“Loveable. Collectable. That’s Avon’s Small World!” Christmas of 1970, Avon began to produce an adorable line of cosmetics and bath items for girls called “Small World”. It was based on Disney’s “It’s A Small World” ride, with characters designed by Mary Blair.
I came across this fearful 1970’s styling head recently. I love the packaging with the housewife-to-hooker before and after effect. Produced by Amsco (Milton Bradley) in 1971, it was just one of the many merchandising products released for the US TV show “Family Affair” in which Buffy was one of the characters.
Just enough time to squeeze one more Christmas related post, featuring creepy life-like Santa masks, fake fire places and festive piñatas found in a selection of US seasonal catalogues.
With Halloween just a few days away, I thought it would be fun to look up some 1980’s & 1990’s TV, toy and movie based fancy dress sewing patterns. They range from fun to the down right bizarre!
Here is a collection of children’s character watches and clocks shown in various US Christmas catalogues from 1980-89 (found on Wishbook). I love the over-sized Strawberry Shortcake wall wrist watch clock!
Following on from my post about 1980’s character nightwear, I decided to look into character bedding. These images are from various US Christmas catalogues dating from 1974-86.
Here is a collection of children’s character clothing shown in various US Christmas catalogues from 1980-89 (found on Wishbook). The clothing was mainly t-shirts and sweater/sweat pant sets. I love the poses the kids are pulling in some of these images!
I fancied collating the character nightwear from the 1980’s Sears, Montgomery Ward and JCPenney Christmas catalogues over at Wishbook, and this is the result!
“Remember all your friends who remember how great cigarettes used to taste.”
Here are a few vintage Christmas cigarette adverts from 1960-69.
Here are some Christmas decoration adverts from 1959-61.
Check out these groovy 1960’s white-framed shades. Sunglasses just too small? How about a welders shield attached to a headband?
“America’s most-wanted gift tie!” These ads for Cutter Cravat “Artist Originals” ties date from 1951-53.
This is a starter guide to dating Ladybird books from the 1960’s and 1970’s, which shall be updated as I gather more information.
Today’s musical delights are brought to you by Dick Schory and The Percussive Art Ensemble with Re-Percussion from 1957. It’s everything the cover implies it is!
“Your fist becomes a real face.” I came across this little game yesterday. Produced by Remco in 1966, the box consisted of very little: four plastic nose-eye combos, a bit of fur, an old rag and a pen – “for hours of play and fun”. Well, it’s better than a punch in the face, I guess.
“I’m not a bad girl! You’re a bad mommy!” These adverts for Fletcher’s Castoria date from 1939-1941 and feature a lot of finger pointing, angry parents, threats of spanking, and constipated children.
“Xmas greetings from the stars!” Here is a selection of cheesy Jet magazine Christmas covers from 1973 to 1985.
Giant Glow-Up Costume KitsThese crazy Halloween costumes were produced in 1979/1980 by Spearhead Industries.
As random toy finds go, this tickled all the right spots (a-hem)! Bum Bum Gang was a Russian Roulette balloon game by Giochi Preziosi, made in the late 1980s in Italy.
There were 27 titles in the original series “Well Loved Tales” (6O6D, Easy Reading), which were produced between 1964 to 1974 with a hardback matt cover. In 1979 Ladybird began to completely redesigned the series with new illustrations throughout and adding several new stories.
One up in style.
These adverts are from 1971-72 and feature some fantastic text (as well as some fantastic trousers). All the chaps sit defiantly with one leg draped over the arm of their large ornate throne-like chairs, showing of their modern breeches and manhood at the same time.
“Made just for girls!” These yummy pink ads for Lustre Creme shampoo date from 1967-68. They feature some very sixties geometrics!
Here’s a wonderful six page spread from Mattel I found in a LIFE magazine dated November 24th 1967. Shame it’s forty eight years too late to enter!
“I’d like to MEAT a Valentine. How about you?” Here’s a selection of meat themed Valentines cards.
“Follow the trend to knitted underwear!” These ads for Munsingwear underwear for men date from 1939-45.
In the early 1940’s, Munsingwear produced a selection of adverts featuring sports and work related activities. They remind me of paper dolls, but with more bending over (as you would expect from Munsingwear).
In 1955, record company Columbia released a set of five LP’s featuring the instrumental stylings of Peter Barclay and his Orchestra. The technicolour cover photographs encapsulate the ideal American family in a wonderfully cheesy/creepy way, and the back covers were full of helpful hints and even recipes to help make every occasion perfect.
I stumbled across this delightful selection of boardgames in the 1976 Argos catalogue, which I was browsing (as you do). I was immediately captivated by Brucie’s little smiling face and had to learn more!
“Kids! This Halloween you can be the creatures you really are!” PAAS Halloween make-up kits were produced from 1984, and there were six different sets made at first.
“Goof-Proof Gifts!” These Christmas themed Paper Mate pen ads date from 1960-66, some of which feature comedian Joe E Brown.
This weeks Sunday lounge listening is “Pink Champagne for Dancing” (vol.2) by Lloyd Mumm and His Starlight Roof Orchestra [1962]. Enjoy!
“Now! You can change your skin tone to look lovely in any fashion colour.”Pond’s “Angel Face” adverts from 1960-61 featured striking double head shots of models wearing contrasting colours.
These fun Italian adverts for Texas Instruments are both from 1990. I don’t remember maths being so cool!
Today I have been mostly looking at 1980’s – 1990’s retro geometric patterns in fashion. Now my eyes hurt…
“This Halloween don’t be just another face in the crowd.” These makeup kits were aimed at adults and came with glitter and metallic colours. They were produced by Plough in 1985 and 1987.
In 1957-59, Soft-Weve (by Scott) produced some beautiful fairytale style adverts for their toilet tissue. Featuring glamorous ladies wearing dresses specially designed to match the colourful toilet rolls they so decorously caress, it is easy to forget just what is being advertised!
Twinkle was one of my favourite girls comics when I was little, I even named one my two childhood cats after her (the other cat was named “Tammy” after my other favourite comic). Here are all the annual covers from 1970 to 2003. I love the early cover designs best with the plain coloured backgrounds, white circle behind Twinkle and black text.
“The Kleenex Boutique Collection is in… and bathroom tissue has gone glorious. Gone honest-to-Kleenex soft!” Kleenex Boutique was produced from the late 1960’s to the early 1980’s. Bold colours and crazy paisley toilet paper and tissues, perfect to colour co-ordinate with your furry toilet seat cover!
“No more poodle-tight perms, monstrous commitments or not-so-funny between-perm droops.” I love this set of adverts for Toni’s “Epic-Waves” try-on perms from 1989, featuring porcelain clown, poodle and Bride of Frankenstein faces, and big 80’s hair!
Ahh, Halloween. That time of year when you dig out the old flame retardant vinyl costumes and creepy, creepy face masks of your favourite childhood toys…
“This is the story of Tron. You can read along with me in your book. You will know it is time to turn the page when you hear the computer sound like this…”
“It’s like wearing magic gloves!” These ads for Underwood “Golden Touch” typewriters date from 1956-58.
“My heart I serve to you.” Here’s a mixed selection of vintage Valentines day cards, featuring romantic themes such as dentures, fire-eating, cannibalism, underwear and illness!