VALENTINE FELT SOUVENIR FROM THE 1940 NEW YORK WORLD'S FAIR

FLEA MARKET FRIDAYS #87

Here's something perfect for the day before Valentine's Day.  

Last weekend, I attended an antique show and added some things to my 1939-40 New York World's Fair collection. The item I'm featuring today is a fun one, especially for this month. Interesting that this one is Valentine's Day themed, especially since the second year of the fair didn't open until April. I've seen examples of paper "school" style NYWF Valentines before but this is the first time I've seen a felt one.

Seventy-five years ago, Oscar and Bernice probably waited a few minutes at one of the many exhibits and had this souvenir  embroidered with their names. When I find personalized souvenirs like this I can't help to wonder who the people were. What was this couple's story? Young or old? Dating or married? Did they have a long life together? Always questions with souvenirs like this. One question that probably can be answered is that Oscar and Bernice apparently had a fun day being together at the 1940 New York World's Fair!  

FOUND PHOTOS: BABY GOT BACK

Recently, I picked up a bag of snapshots at a flea market and inside were these! I always get a kick out of seeing silly snaps and here we can share in some backwoods silliness from these two girls. Wait, did I say two girls? There's just one really tall girl posing behind a tree, right? Shh...just play along.

Sorry to break the illusion, but the head in the above photo belongs to the booty in the next photo and vice versa.  

Oops! Looks like the head is showing a bit too much leg. Let me fix that for her.

There you go! Now the illusion works much better with the aid of photoshop.

Unfortunately the snapshots are void of any identification. The photos that were in the same bag are marked Pocahontas, Arkansas. So, it's a good guess that these gals were goofing off over seventy years ago in the Ozarks.

NEW YEAR'S EVE COMIC STRIP FEATURING HICKORY HOLLOW FOLKS

For fun on this last day of the year, here's a scan of the obscure and brilliant comic strip Hickory Hollow Folks from 1948. This strip was created by Walter Quermann and only ran in the St. Louis-Post Dispatch from 1934 to 1955. Click here and here for some info on this rare strip. 

 Click the strip to go big for a closer look

WWII ERA PHONE ADVERTISEMENTS

In honor of Veterans Day, here are two 1944 phone advertisements. A big neato cool thank you to all who have served, are serving and will serve!   

1940 MARSHALL'S AUTO STORES CATALOG

Recently I found this old 1940 Marshall's Auto Stores catalog from St. Joseph, Missouri. Sadly the condition is brittle and ratty, so I've done my best to rescue it and give it new life in digital form. I love looking at old catalogs and I think Neato Readers will enjoy checking this one out too. The muffler and pipes illustration is to die for!!!  (Click on the pages for a closer look.)

WITH THIS SUPERMAN CRUSADER RING, I'M A MEMBER OF SUPERMAN'S GANG

Great Scott! The other day, I felt like a 1940s kid when my Superman Crusader ring came in the mail from Hake's Americana and Collectibles!

Way back in the fall of 1946, kids had to mail in a thin dime and one Kellogg's Pep cereal boxtop to get a Superman Crusader ring. In 2013, this big kid didn't need any boxtops, but instead just the winning bid in Hake's auction #208. The good folks over at Hake's made available a $100 shopping spree to two lucky members of the League of Extraordinary Bloggers. (Click here to visit my Hake's LOEB post with updates.) I was one of the lucky winners and used my Hake's credit to pick up this swell ring. 

Instead of waiting for weeks and weeks like some poor kid had to do in 1946, my Superman ring dropped in my mailbox only a few business days after the auction. The original ring from Kellogg's was shipped to kids in a stiff envelope. (View the original mailer in a 2012 Hake's auction.) My ring was protected much better and was shipped safely in a heavy duty box. I've been aware of Hake's for a long time and have enjoyed their price guides, but this was the first time I've ever participated in one of their auctions. It was a breeze dealing with Hake's and their bidding system is smooth and easy. I had my eye on a lot of cool items that ended out of my reach, but it was still fun and exciting to watch. Plus the Superman ring fits in nicely with my small radio/comic character premium collection.  

