Skip-Flea Soap

"The Special Soap for Your Dog!"  That dog doesn't seem to think it's so special.  He's giving it "the raspberry".

"Work up a heavy lather and let remain on for 5 minutes.."  Have you ever tried that with a dog?  They can't go 10 seconds without shaking water off.

A Gorey Holiday

I bought this May 1962 issue of Holiday magazine at an estate sale a few months ago.

Love Is...

No, not that weird comic strip starring the two naked people.  It's a children's religious pamphlet from 1971 that demonstrates how you should and shouldn't act a la "Goofus and Gallant" of Highlights Magazine.  Or to quote the Simpson's, "Don't do what Donny Don't Does."

Bonanza Bird

I found this View-master set at a sale recently.  I never really watched Bonanza, it was a little before my time, but I collect View-master slides so it seemed like a good addition.

It Might Happen to You!

I found this among some papers I picked up as a lot at an estate sale today for $1.  It falls into the category of "why the heck did anyone save this?"  It's a flyer for an insurance company, Federal Life Insurance Company of Chicago, from 1936.  And not only did they save the flyer, they saved the envelope it came in and the return order form.

The cover reminded me of that travel agency poster in "The Truman Show".

 I love the double payment for special accidents including while riding an elevator, railway car or steam vessel, not to mention a burning building or stroke of lightning.  $333 seems like an odd dollar amount for the loss of an eye.

The warnings of unavoidable doom continue on the back.  No matter what you do, eventually death's scythe will hack you to pieces.

 It was delivered to 4042 Connecticut Street here in St. Louis.  The house still stands.  It's the one with the ornate railings.

The Federal Life Insurance Company is still in business, despite Irene not falling for their scare tactics.

Garage Sales -- Exciting and New

When I came across this action figure at a garage sale, my first thought was, "There was a Love Boat action figure series?"  Yes, there was.  

Fun in the Idaho Panhandle

Another find at the travel brochure house was this 1960 tourist guide to Couer d'Alene, Idaho.  There are so many good ads, I ended up scanning almost the entire thing.  I would love to patronize any of these places, and after doing some research, if I were in Idaho, it looks like a could.  Surprisingly, a lot of the buildings if not the businesses still survive.

Sterno for Sale

I have no idea why someone took a picture of a Sterno display window in the 1930's, nor do I know why someone would have saved it for the next 90 years, but I'm glad they did.

This is the history that fascinates me.  What would it have looked like to peer into the front window of a hardware store in the 1930's?  Here it is.  This history, not meant to be remembered, in my opinion is as important as the history we hold academic; normal day-to-day life, not presidents, wars or stock market fluctuations.  It's the history the majority of us live.

$300 in Cash Prizes, the sign in the window promises, but for some reason the cans boast $2,500 in prizes.  I wonder if the store was offering their own lesser prize.  I wonder who won.

Printed by Carna Studio Photo Finishing and given their Red-Seal.  I have no idea who they were nor does the internet.