“The Electric Company Gang Jokes Around To Make Reading More Fun”

If not a little, err, sexually uncomfortable.

Two-page illustrated joke from The Electric Company Joke Book, edited by Byron Preiss, Jack Rickard drew the pictures. (A Golden Book, published by Western Publishing Company; copyright 1973, The Children’s Television Workshop).

I do love me the Easy Reader logo (lower right corner of the cover).

Big Wheel, It’s A Retro Pinup

Her sucker says, “I Ate The Whole Thing!” but what really gives the photo its zing is the fact that this pinup poses on a Mattel Big Wheel.

Photo, circa 1960s, via bondman2.

Modern Woman Monday: What Little Girls Want For Christmas In The 50s

From the Aldens Fall and Winter catalog (1957-58), “Girls’ Jr. Homemaking Toys — Let her learn to do things all by herself.”

The Marx Toys three piece kitchen set, stove, sink and refrigerator, $4.99. The Jr. Coca-Cola Dispenser, $2.79.

Dolls From The 1957-58 Aldens Catalog

Some selected dolls from the Fall and Winter Aldens catalog. There’s Dennis The Menace

Little Miss Revlon, with her Magic-Touch skin (a phrase that creeps me out) and her “‘Form-Fit’ bra and girdle with nylon front” (FormFit being a lingerie company all-too wiling to confuse the lines between girlhood and womanhood)…

And my personal favorite, Patti Prays doll — or Pattie Prays, depending on whether you believe the type by the image of the doll or the text used in the catalog description. (Not to be confused with Patty Prayer doll by Niresk.)

The Stove Will Come Out, Tomorrow

That’s what I was singing in my head when I spotted this vintage Little Orphan Annie metal toy stove at an auction. Yeah, hubby prefers I keep such things to myself — which is why I was only singing in my head. But isn’t that what blogging’s for?

Given what I see at eBay, this toy was made by Marx.

Man, I love Marx toys.  …Maybe I can find a way to work them into the chorus! Because now that song is most definitely back in my head.

The Violent Little Log Cabin In The Woods

A pressed paper or cardboard log cabin with “Indians” that pop-up from around corners and doorways that good little boys were supposed to shoot at to improve their aim, I guess. My inner little girl was fascinated by this sort of paper doll house for boys; violent (and rather racist), yes — but with moving parts!

Photo snapped at an auction; I know nothing else about it. I you do, please share!

Masters Of The Retro Airwaves

Spotted at an auction at Villiard’s this weekend, a MOTU transistor radio with He-Man on one side…

Skeletor on the other.

I don’t know how much it sold for; not only was it in a box with several other retro transistors, but there were multiple auction rings going on and I missed seeing it actually sell.