A fun fact about the Superman Crusader ring is that it was written into the Adventures of Superman radio show. In the episode Counterfeit Money that aired from 10-17-46 to 11-5-46, the Crusader ring is featured prominently in the episode. As a member of Superman's Crusader gang, the ring is a symbol of good citizenship, tolerance and good sportsmanship. The commercial for the Crusader ring offer premiered in episode eight of Counterfeit Money.

One last big thanks to Hake's Americana and Brian from Cool & Collected! Okay, I gotta run because Superman needs my help. Whew! Now that I'm a member of Superman's Crusader gang, I'm so busy fighting off no-gooders. Up up and away!

FOUND PHOTO: THE BOWMAN SNOWMAN

We're having a snow day here in Neato Coolville! Since we're experiencing a blanket of snow and ice, I dug out this found photo from a snow day way back in 1946.  

Now that's an impressive looking snowman! According to the inscription on the back, the snowman was built by the three kids in the photo, The Bowman Kids and is dated Nov. 1946.

Just think, ol' frosty melted away 66 years ago! He was a sharp dressed snowman with the classic coal button down shirt and floppy hat. From his smile, he looked to be a happy snowman.

Now, here's someone that needs a frown turned upside down. Apparently the oldest kid has a fear of snowmen. Hmm...maybe just seconds before the photo was taken the snowman gave this kid a frozen fingered wet willie! Brrrr...  

The younger siblings are all smiles and apparently aren't afraid of no snowmen! 

If you're having a snow day today, go out and make some fun snow time memories of your own with family and friends. There's not much better than playing in the snow!!

FOUND PHOTO: G.I. WITH A BOX OF KIX CEREAL

Today's Found Photo post is dedicated to all the veterans! Thank you for all that you do and Happy Veterans Day!

In this found photo we have a G.I. acting silly for the camera. He's ready to eat a big bucket of Kix cereal!

Here's a magazine advertisement showing the same Kix box from a 1944 issue of Saturday Evening Post. This ad comes from the amazing Flickr archive of Wishbook.

Here's another snap taken before he got the milk for his cereal!

TWO VINTAGE GHOSTLY GOODIES

Boo! Hope I didn't scare you, but I have two random ghost items to share.

The first is an English trading card from Mars Confections. This is card number 36 from the 1937 Famous Escapes card set. 

Pepper's Ghost anyone? Our second ghost item is the back cover from Uncle Rays Magazine published in 1949.

WHO IS THE ZOOM GIRL?

Zoom Girl is quite lovely but at the same time she is a girl of mystery. This undated paper glider has the look of the 1940s and was most likely a giveaway premium of Cutlery Corporation of America. "Hey Kids, buy a set of steak knives and get a free Zoom Girl!" Hmm...not the type of premium I would expect a cutlery company to give away. Anyone have any ideas on Zoom Girl?  

EDGAR BERGEN & CHARLIE McCARTHY GLASS

FLEA MARKET FRIDAYS #60

I spotted this 1940 Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy glass at an antique store hidden behind an army of swanky swigs.  It was exciting to rescue this treasure from the radio days and take it home.  It was even more exciting the booth seller had a 50% off sign in their booth!

WASHINGTON & LINCOLN COMIC PAGES FOR PRESIDENTS DAY

Let's celebrate Presidents Day with these two scans from the 48 Famous Americans comic book that was a give away by J.C. Penney in 1947.

1940 JACK & JILL MAGAZINE ELECTION COVER

I knew I had a copy of this magazine somewhere in the archives and I was determined to find it today, because I forgot to post it two years ago during the Prez election. The cover art was created by Dorothea Cooke and I just love the simplicity of it.

When I look at this 70 year old magazine cover, it makes me think how nice that some things have never changed. Even though our country is heavily divided on so many issues, it’s nice to live in a place where we can still get together in a public place and vote.

KROGER'S YOUR WARTIME FOOD HALLOWEEN ISSUE

Here's some fun Halloween excerpts from the October 25, 1943 issue of the Kroger Grocery Store publication, Your Wartime Food.




See those hepcat napkins pictured in that spread for spooks? Here's that very napkin from 1943.