Some Swell Addresses!

From Mr. Karswell's "They Don't Make 'Em Like This Anymore" file, here's one of the more unique midcentury get well cards I've found in recent years, and this one comes packaged as a handy action address book complete with lots of deliciously embossed good girl art, plus phone numbers, addresses, and even some slightly naughty poetry! Another fun detail about this is all the little faux doodles and notes made by the address book's owner, haha. Yes sir, if these luscious ladies don't perk up your weakened state of health ASAP-- then you probably need a booster! (FYI: Friday Frights this week will move to a Saturday Shocker as we begin the month long roll-out of spooktacularly petrifyin' posts for October-- stay tombed!) 

Through the Keyhole!

Picked up some sexy fun midcentury girlie ephemera over the last few days (I'll have more in the next post as well), and today we have this frisky little mechanical, clothing removal card game. Now, how to actually play the lucky numbers pay-out portion of it featured on the backside of the image is beyond me, but who cares about that anyway-- just start pulling down on that little pink flap at the bottom and watch the pretty showgirl's green outfit magically whisk away through the die cut squares in the center of the card, --in a tantalizingly similar manner as those wonderful stripper drinking glasses which I've posted about before HERE! Also, at the end of the post I've included an attractive, complimentary Ordco notepad and daily planner calendar (dated 1969 - '70) featuring some gorgeously purring Gil Elvgren artwork which was of course painted a few decades before. Yeesh, can you imagine a company nowadays handing out free planners to their customers featuring half-naked lady art on it? Time machine, take me back...

Little Edie Reproduction Swimsuit

I still haven't gotten around to fixing the damaged areas on my original midcentury kneeling Jantzen mannequin, (more HERE and HERE if you missed it) --and I still haven't found her missing right arm either. But! I did finally find her some awesomely appropriate fall swimwear, and now ::drum roll:: an endless round of thanks to my incredibly talented friend, Clint, who is seriously some kind of swimsuit sewing / vintage pattern findin' mastermind, aka mad scientist. Okay, before we get started I have to say that no, it's not a vintage Jantzen swimsuit, (which would totally make sense, right?) --but anyone familiar with the classic Grey Gardens documentary will undoubtably recognize this one-piece repo flower print, as worn by Edith Bouvier Beale, aka Little Edie herself in the film. And I'm sure you'll agree, it really looks stunning on my mannequin, the colors match her skin tone perfectly, and the fabric really adds a certain something extra to her shapely girl curves too. Thank you again, Clint!

Model for Manikins

A neat 3-page article from the 1951 issue of See #5 about ballet star, Gisella Svetlik, being chosen as the perfect model for NY mannequin manufacturer, Mary Brosnan Inc., and further highlighted by photos showing the posing, sculpting, painting, and assembly process.

Hollywood Vampire: From the Secret Files of Dr. Drew

According to the THOIA Archive, I haven't posted a Dr. Drew story since 2016. Time to correct that oversight! And what better tale to unearth for our Friday Fright this week (and as we slowly approach the release of my new Vampires one-shot for Asylum Press) than one about an undead blood sucker loose on a film set in horrible 'ol Hollywood! Now, if you've read the other Dr. Drew entries, you already know how great Jerry Grandenetti's artwork is: lush, Eisner-esque, cinematic, and dynamically detailed with all sorts of interesting angles and breathtaking page lay-outs-- and this one from the April 1950 issue of Ranger Comics #52 is certainly no exception! Be sure to CLICK HERE for more spooky Dr. Drew after today's story!

Witch Pins

Whoa, just in time for Halloween-- I stumbled upon this old package of 1950's steel Witch Pins containing some really great midcentury wicked witch and black cat art. Still quite a few pins inside this thing too, and perfect for inserting into that voodoo doll of your current vict-- errr, I mean, perfect when sewing up that homemade Halloween costume for the kiddies!

Ben Cooper Disney Costumes

A couple of neat Ben Cooper Disney character costumes made their way into my vintage Halloween collection recently, --yes sir, look kids, it's Mickey and Donald, and surprisingly on-model in their original boxes as well. Love all the cute various Tinkerbell art too!

Song of the Undead!

A beautiful vampire with a sinister song of undead evil highlights this impressively silly Avon tale from the August - September 1952 issue of Eerie #8 --though as usual, the best part of the whole thing is the black and white preface page illustration by the great, Everett Raymond Kinstler.