Happy Valentine's Day, From 1961

From page 2 in the February, 1961 issue of Magic Circle:

A Happy Valentine's Day is the wish for all from Florence Cloud, for whom hearts (what else?) are trumps. Florence's greetings come from sun-soaked Cypress Gardens.

Ring-Ring! Retro Phone Bags Are Calling!

If you missed it last time, here's another 70's telephone purse -- in which the phone actually works. (In case you don't know Jack, or don't remember when phones were plugged in things, you'll need access to a phone jack to make this old bag phone work.)



If that's not a-cord-ing to your taste, how about a retro 60's handbag decorated with coiled phone cords? (Disclaimer: Found in my parents' eBay listings.)

A Peignoir Fit For Mrs. Kravitz

Curlers, lipstick, and Bewitched neighbor each sold separately; via Etsy.

Mary Tyler Moore Mannequin?

You bet your sweet Petrie!



Via Flickr.

When Andy Warhol Speaks

Everybody listens.


Andy Warhol, Edie Sedgwick, and Entourage, New York, 1965; Steve Schapiro photographer.

Contest Alert

This month Antique Trader is giving away a copy of Price Guide to Holt-Howard Collectibles and Related Ceramicware of the 50s & 60s. You can enter here, once a day for the entire month of June.

The Case Of The Pirate Fashion Photographer

I'm no Erle Stanley Gardner, or even one of the Brett Hallidays; but I'm pretty sure it was all the striped ties which caused male fashion photographer Marco to gauge his own eye out.


Via Flickr.

I Get The Raggedy Ann Wig, But...

What's up with those foam shoes?



Found at Flickr, Woman's Day magazine, July 1969.

I Can't Hear You; Your Makeup Is Too Loud

A 1965 Max Factor ad for Hi-Fi makeup. (Cosmo, February, 1965)

What's Verrry Intersting?

Find out more about this retro Laugh-In lunch box at Kitsch Slapped, my new blog at Twolia.

The DECCA Navigator

Inside that 1961 BEA "About Your Flight" Booklet.

Mess Around With One Of The "Mediums"

From that Scholastic Crosswords for Teen Agers book, one of the "medium" puzzles called This Or That:



Click for a larger scan; I'll post the answers in a few days.

She Can't Believe She's In Reader's Digest Either

Ad from a 1968 Reader's Digest magazine; via Flickr.

Kitten Soft?

It could just be me... But is this Lady Buxton Leather ad for The Regal Set suggesting that the "touching story" regarding this leather's softness is that it's made from real kittens? ...I guess we have to touch it know, but I'm not going to.

Using Peer Pressure To Hook Teens On Crossword Puzzles

The back cover of Scholastic's Crosswords for Teen Agers not only uses the "C'mon, join the crowd!" to push the crack of word games that is "crossword puzzles", but employs sexual dance euphemisms to lure the teens in:

Dozens of delightful puzzles

Tailored to your taste...and your tempo

Pick up speed as your do along:

Enjoy yourself with the "easies"

or...

Mess around with the "mediums"

or...

Tangle with the "toughies"

Crosswords for Teen Agers, by Murray Rockowitz, copyright 1958 (TAB Books, published by Scholastic), 6th printing, May 1963.

F Troop Postcard 1967

An over-sized postcard from Harrah's in Reno promoting TV's "F Troop" (Forrest Tucker, Larry Storch, Ken Berry) in the Headliner Room. Back promos future talent: Don Adams (with mini pic), Jim Nabors, George Kirby/Kim Siters, Bobby Darin (with mini pic), Debbie Reynolds, & Wayne Newton. (I've got a few of these; if you're interested, make me an offer.)

Intro To The Dean Martin Show (April 1969)

Good Night, Nurse?

Back in September I promised I'd be reading some of my retro nurse novels; well, I just posted a review of Night Club Nurse at Collectors' Quest.

New Year? Not-So-Much

Can't you just hear him saying something like, "Gee, honey, I'd love to help; but you know how clumsy I am in the kitchen... You'd probably be happier if you just took care of this by yourself."



1960 New Years illustration via Flickr.

Modern Woman Monday: Wippette -- Wippette Real Good

A kitschy retro store display.



Via eBay.

Skin Cancer For Christmas? You Shouldn't Have!

A holiday ad from 1967 for the GE Tanity Case -- a vanity case, but with everything for a tan: sunlamp, holder, eye shields & sun cream.

Clothespin Desk Organizer

The kids will be home for the holidays -- why not keep 'em busy? First with the laundry, then making this clothespin letter holder.



Also in that first issue of Good Housekeeping Needlecraft magazine (Fall-Winter, 1968-1969).

Paper Crowns For Jesus

More paper birthday hats for baby Jesus; these apparently worn in public, at a restaurant.



Via Flickr.

Flower Over-Power

Ticky-tacky paper flowers cheerfully scare away goth girls and other nightmares. Or maybe they cause nightmares. I know Fire Marshal Bill would see this as literal over-kill, what with paper flowers being so flammable.



