Horror Study

Another 70's blacklight poster from the Karswell Kollection is this brilliantly creepy college from Western Graphics titled "Horror Study" (Cat. No. 388.) The massive grinning skull that creates the central focal point here is only the beginning! Gaze into the boney visage, because a petrifying plethora of horrors await: classic monsters of Hollywood, torture chambers, mad scientists, cannibal landscapes, and even Death himself!



I've had this one since I was 9, and it's actually managed to remain in decent condition over the years, despite spending a few decades folded up in a drawer! CLICK HERE for another one I posted way back in 2012!

Say it With Creeping Phlox!

Just a few weeks ago, when the Earth was still somewhat normal, aka pre-Coronavirus 2020, I found this amazing square bound book, Greetings, Dearie! which collects a varied selection of distributed (as well as non distributed) Hallmark Contemporary greeting cards from the year 1962. I was at an estate sale a mere dozen or so houses away from my own, (I also found Cabin Boy on DVD!), and so to put it nicely, the unfortunate passing of one of my elderly lady neighbors now becomes a pot of gold for everyone that follows this blog, because today I have one whole chapter (the bleakly appropriate "get well" section) of this 190+ page book for everyone to enjoy. So please note that in this age of pandemic virus and quarantined isolation, I promise I will continue to do my part to at least instill some small sense of strained humor around here, whether in tacky jokes, kitschy artwork, or whatever the post subject may be. In the face of a grim sickness that appears to be slowly swallowing up the Earth, I suppose what these vintage Hallmark greeting cards attempted to convey even half a century ago is as similarly relevant today-- that yes, sometimes laughter can still be the best medicine. Even if it isn't.







































STAY WELL EVERYONE!

Mold-Art Rubber Mask Ad (40's)

I'm currently working on a larger post that I hope to have up in the next day or so. In the meantime, here's a neat version of the old Mold-Art rubber mask ad found in abundance in late 1940's comic books. I stumbled upon this one recently while flippin' through some of my golden age romance comics, and to be honest, I'm not sure I've ever come across this particular one in color before, (though I have seen it in black and white.) I have also seen color variations of it with the monkey, the idiot, and the clown mask in that glorious center illustration of the "mystery man" pulling some hilarious "monkey shines" on the gang-- but never in color and while masquerading as SATAN!



I totally wish I knew about this ad when I was putting my DEVIL TALES book together a few years back-- I would have most certainly included it!

Mud Pack Candy

We're only slightly bored off our gourds during this unfortunate new age of quarantined isolation... so let's take a sneak peek in on Candy and Trish and see what my two favorite little female knuckleheads are up to, shall we? From the February 1953 issue of Candy #35.

Modern Dictionary

Here's a dirty little old-time adult dictionary that I found a few weeks ago at --of all places-- a christian thrift store, haha... ahhhh, beating Hell one dirty little old boobie booklet at a time.

Old Maid '68

One of the better Old Maid game sets from the 60's, highlighted by fantastically fun artwork on every single card. I'm sure I don't need to go over the game play rules for this post, I mean, is there anyone on the planet who actually hasn't played this yet? Instead, let's take a look at some of the groovy gals, shall we? Go Go Gertie is definitely shaken' her fashionable tail feather, and I don't know about you, but I'm a little uncomfortable with the way Thermo Thelma is looking at me with that over-sized rectal thermometer in her cruel clutches! And while I am particularly over the moon with Moon-Shot Martha, I have to admit that I am also a bit hypnotized by Library Lilly danglin' her hot lil pink pump from her toots like that (just call me Pop-Out Paul, I guess...)











Yes, the Old Maid herself has definitely seen better days...

Gateway Chase Game

Wandering around a resale shop yesterday and I found this cool old 60’s battery powered cops ‘n robbers GATEWAY CHASE GAME (originally made available back in the day through DX gas stations with an $8 fill-up purchase.) The cars are designed in a neat 40’s gangster noir style and the track and buildings are full of great detail. The instruction booklet has some really fun art as well. But man, the television commercial is the best thing of all, CLICK HERE to check it out!

Sluggo!

Having been a life-long fan of anything and everything by the great Ernie Bushmiller, I have to say I was literally blindsided yesterday at the antique mall upon finding a 70's Knickerbocker Sluggo doll --and for only $3 too! I've collected a few other Knickerbockers over the years, mostly all Flintstones characters, and to be completely honest, I didn't even know they made one of Sluggo. And of course after a little internet research I've now discovered that there's a Nancy doll as well, which I am of course required by Bushmiller law to immediately acquire. Boy oh boy, now if only they made a life-sized Fritzi Ritz!