Marx Presidents

Coincidentally, I had scheduled a day off today.  Being Presidents' Day, some U.S. companies (mostly Federal offices and banks) are closed today.  But that's no reason to close Garage Sale Finds!  Okay, I'll admit, it's closed for business most of the year.  But you'll takes what you can gets!

Given the holiday, I scraped scanned through my past finds and pulled out this Marx Presidents of the United States figure line.

 

April Fools

The joke isn't that you're squirted with water by what appears to be an everyday utilitarian item.  It's the fact that no kid today would even understand what this is supposed to be.

And what's even more amazing is that every guise this gag took, as demonstrated on the card back, is now an app on our phones.

Spook-O-Lites

One of the challenges in collecting vintage holiday decorations is establishing the manufacturer and production year.  If you don't have the original box and there are no markings on the item, it's that much more challenging.  Of course, this information isn't necessary to enjoy them for what they are, but as a collector, it enhances my enjoyment of them and furthers my understanding of the progression of Halloween decorations through the years.  I can't say I have a very structured or scholastic approach to determining the source and age of the items I collect. I generally do a lot of searching on the internet and through shear volume of data gathering, I'm able to stumble upon an answer.  Such was the case with this small blow mold skull. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

I know what you're thinking: "You disappear after Halloween and now you come crawling back with a measly Thanksgiving offering of old newpaper ads."  And you'd be right.  These come from the ad "slicks" (I believe that is the term) I found several years ago.

 I hope you'll enjoy them and remember, save me the drumstick!

April Fools...uh...on me?

One of the reasons my posts are sporadic is my rigidity in wanting to publish something during the appropriate season, or even on an exact day.  I stage posts in folders to be blogged later in the year, then completely forget about them. Case in point, April Fools Day.  I had this page from the Holiday Fun book scanned and ready to go since this past summer.  I know I can schedule posts ahead of time, but I always think I'll remember when it gets closer to the actual day.

So enough with the excuses. I'm not waiting another year.  Enjoy this April Fool's joke on me.

p.s. I don't know if there was an answer key to this picture. You decide what's right and what's wrong. Personally, I could see all of this totally happening.

Magic Snakes, Glo Worms and Memories

Happy 4th of July to my American (United Statesian?) friends. And Happy Wednesday to everyone else.

Growing up (here he goes again), we never had much money for fireworks, but every once in a while I'd get my hands on leftovers that didn't go off or someone just didn't light.  I remember combing the streets of my sister's subdivision on July 5th looking for remnants at the ends of driveways.  I also remember trying to secretly light them out of sight from my parents.  Note: If you are going to secretly light fireworks, don't do it on Sunday morning under an aluminum awning. Makes a very loud noise at a very quiet time.

Maybe that's why I liked snakes.  Not, the real kind, I was scared to death of those. I'm talking about the "Magic Snakes" that started as black pellets.  Once lit, they would ooze their way across the patio leaving black stains and toxic stench everywhere. But they made no noise.

I found these vintage boxes of "Magic Snakes" and "Glo Worms" this past year.  Vintage fireworks aren't particularly collectible, or at least not terribly valuable, with the exception of a few with desirable packaging, but I find the various artwork interesting. These probably date from the 1970's.

For the Love of Pete - Day 10

Time to move a few more Valentine's today featuring more plays on words.

For the Love of Pete - Day 9

For the Love of Pete - Day 8

To Mr. Blank From Ronald Paule

For the Love of Pete - Day 7

This Valentine appears to have come from the same company as this one.

For the Love of Pete - Day 6

As we near Valentine's Day (I know, it's only Day 6), I will need to start blowing some of these out in groups. I have more than 14 Valentines to showcase. STOP SIGHING!

For the Love of Pete - Day 5

Again, it might seem a little creepy today sending your teacher a Valentine suggesting a little "neckin'", but it's done in a humorous way. 

For the Love of Pete - Day 4

In case you're just joining (ah, who am I kidding. Hello? Anyone out there?), I've been showcasing Valentine's sent to Peter Blank, a teacher from Freeburg, Illinois in the 1930's and '40's.

For the Love of Pete - Day 3

For the Love of Pete - Day 2

You know this kid got beaten up at recess a lot.

Happy New Year, Be It 1913 or 2017.

2017. The number looks so foreign to me. The teens are almost over and I still haven't gotten use to the 2000 part.

This postcard is postmarked December 31st, 1913 from Murphysboro, Illinois and was sent by the parents of Charles Kepferer to his residence at 1117 N. 18th Street, St. Louis, Missouri.  I wonder if they were used to writing the 1900 part.

Thanksgiving Holiday Fun

Happy Thanksgiving to all my American readers (and anyone else celebrating today).  Enjoy this Thanksgiving Fun section of "Busy Bee Holiday Fun".

Happy Easter!

ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ ANEΣΤH

I found this Greek (as it turns out) postcard at a sale a few months ago.  Given the iconography of the egg-shaped frame and bunnies, I assumed the words meant "Happy Easter".

Happy Thanksgiving!