Tess and Ted

Unearthed a super cute and very old Tess and Ted School Shoes promotional pinback today-- and ain't they just about the cutest, most unjustly forgotten mascot team ever? Aka "The Star Brand Kids," Tess and Ted were characters created in the early 1900s to be featured in advertising materials for children's shoes manufactured by the Roberts, Johnson, and Rand Shoe Company in St. Louis, Missouri. According to the Button Museum website, this darling young duo apparently became quite famous at the time for their popular "rhyming adventures" as featured in trade catalog books and other advertising materials. They even became an actual real live song and dance act that performed for children in St. Louis. But back to the sweetly illustrated button, which is, like most things from the ever amazing Victorian era, just absolutely, beautifully rendered. From their fresh lil faces to their high falootin' fashion sense, I do believe it's time for Tess and Ted to make their long awaited comeback... 

Popeye the Juggler Game

Found a very rare, super old 1929 Popeye hand game where the object is to maneuver all your little BB balls by hand into the designated holes --and even balance one on his pipe! The back instructions are funny because they make it sound like an actual challenge vs. Popeye! Anyway, this one's a bit rusted around the edges, with character colors faded on the playfield, but overall it's in decent enough shape and still plays great. Made by Ear Zim Toy MFG. Co., INC. in New York.

The Living Pearl

I freakin' loathe cigarettes, but I totally love this old Camel ad on the back of a Liberty magazine from 1933. And I also thought that it's been a while since I've blown anything up (remember how I used to do that?), so here we go, larger looks at "The Living Pearl" magic trick reveal so we can also get a good gander at that pretty pearl girl. I skipped the other magic trick at the end though.

Fire Water Flask

Vintage novelty booze flasks could be found in pretty much every kitsch loaded gift shop back in the day. This particular one that I came across (and before anyone gets mad at me, no I did not buy it) originally hails from the touristy Bagnell Dam strip area of Lake of the Ozarks MO, a place where I spent practically every summer as a kid in the 70's and early 80's. So here we have it, flimsy art slap-dashed on the front with a lame drinkers gag meter on the back... they clearly sold a million of these things with a wide variety of artistic interpretations of the stereotypical "drunk injun" caricature too. Google it and you'll see what I mean, --from Ft. Lauderdale beaches to tourist trap ghost towns of the wild west-- I even spotted one HERE online that appears to have actually been sold on a Cherokee Indian reservation in NC.

The Spider Widow vs. The Japanese Spies!

If you've made your way here from THOIA after witnessing Diane Grayton, aka The Spider Widow tackle a horrific headhunter in a high rise, well here she comes again --and this time teamed up with the ridiculous, Muppety looking Raven! From the November 1942 issue of Feature Comics #62, this is one of her earlier war set adventures, and illustrated by character creator, Frank Borth. Featuring lots of great fighting and badly dated jokery, --not to mention many eye-poppin' moments highlighted with some very attractive, long legged upskirtery --as SW spends quite a bit of time strung up and in barefooted bondage, before transforming into the Halloween-esque hag hero, The Spider Widow! She also appears to have the very special gift power of having her heels on / off from one panel to the next too (not complaining either way!) 

Look, if you came here to AEET first and missed the other SW horror-rama, them quickly head off over to THOIA by CLICKING HERE! after today's story-- see ya!

Yogee the Amazing Answer Board

Yogee-- the Amazing Answer Board that glows in the dark is one of the more interesting examples of Ouija board variety, this one being from 1944 and, as mentioned, contains an eerie glow in the dark bonus (see close-ups of the four board corner swami's for example.) It also features two little devils holding up the Yogee board name on the front, then, flip it over and follow the answer board directions, or for those of you too afraid to dilly dally with the dead, you can just play chess or checkers instead (snooze!) So did I buy this thing? Unfortunately no, condition vs. price just wouldn't align... but I took a buncha pix of it!

Six Whole Minutes of Golden... SILENCE!

Stumbled upon this hilarious novelty record yesterday, released by Vacuum (har) Records in 1959. It's a foagie-friendly gag most likely put into existence in righteous retaliation to that awful new Rock 'n Roll trend that all the kids were being so loud about around the time. Boy, they sure showed them!  Played at any speed (har 2), each side features 3 whole minutes of pure, unadulterated silence. And yes, they still bothered cutting grooves into the vinyl, you know, so that your turntable needle can actually have something to do while you're sitting there being a grinning 'ol fuddy duddy. Be sure to read the funny "long-play" releases that were also available, as listed on the back cover. (PS: Youtube link not required.)