Xmas in July, Day 31: ALIEN Ornament

This year Hallmark introduces a handful of cool and horrific new xmas tree "Keepsake" ornaments: Frankenstein, Godzilla, Jaws, etc. ---but best of all, to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the sci-fi horror film classic ALIEN, they're unleashing this completely bad ass Big Chap xenomorph to terrorize grandparents and tots for the 2014 season! I will most certainly be adorning my tree with one. In stores October! Click HERE for more information.

Hope everyone enjoyed AEET's 2014 Xmas in July! :)

Xmas in July, Day 30: Kiddie Korner

From the Kiddie Korner pages of Montgomery Wards 1971 Christmas Catalog, we've got our sweet tooth primed and ready for some sugary neat treats: foil wrapped milk chocolates, icing coated gingerbread houses, candy canes, Disney character Pez, and gum balls from our very own gum ball machine! More than anything though, I'd like to get my mitts in/on those awesome xmas themed lollipop packed puppets-- especially the snowman, but the reindeer is pretty "cool" too!

Xmas in July, Day 29: Some Laughs

Whether it's a bag full, or a barrel o'-- sometimes all you really need is just a good laugh. And with all the pointless family disfunction you hear of rearing its ugly head around the holidays, this is surely the gift that everyone could use a healthy dose of! A little round of instant applause never hurts either! (Montgomery Wards Xmas Catalog, 1971)

Xmas in July, Day 28: The Three Investigators

Well, we couldn't conjure up any actual living/breathing thrills or chills with the magic and occult in our last post, guess it's time to turn to the next best thing and immerse ourselves in awesome, fictionalized adventure! I pretty much devoured all of the Three Investigators books as a kid, tales of spooky castles, monsters, talking skulls etc captivated the imagination as vividly as the spellbindingly beautiful painted covered art. These suspenseful mysteries were always a welcome sight in my stocking. I do remember reading a few Nancy Drew mysteries, but I was more a fan of Pamela Sue Martin in the role of the cool ABC television series version! Let's not forget Pamela in Playboy too! (Montgomery Ward Christmas Catalog, 1971)

Xmas in July, Day 27: Magic and the Occult

Do you believe in magic, or the world of the occult? When you're a kid you believe in the power of anything, especially the imagination! I totally loved magic kits when I was little, Hell I still do-- and the mysteries into the dark, misty regions of the occult realm will always be fascinating to me as well. So come on, be the life of the party-- or be the death of your enemies, --either way it's time to ask Santa for some REAL power this year! #3 Genie Bottle is an interesting spin / variation on the Magic Eightball game. (Montgomery Wards Christmas Catalog, 1971)

Xmas in July, Day 26: Tiger Socks & Cocktail Mixer

After a hard day at work I just wanna kick back and relax with a cold beverage, and what better way to do so than in these wild winter warmer tiger slipper socks with nails and padded leather patches on the soles and heels! So pour some Mountain Dew into my shapely go-go girl cocktail mixer, flick her switch and watch this Little Annie Fanny look-a-like shimmy and shake and pussy-foot the night away! (Montgomery Wards Xmas Catalog, 1971)

Xmas in July, Day 25: Flip Wilson Doll

Now that I know this talking Flip Wilson / Geraldine doll exists, how can I live without it???!! (Montgomery Ward Christmas Catalog, 1971)

Xmas in July, Day 23 and 24: KISS tickets / KISS Pendant

Yesterday I had planned to post a pic of my KISS concert ticket stub from when I saw them at the Checkerdome in St. Louis MO in '79. Unfortunately-- WHERE IS IT??!! Arghh! So this is kind of a rip-off post for Day 23 because it was gonna say "KISS CONCERT TICKETS" which was always on my xmas list every year since they came through my town quite frequently, and then finally one year I got lucky. Anyway, that was yesterday, today now I've got my eye on a killer KISS Pendant necklace-- and of course you know I got it, and of course I still have it buried in a jewelry box somewhere in the closet. God, this is a lazy post. But here's the cool ad for it! Merry KISSmas!

