Jekyll Island: The Pen

Only a few more days of Summer 2026 left, so I guess it's time to get in some last minute beach fun --without actually having to go to the beach! And digging through my pen collection (as well as Google), I'm thinking Jekyll Island sounds just about perfect, it's definitely a picture-esque coastal destination in Georgia that I have unfortunately never been to. Located about an hour and a half south of Savannah in Glynn County, Jekyll Island is one of the Golden Isles which is part of the Georgia Barrier Islands. Now, not to brag, but my cool old JI souvenir ink pen is as equally lovely, containing fun miniature graphics inside an entire clear half section of the pen casing. On one side we see the original twin, Spanish Mission style towers created in 1958 as the welcoming entrance gate to Jekyll Island State Park. Flip the pen over and we we get a frisky little bikini beach ball action scene, as well as a sizzlin' Georgia peach sun tanning session! Yeah, it's a little faded and blurry, and photographing it just wasn't as easy as one would imagine, but it's still one of my favorite pens in my collection. If you've ever been to Jekyll Island, drop us a comment and let us know what it's like. One more thing I have to admit, I am of course a bit disappointed to learn that the island itself is named after English financier, Sir Joseph Jekyll, and not the classic Robert Louis Stevenson killer character creep. I would def like to add though, --as an aspiring monster myself, --Jekyll Island sounds like the perfect place to Hyde...

Signs of an Early Fall

Time for a dozen highlights from Thos. W. Jackson's "See America First" funny book from 1922. I really don't want this post to turn into anything too overly political, (can we pleeease just focus on the cute art?) --but as with most things "America First", there tends to be a rather large amount of rough landings pertaining to sex, and especially to race throughout these 95+ pages of coast to coast jokery. To be perfectly honest, some of the travel related jokes mirror where we are even now as a country, which can be both a good thing, and a bad thang, and I spared ya'll some of the more painful examples. Jackson seemed quite proficient throughout the first half of the century though, churning out tons of material as evidenced by the back cover featuring more of his kooky collections, and thus, making millions laugh, and more than likely, groan.

LOOK!

Only two weeks of summer left, and I'm ashamed to admit that I didn't even go swimming once this season. Come to think of it, I don't think I went swimming at all last summer either. Well, at least there's the August 1943 issue of LOOK for us to enjoy, especially that wonderful cover adorned with beautiful ladies and many colorful examples of fab 40's swimwear fashion. There's a few fun article pix inside too, as well as some super cute Hoff cartoon ad illustrations, (+ more ad stuff at the end too), and what the heck-- I even included a puzzling PHOTOCRIME murder mystery picture, because why not? Mull it over and see how quickly you solve it, or scroll to the end of the post for the solution, ya big cheats!

Gloria Swanson Beautebox

Of all the beautiful 1920's Canco Beautebox deco tins I've collected over the years, this is the one I've been searching for the most-- and now she's mine! Silver screen legend, Gloria Swanson has never been captured in a Henry Clive painting quite as stunning as this, an interpretation likely inspired by her perfect performance as Salome in the silent film classic, Stage Struck (1925.) I have about a half dozen of these tins now (I really need to blog more of them), but you can read a bit more and see a holiday Clive tin HERE in the AEET Archive!

Skating Vanities of 1949

How about a few page highlights from a 1949 Skating Vanities brochure booklet today? Beautiful painted cover, lovely interior lay-outs and color overlays, pro skaters dressed as animals and snowmen, not to mention the endless array of gorgeous gals on wheels! I have to admit though, my favorite detail are all of those great little illustrated characters stumblin' around throughout, falling on their butts, but still having themselves a whirly-bird of a time! So many great concepts and costumes on display here-- it almost puts the Ice Capades to shame... almost. I'm also guessing this production wasn't for kids, as the burlesque themes seem rather obvious.

Now, --bring on the Cycle Cycloramics!