In any case, if you really need instructions for it let me know. But it's cutting paper, people; not rocket surgery -- so I may mock you when sending the info.

Also in that first issue of Good Housekeeping Needlecraft magazine (Fall-Winter, 1968-1969).

Buying A Christmas Tree?

Make sure it's taller than your bouffant.



Via Flickr.

Christmas Dey Curls

As in Christmas curls worn by Susan Dey.

Because I'm A Sucker For These Mod Space-Age Head Fashions...

I say "head things" or "head fashions" because you can' just call this sculpted silver jersey helmet a hat.



Via Hiro Fashion Photographs 1966 at Couture Allure.

"I Never Thought I’d See So Much Purity Of Pattern"

A pervy come-on of a sales-pitch from a ladies' clothing salesman:

I never thought I’d see so much purity of pattern. Absolute rightness. I must please you, and I think I can. Don’t fail me now, because I may never trust myself with a woman again, ever. Try it on. I’m sure, absolutely, I can please you. Show me. Wait for me.

From 1965's The Knack... And How To Get It reviewed here at Here's Looking Like You, Kid.

Into The 60s With Air BP

Another ad from inside 1961 BEA "About Your Flight" Booklet.

Like Birthday Hats For Jesus

Homemade Santa hats, circa 1960s.



Via Flickr.

Pixies: Guardians Of PJs

A cute elf sits on the cover of the first issue of Good Housekeeping Needlecraft magazine (Fall-Winter, 1968-1969).





Turns out he is not an elf, but rather both a pixie and a pajama bag. Click the images to get the patterns & instructions (I tired to color correct the pattern page, but that's the best I could get it). If you make any pixie pj bags, I'd love to see 'em!




I put the skirt instructions for crocheting the long red hostess here -- I'd love to see those if you make them too.

Retro Alfa Romeo Ad

French ad in 1961 Maxim's Booklet

Everything's Better When It's Kitsch On A Ritz

Retro ad for Ritz Crackers from the June 1968 issue of Family Circle via Flickr.

What's A Pink Pussycat Worth?

I traded ephemera from the Pink Pussycat to Silent Porn Star (NWS, duh) for some magic beans -- the magic part is 'when' they will arrive *wink* Now she owes me. Big time.

The Sands Hotel First Annual Domino Tournament

It was held the weekend of April 28-30, 1967. I know -- not because I went to the tournament; I'm not that kind of loser. I know because I have the brochure, complete with registration card. Yup, I'm that kind of loser.



Want it? Make me an offer.

Just Dotty

No, these are not soft squishy helmets for those who already have brain damage, these are stylish Space Age Fashions from the 1960's.


While Jaynie tells us how to wear our hair with hats, such information is irrelevant with these polka dotted wonders. The good news is that even when your mom cut your hair wrong, no one would be able to see it under these.

This post is dedicated to the HATtastic Miss Janey *wink*

Your Seat Is Not A Flotation Device

A page in the 1961 BEA "About Your Flight" booklet, illustrating how to use your life jacket -- stowed under your seat.

Girdle In A Can

Just like Pringles, Playtex once put their products in cans. Which makes sense because many women hear the same popping noise when they take their girdles off. ...Or is that just me?

Remember When You Could Smoke On A Plane?

Me neither. But this page inside my 1961 BEA "About Your Flight" Booklet reminds us not only could you smoke on an airplane, but that airlines would actually supply the smokes.

Bertha & Tina Postcard

A cute postcard, unless you find out the truth -- which is more than you likely wanted to know about Bertha & Tina.

From my travel and tourism collection.

It's Not My Mom

This looks like my mom, but it's not; this lady's name was Jeri and she was famous. I don't know her. But I do know my mom.



It's a small photo, just like the ones you give away to your friends in school. Only I didn't get this from Jeri herself (I told you I don't know her); I got it with some other vintage photos of famous people. That explains why it's not signed on the back with a note for me to 'stay sweet' (which I did) or how fun I was in math class (which I was).

If you know who this lady is -- even if she's not your mom -- please let me know.

They Made A Tape For That

This tip from a reader, published in The Farmer (Dakota Edition, September 3, 1960), advises the use of cellophane tape for trimming bangs.



But they made a tape for that. I remember it distinctly as "the pink tape with the zig-zag ends which looked like it was cut with a pinking shears"; which meant it was very difficult to find on the Internet. (You're welcome, surfers who are also searching by such memories.)



I think my mom used that tape to make those curls by her ears which were oh-so-fashionable in the 60's. Those curls are called "guiche" -- and apparently each type of curl had a name. So now you can identify which kind of curl it was that that little girl has in the middle of her forehead. (And pray it's not The Fishhook!)

Funny thing is, I don't remember my mom using the tape to cut our hair... And our bangs were often a crooked mess, usually running in a diagonal line along our foreheads. Ah, good times.

Dad said she put a bowl on our heads to give us a trim and that she never bothered to monitor & straighten the bowl. I don't remember that. I just cringe when I see the photos.

If you pester me, I may make the time to find & scan a few for you.