Modern Woman Mondays: Gelatin Edition

After WWII and continuing through the 1960s, an emphasis on kitschy culinary arts kept little women busy in their places: the kitchen. How else do you explain the Joys Of Jell-O?

Perhaps the best thing about the miracle of gelatin based foods was the fact that, other than boiling water, one didn’t ruin their makeup in the heat. No, I don’t think the best thing was food stuff themselves… So bright, yet so wrong. Vegetables? Waldorf Salad? Shrimp?! Even the photos of the desserts make my teeth hurt. …Although that Jell-O and ice cream gum-drop number might be worth it. For more on the miracle of gelatin foods, check out Retro Mimi (my interview with her here) and my Things Your Grandmother Knew blog.

Fo Jetzel My Pretzel, Keebler Elves Can’t Keep All The Fun To Themselves

I spotted the Pretzel Jetzel, the “Jet-Age Pretzel Making Toy,” at Antiques On Second in Milwaukee.

This food making toy from Transogram combines the appeal of the Easy Bake Oven with some of the mold-making fun of Creepy Crawlers.

Additional images: Transogram ad from a comic book, via kenyatabks. Box and toy, via Time Warp Toys.

I Scream, You Scream For Hoot Hoot Ice Cream

Naturally, the Hoot Hoot I Scream sold ice cream. According to Future Studio, the Hoot Hoot was a real recycling project:

The head rotated; the eyes, made from Buick headlamps, blinked; the sign: Hoot hoot, I scream, used elements of a theater marquee. For over 50 years, Tillie Hattrup ran this L.A.-area refreshment spot designed and built by her husband, Roy in 1926-27. It was demolished in 1979.

More info on the building, with additional digital recreation images, can be found here.

I found this photo via Old Chum when I found these other classic roadside attraction food stand photos. Old Chum (aka Walter Manning of the Old Faithful Shop) says they are from California Crazy: Roadside Vervancular Architecture, compiled by Jim Heimann and Rip Georges; more pics here at his other blog.