Xmas in July, Day 22: Lounger Bean Bag

The "wet-look wonders of a take-it-easy world" just got a lot more wet looking and easy going with these super cozy, giant, vinyl bean bag lounge chairs. I miss the red one I had as a kid, though you can imagine me looking like Santa Claus (pictured), but instead of contemplating reindeer games and what part of the world sets out the best cookies on Xmas Eve, I'd be reading a comic book. The mushroom shaped variation is cool looking too, but I prefer the floppy traditional style that I can totally sink into! (Montgomery Wards Xmas Catalog, 1972)

Xmas in July, Day 21: See-It-Bake Oven

I don't care who thinks it's girly of me to want a See-It-Bake Oven, cuz who the Hell doesn't love cakes and pies and brownies and biscuits??!! A cute little contraption and efficiently designed-- man, I'm ready for some Xmas in July cookies NOW! (Montgomery Wards Xmas Catalog, 1972)

Xmas in July, Day 20: Bendy Toys

Maybe you saw the Pink Panther on the nightstand in our last post, well here he is again-- all 2 ft. of foam rubber and flexible wire frame! Along with Tom & Jerry, these Bendy Toys were really awesome and totally different style English imports, and I want them both for xmas, please!! (Montgomery Wards Xmas Catalog, '71)

Xmas in July, Day 19: Road Runner Set

My entire bedroom with a Road Runner / Wile E. Coyote motif? Yes, please! Bedspreads, sheets, pillow cases, drapes, and even the towels and washcloths for my bathroom? You know it.

Xmas in July, Day 18: Hugo

I always wanted a Hugo, Man of a Thousand Faces, but I never got one. I still want one too, damn it! (Sears Christmas Wish Book, 1976)

Xmas in July, Day 17: Buck-A-Roo vs. Showdown Sam

The object of Buck-A-Roo was the same as the JAWS game, but in reverse, pile it up instead of take it off... while Showdown Sam definitely fills my inner Westworld needs to battle an evil, lawless robotic gun slinger! So yeah, what every kid wants for xmas the most-- TOYS TOYS TOYS!!! that fight back! (Sears Xmas Wish Book, '76)

Xmas in July, Day 16: Record Books

We skinned up our knees pretty good yesterday on the skateboards (it's 1976, what the Hell are knee pads anyway???), so now we're back inside and looking for something to do. Good thing this Xmas in July we added record books to our wish lists-- and being the horror head that I am, I made a special notation on Monsters Hits (#2) Frankenstein, Dracula, Man Thing, and Werewolf (but of course any cartoon and / or super hero set will work too!) So put on the record, and read along to full color action and adventure! (Sears Christmas Wish Book, 1976)

Xmas in July, Day 15: Crysta-Flex Skateboard

The hot summer temps have cooled a bit here this week thanks to the "polar vortex" (or whatever the Hell they're talking about on the damn weather channel), so it's time to break out the skateboard and hit the sidewalk / streets-- and man, I have a serious eye on the Crysta-Flex (#4) board of high-pact and made of flexible clear plexi with matching clear polyurethane wheels! It's like I'm shreddin' on Wonder Woman's clear jet --but it's a skateboard!
(Sears Xmas Wish Book, 1976)

Fangs for the Memories

We interrupt our Xmas in July Fest with a quick trip down Gold Key comic memory lane, with O.G. Whiz, Boy President of the Tikkletoy Company as he tries to seal a deal on a vampire model kit (monster model kits are eternally on my xmas want lists, ya know!) It's a kooky little tale from the May 1972 issue of O.G. Whiz #6 --and if that's not enough, or if we're straying to far from this month's xmas wish list theme, I've included a mail order ad to blow yourself up to poster size. I would most certainly like to have Xmas in July Day 14: Elke Sommer Hanging Around My Bed

Xmas in July, Day 13: Pussycat Clock

With it's swishing tail and blinking eyes, adding this animated pussycat clock to my wish list is a no brainer. I think I'm going with the orange and black style too, cuz tigers rule! The panda's kinda cute too... but more than anything, I'm surprised I've never seen either of these before in my life anywhere. (Sears Christmas Wish Book, 1976)

Xmas in July, Day 12: Punch Me's

As if the tiny Weebles wobblin' figures aren't cute enough, how about a giant Weebles wobblin' punching bag! And who's gonna be the first to be "afraid" of the clown punching bag? Yeah that's right, I'm still bagging' on you lame brain terror clowniacs! Knock it off --before I punch YOU! (Sears Xmas Wish Book, 1976)

