This Is Spinal Tape

This is Spinal Tap, a mock rockumentary. But This Is Spinal Tape, packing tape with real backbone. …Well, it’s illustrated with spinal cord, anyway. According to the reviews, it’s more decorative than structurally sound for packing up boxes.

this is spinal tape

Second Spin Sales

secondspin Starting today, and running until October 9th, 2015 (or supplies run out) Second Spin has sales on CDs and DVDs, $5 and $4, respectively.

Or, if you prefer the collectible and out of print stuff, use code FALL15 get 10% off until November 30, 2015.

Is It Too Early For Wreath Shopping?

Not only do we eschew the rules for when to blog holiday stuff…

Not only do collectors of holiday items collect all year long…

But we must present what we find when we find it — especially when it’s goodies for sale.

Plus, as the back of this vintage photo of Iris Adrian reads, “You can come down our chimney anytime, Iris, and no need to wait for Christmas.”

Iris Adrian posing atop a roof in a festive holiday romper and holding a wreath

you can come down our chimney anytime, Iris, and no need to wait for Christmas.

Not to mention that the wreaths that Ida Lupino is shopping for are so fake, they are neither perishable nor time-sensitive. Don’t you just love the idea of a glamorous movie star wearing a fab hat and a mink coat while shopping for kitsch?

Vintage Ida Lupino Art Deco Christmas Decorations Photograph

Vintage Ida Lupino Art Deco Christmas Decoration Wreath Shopping

Bat En Pointe

A vintage 8 x 10 inch glossy of Joyce Blanche Murray dressed as a bat — if bats actually have or wear images of themselves on themselves. Oh, and if you think it’s too early for the Halloween costumes, there’s no mention of that holiday. After all, this was Hollywood — and this is Kitschy Kitschy Coo. Rules don’t apply.

Press snipe on verso reads:

EXCLUSIVE
PERFECT PROFILE AND DANCING FEET

These are the two things that won for pretty Joyce Blanche Murray a long term contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures. Not only is Miss Murray a lovely person, but she holds the world’s endurance record for toe-dancing, almost 17 minutes. She has also stood on her toes for as long as 45 minutes. While doing a dance part in the sensational M.G.M. film, “The Broadway Melody”, she did the “triple-wing,” the “web-foot wing” and the “fast raffle,” the first time these dances have ever been done on the toes. The world-famous dancing instructor, Kosloff, calls her “Joyce of the iron Toes.” And rightly is she named.

vintage Joyce Blanche Murray bat costume

Pink Poodles – And Other Mid-Century Kitsch Dog – Alert!

pink poodles and mid-century kitschy dogs

Contrary to contemporary thought, these kitschy puppy prints were not sold as nursery items. Adverting for this very set reads, “To bring new decorating dash to the walls of your home, or to spice up a children’s room or den, place these lovable puppies with their all-loo-human expressions where everyone can see and admire them. …Portraiture of animals is the latest rage.”

Yup, you read that right; this was actually grown-up decor. (And don’t worry about pink being to feminine for dad’s den; tough cowboys wore pink too.)

Sold by Colonial Studios as “4 Lovable Wide-eyed Puppies in Full Color for Your Home”, this is one set of Mid-Century Modern dog prints! While not as sad as the big-eye art of Margaret Keane, these pups certainly are of the same exaggerated-cute style.

colonial studios dog art by coby

These vintage dog prints were the work of an artist simply known as Coby. According to the scant literature, Coby was a man referred to in the sales literature as “one of America’s most perceptive painters of animals” who “seems to known exactly the right touch to make these irresistible paintings spring to lite. Painted with love, each of the characters will capture a special place in your heart.”

While all the emphasis is on the pieces being painted, you’ll quickly note the mod 3-D effect of added touches of ribbon, felt, and other fabrics was likely added from photos. Combined with the pastel critters it creates the instantly recognizable look of a kitschy style which ran rampant throughout the the late 1960s and early 1970s.

PS The large pink rubber poodle squeaky toy (from Sun Rubber, 1963) can be found here.

Come Sit For A Spell, Kids, & Meet Mr. Mod Bunny Rabbit!

Back in 2008, we showed you the fabulous TV Tuffets of the 1950s. But now we can do even better.

This here is a large Mid-Century modern stuffed white bunny rabbit with a turquoise vinyl seat — because it’s a stool for kids to watch TV on!

vintage kitsch mod retro stuffed animal stool chiar for kids

Just imagine the joy of watching TV on an old television set with rabbit-ear antennas while holding the ears on this bunny!

This plush white rabbit is at least 15 inches long, roughly 13 inches wide, and the seat is approximately 8 inches off the ground. This stuffed tuffet of a kids chair was made by the Atlanta Novelty Manufacturing Corporation sometime between the late 1950s to mid 1960s.

And, yes, you can buy it from me. I’m downsizing my collections. (More details here.) And with all our pets this raving beauty is one of those gems that remains hidden to remain safe. But I do love it so… Better buy it quick — like a bunny — before I change my mind.

vintage kitsch stuffed huge white rabbit

mid-century modern stuffed kitschy bunny

mod bunny rabbit kids stool

He Sleeps With His Slingshot — & One Eye Open

A good cowboy would sleep with one eye open, so I’m guessing the eye we can’t see is open.

It’s kinda weird how few vintage greeting cards boys are out there… I guess boys were quicker to toss them out. Via.

cowboy bday card