The Swedish School of Physical Culture Was In Ireland

An ad inside the 1977 J. Gruber's Hagers-Town, Town and Country Almanack.

Waxing On About Cezanne Blue In Black & White

This ad appeared in my pontificating post about kitsch and I thought you might enjoy seeing it, even if you don't want to discuss the meaning if kitsch.

The Boob

Gertrude Olmstead THE BOOB vintage movie ad by Jakestuff
More Gertrude olmstead Posters

Mixed Vegetables Message

Proof that the Jolly Green Giant knew that Little Sprout was skipping his vegetables:

Craft-Scan Friday: Women Are Delighted By Shills

Err, Shillcraft -- women are delighted by Shillcraft.

Meet The Exciters!

Buy them even!

Lucky Strikes

Now with new mirrored carton!


From Gillian Atkinson's photos at TEN.

Modern Woman Monday: Women "Over 40" Wanted

I'm not sure what's up with the "over 40" in quotes business... But I guess the overall intent of this ad is to remind women that though they be barren & undesirable they are not useless; old sad-sacks can create gay floral arrangements for much prettier persons & for parties they are too poor to throw themselves.

50's Car Ads

Three car ads in the same 1950 issue of Newsweek.

Executives Love No-Iron Knit Pants

1977 ad for Haband pants. Like the sans a belt pants, but you wore belts with 'em -- 'cuz you were an executive, see.

Last Dance With Mary Jane

Die-cut candy advertising piece from the early 1900's.

Craft-Scan Friday: "It's A Thrilling Fad Of The Month Selection!"

I just love truth in advertising! Admitting "the lovely Ballerina Boudoir Doll" was a fad was one giant step forward for humanity. But we went two steps back when we learned that so many would be seduced by the concept...



Ad from the February 1952 issue of The Workbasket; a magazine which was very fond of presenting advertorials as content.

Early Product Placement

An ad for ice in the official magazine of the ice industry, Modern Woman Magazine (1941, V10 n5), with very recognizable beverage bottles.

Don't Poop Out

Nobody likes a quitter.


Fluidmaster ad found in the December 1977 issue of Workbench.

Craft-Scan Friday: Before There Was The BeDazzler...

There was the Spanglette.



Ad found in the March 1951 issue of Profitable Hobbies.

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

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

The Nightmare That Is Sandy Mac Underwear

The opposite of how I envision underwear sales, for I neither want sandy undies nor the word "Mac" associated with my butt.


And why would it be cute to see a toddler in his underwear skating on thin ice?

Via KnittingTogether.org.

Before Snap, Crackle, Pop...

There were the Ajax elves.

Because We've All Heard The Nova Joke

We've all heard that Chevy's Nova didn't go over so well in Spanish speaking countries because Nova means "No go", even though it's not true, so why not leave it parked and let it be a camper? This retro ad features the Nova 6 Hatchback with the "tent-like Hutch", an "available feature" I'm not so sure people took Chevrolet up on.


Nova ad found in the July, 1974, issue of Psychology Today -- that issue's been passed around quite a bit, at least in scanned form. I shared an article on political activism from the issue here, sent scans of pages on nuclear families to Shawnee, and posted an ad with doggies here.

You Got Massage Oil On My Sander!

...oh, wait, that's on purpose. In 1956, Dremel produced this "$14.85 brain-child," which makes the normally male-centric tool appealing to the lady of the house:
The tool, "when fitted with sandpapers, completes your handycraft projects. But when you add a massage pad, you can smooth out aching muscles" -- wait, it gets better -- "at a rate of 14,400 strokes per minute". I'm no massage conniseur, but the fastest massager I found online maxed out at 8,000 oscillations per minute. Dremel doesn't mess around. But, make sure you don't mix up the sanding pad with the massage pad...at that speed, a simple mistake could cause instant death. No gears, no brushes, no oil...no mercy. Found in the Jan 1956 issue of The Family Handyman.

The DECCA Navigator

Inside that 1961 BEA "About Your Flight" Booklet.

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.

Magic Trick Fan

An ad in an 1890 issue of Peterson's Magazine.

Have A Coke & A Smile

Seeing as old Coke came with more than a glimpse of thigh, I can see why New Coke just couldn't make it.

Ma Bell Rings Yer Bell

Calling from the 70's, this "MA BELL...Your Bells Won't Ring Without Us!" tee shirt.

Baby Midget Velvet Grip Hose Supporter

Vintage hose support for baby that's just like daddy's; I have nothing else to say. Except that as any parent will tell you, baby will remove the garter -- along with a sock and shoe -- whenever he wants to. Especially out shopping in a crowded mall.



The ad was found in a 1921 issue of Modern Priscilla.

Reach Out And Touch Someone

1970 ad campaign tee shirt from AT&T (Bell System) phone company.

Modern Woman Monday: Wippette -- Wippette Real Good

A kitschy retro store display.



Via eBay.

Hires Root Beer Package, 1890

Make five gallons of beer for just a quarter -- and it's medicinal!



Ad in the December, 1890 issue of Peterson's Magazine.

Hoop-Dee-Doo, Time To Tie One On!

Vintage necktie advertising Kay Starr's version of the swing tune Hoop Dee Doo on Capitol records; 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.

Giant Thinks Jack A Killer-Diller

A 1936 Dentyne gum ad.

Used Hankies In Your Hair

Kitschy Kitschy Coo presents... The Hanky Bonnet: The ultimate in icky fashion recycling.



I don't care how much it's laundered, turning your bridal hankie into a christening bonnet for your baby is just asking for a bad case of cradle crap cap.

Inside McCall's Needlework & Crafts, Spring 1978 issue.

Into The 60s With Air BP

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

7 Maids A-Milking -- To Music

Ad for Bag Balm found in the February 1943 issue of Farm Journal and Farmer's Wife magazine.

Trouble Keeping Your Hose Up?

Start pulling at the neck.


1921 ad for Wilson Garters, found in The Modern Priscilla magazine.

Girls Who Do Needlework Are Heterosexual

And they're proud of it too.


Boye Needle Company proclaimed "Girls Like Boye's" and proffered a tee-shirt which read "Every Girl needs a Boye" on the back cover of McCall's Needlework & Crafts, Spring 1978 issue.

Thinking I just might be willing to kill for one of those shirts, I did a search at eBay for Every Girl needs a Boye -- and finding just one (irrelevant) result, do you know what eBay suggested I might have meant?

Did you mean... every girl needs a bone ?

Now that's funny. And redundant.

7 Years Of Constipation

By then I think you'd be dead.



Ad found in 1936, True Confessions.

You Still Have A Chance To Get Into The Movies

Well, Hold-Bobs did offer you the chance to get a free screen test in Universal Pictures "Search For Talent Movie Truck" back in 1936. It's not their fault if you weren't born yet. Or maybe your parents just warned you about talent searches in the back of trucks... Mine sure did.

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.

Warning: Your Male Bosom Is Bunchy

That's news from The American Shirt Front -- at the informal dance, anyway. You can avoid this and other shirt mishaps this holiday season by wearing Arrow Shirts. At least the 1941 variety, as this ad was found in that year's Liberty magazine.

1921 Doll Lamp

Ad for the "Cute Lite" found in the April 1921 issue of The Modern Priscilla.

Eyelashes Like Fork Tines

Maybe it's Maybelline.



In January 1936, True Confessions.

Yeast, The New Way -- And You'll Like It

You'll like yeast this new way -- um, why is she lifting her leg like that? What kind of yeast are we talking about here?



From Liberty, February 22, 1941.

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.