Xmas in July, Day 11: SUPER PONG IV

Why just settle for regular 'ol PONG when in '76 you could have SUPER PONG IV! Bigger numbers, squarer squares, beepier beeps, and bloopier bloops! The mind blowing attention to detail will have you forever leaving PONG 1 in the... ok ok, as dumb as it probably looks now to everybody, this was still a tons of fun game back in the days of old. Hell, I'd rather play this than any of that repulsive, pompous ass Grand Theft Auto horseshit. (Sears Xmas Wish Book '76)

Xmas in July, Day 10: Circus Treats

I'll definitely take this clown Sno-Cone machine cuz it easily out-cools any of the others on the market at the time-- and that circus themed pop corn popper is pretty hot too! It's fun making treats at home, even if they never quite turn out as good as it actually tastes at the carnival or circus. (Sears Christmas Wish Book, '76)

Xmas in July, Day 8 and 9: Bat Vehicles

A mighty powerful storm knocked out my internet yesterday, (maybe it was the Weather Wizard) so here we have another double post of required Xmas in July items now that we're back up and running today. Having always been a Bat Man fan, the Batmobile is a serious no brainer (comes with a bat mike and rocket controls!), but the Bat Cycle rules of course too-- though I wouldn't mind having myself a buxom Bat Girl to zoom alongside me on it! (Sears Christmas Wish Book, 1976)

Xmas in July, Day 7: Easy Writer

Maybe making labels doesn't sound all that exciting to you, but to me #7 Easy Writer novelty label maker (which seems a bit inspired by W. Campbell's Weird-Ohs) looks like a blast! If you need me, I'll be vroom vroomin' off xmas labels all day in my office! (Sears Xmas Wish Book, 1976)

Xmas in July, Day 5 and 6: Mitchell Radio and Photograph

Weekend edition for Saturday and Sunday: add to my xmas wish list 1.) the super stylized Mitchell Tone Alarm Deluxe Electric Clock-Radio, which is guaranteed to lull me off to sleep (should I go with the mahogany or white finish?) I'll also take the 2.) Portable Photograph player... and oh my, how great are the illustrations on this page too? (Denward's 1954 Catalog)

Xmas in July, Day 4: Space Watches

Whatever time it is, it's always the right time with a space themed watch! Are you torn between your allegiance to Tom Corbett Space Cadet, or Rocky Jones Space Ranger? I'm certainly having a hard time deciding which one I like best to add to my xmas wish list, and to be honest I almost just want the rocket shaped backing card for the watch even more than the timepiece itself! I was completely unfamiliar with the apparently "lost" Space Explorers television cartoon, but a quick google search filled me in (CLICK HERE!) Man, just when I thought I'd seen all the great 50's space cartoons! I'll have more from this beautiful old catalog o'mine in the next post!
(Denwards 1954 Catalog)

Xmas in July, Day 3: Assorted Cheeses

It's can't be all toys and monster sweatshirt prezzies --or can it?! Yes, apparently you've gotta eat too, so how about some wondrous assortment packs (or barrels) of cheeses, meats, jams and jellies, and oooo don't forget the CANDY! Which one is your favorite? Which ones won't get eaten at all? Most importantly-- WHO CUT THE CHEESE??!! (Montgomery Ward 1972 Xmas Catalog)

Xmas in July, Day 2: Super Slicks, Freakies, Weird Wheels Die-Cast Cars

What kid wouldn't want some of the coolest die-cast car sets ever made-- the Super Slicks, Freakies, and Weird Wheels! Toy cars are always better when they're weirder, freakier, and/or slicker! (Montgomery Ward 1971 Christmas Catalog)

Xmas in July, Day 1: Monster Sweatshirts

We will be doing things a bit diff here for our usual AEET "Xmas in July" festivities this year. This July, instead of xmas themed posts and Santa and snowmen and all that junk, I thought it'd be more fun to give you a post EVERY SINGLE DAY OF THE MONTH (yes, you read that right) featuring something from an old xmas catalog in my catalog collection (yes, I collect department store catalogs too), that I would have most definitely circled and screamed at my parents to get for me when I was just a wee laddie! So here we go, starting DAY ONE, what's on my list? MONSTER SWEATSHIRTS!! And not just any monsters either, but monsters from Creepy and Famous Monsters mags! Yes, as much as I love the Fonz and the Six Million Dollar Man-- it's monsters for me! Always. (Sears 1976 Wishbook)