a European holiday. Each country has it's own proud history and culture, and each offers its own exciting variety of scenery, food and fun!



For your armchair traveling pleasure, I hope you enjoy the way AAA entices it's Autourist members with great bits of illustrative key art and design scattered throughout their 600+ page travel guide as much as I do.




Bon Voyage!

Exclusive Fashions by Mattel (1963)

What was Barbie, Ken, Midge, Allan, and darling siss Skipper wearing in 1963 you ask? Why only the most exclusive fashions by Mattel ever-- that's what! I have to admit that as a boy I never had any problem playing with dolls, um... and you definitely don't have to be a Barbie fan to appreciate this wonderfully illustrated mini-catalog of versatile doll fashion and accessories, (plus: gift sets, carrying cases, board games and more!) I wish toy manufacturers still created colorful, fully painted catalogs that were even half as much fun as this one.

(front cover)

(back cover)

Spooky the Tuff Little Ghost

Kooky spooky fun from the February 1966 issue of Spooky #90 ...yep, this is the stuff I grew up on, and Harvey Comics really knew how to pack each issue full of great characters and storytelling, not to mention appealing full-page advertising that was much more than just issue filler. Did anyone have the Transogram Pretzel-Jetzel? God, it looks amazing!