“Give American toys to American girls and boys.” This ad by The American Toy Institute is from Christmas 1949. Following the ad were three pages full of various American manufactured toys.
“Christmas time is toy time. Give American toys.” This ad by The American Toy Institute is from Christmas 1950. Following the ad were five pages full of various American manufactured toys.
“Christmas time is toy time. Give American toys.” This ad by The American Toy Institute is from Christmas 1951. Following the ad were six pages full of various American manufactured toys.
“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 just found these four 1953 adverts for Ideal/Bakelite dolls. The ventriloquist dummies are simply fearful, and the bear’s not much better!
“Here are more of those Fun-to-Bake, Fun-to-Cut-Up cakes!”This was the second little animal cake booklet by Baker’s Coconut, which was published in 1959 by General Foods Corp. There were fifteen different cake ideas, all decorated with Angel Flakes.
“A calendar of new cake-making ideas!”This little animal cake booklet from Baker’s Coconut was published in 1956 by General Foods Corp. They were all decorated with Angel Flakes and was one cake idea for each month.
“Barbie’s $136 wardrobe from nurse to nightclubber.” I found this article about Barbie in Life magazine, published in August 1963.
“Add a little excitement to your interest.” These ads for the children’s Supersavers account from Barclays Bank are from 1982-85. The ads were aimed at teenagers.
Last Christmas I bought myself a large pile of vintage Blue Peter annuals. It was never one of my favourite programmes on telly, but I did enjoy the craft items they made out of toilet rolls and sticky back plastic! Here’s a few Christmas crafts from various annals dating from 1965-82.
“Where there’s pep there’s iron!”These fun ads for Bosco, a chocolate malt syrup which was added to milk, are all from 1940.
“The sweetest parade you’ll ever see!” These ads for Brach’s Easter sweets are dated between 1960-67.
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.
“Great fashion just for you at Young C&A.”These C&A ads for childrenswear date from 1984-87.
Here’s a selection of children’s character Christmas LP covers from the 1980’s, featuring Barbie, Pac-Man, Strawberry Shortcake and more!
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!
“Costumes galore!” Wondering what to dress up for Halloween this year? Look no further!
Here’s some children’s nightwear from various 1980’s catalogues.
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!
Following on from my post about character bedding, I decided to look into character sleeping bags and tents. These images are from various US Christmas catalogues dating from 1974-92.
“Instant outfits for today’s pant people!” For girls who want today’s favoured Folk-Art Look, boys who want to be done up sailor-style, and crushed velvet for holiday happenings for the grown-ups.
“Tiny togs for tiny tots to knit to crochet.” Columbia Minerva knitting leaflets for childrenswear, dating from 1970-77.
Whilst I was scanning through my collection of 1960’s catalogues for a Powder Monki post featuring Lurid Lounge Wear, I also came across a selection of lurid coloured toys too. I’m now on the look out for the pink goose bank!
Like any normal human being, I have a healthy hatred of clowns. One stood on my foot once, and then there was Poltergeist. That said, here is a collection of clowns from various catalogues dating from 1962 to 1989. My favourite clowns are the ones being punched by small boys.
“Free Ladybird Books!”
This Crosse & Blackwell “Baked Beans” tin label is from the early to mid 1970’s, and featured an offer on the back for free Ladybird books for children.
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.
“Electric Youth – The electric fragrance!” These ads for Debbie Gibson’s “Electric Youth” perfume are from 1989-90. It was produced by Revlon and distributed by Natural Wonder Cosmetics, which Debbie Gibson advertised between 1988-90.
These photos are from a Life magazine article dating 1939 which included a few lines on how toys were becoming more and popular as Easter presents, and also a little bit about why rabbits are associated with Easter.
“Create your own masterpiece in just 3 seconds!” Here’s a selection of Easter egg decorating kits from the 1980’s, featuring the likes of Rainbow Brite, Hugga Bunch, Care Bears and more!
“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.
“Cards – Stickers – Bubblegum” Here’s a selection of horror movie themed trading card wrappers by Topps from the 1980’s.
“Slippers for little dreamers.” Here are some super cute furry slippers from various catalogues from the 1960-70’s.
“A fitness programme for today’s young girl.” During the mid to late 1980’s, Hasbro produced a line of fitness sets aimed at young girls.
The back of Boys’ Live magazine advertised everything from an ALF fan club membership and Nintendo strategy play book, to garlic bubble gum and windshield wiper glasses. You could also buy your own official nickname, a fetching pair of leather fingerless gloves, and a ventriloquists dummy which looks a bit like Sloth from Goonies.
“Eva Joia fun fashions for girls only!” Here are some Gitano “Eva Joia” girls fashion adverts from 1985-87. I’d totally still wear the knitted cat jumper…
“The goblins’ll getcha if you don’t hand out!” Here’s a selection of Halloween themed ads from the 1950’s, which includes everything from candy to shoe polish!
“No tricks if you treat ’em right!” Here’s a selection of Halloween themed ads from the 1960’s.
“Eat something ugly for Halloween.” Here’s a selection of Halloween themed food and drink ads from various decades.
“Shock! Terror! Fear!” Here’s a selection of spooky themed LP’s to get you in the mood for Halloween.
“Lamps with Light-Up Smiles!” These splendidly creepy boy and girl clown lamps are from Penneys 1970 Christmas catalogue.
During the 1980’s-1990’s, Intarsia (a UK based company) produced over one hundred super cool knitted jumper patterns of cartoon TV characters (plus a few non-cartoon characters too). They are out of print these days, but still circulate on the second-hand market.
“Now I’ll be the mama!” These slightly terrifying ads featuring giant babies and tiny mothers are for Johnson’s Baby Oil & Baby Powder. They date from 1944-48.
“The beautiful hairstyling doll.” These Kenya doll adverts by Tyco are from 1992-95.
Television, toys, games and movie cereals from the 1980’s-90’s. Mmm, artificially flavoured goodness! Oooh, and apparently peanut better and chocolate-flavoured crispy sweetened 2-grain cereal is E.T.’s favourite flavours…
“Kmart. Yes. Kmart.”These ads for Kmart kids clothing are all from 1987.
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.
Bananas wearing zebra print bikinis, koala cheerleaders, kittens with rainbow coloured angel wings and ice cream sundae’s in space? It can only be Lisa Frank!
“LoveLines”LoveLines were a range of girls accessories produced by Delavennat in 1988. The line included sunglasses, umbrellas, bags, purses and a few other accessories.
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!
“For the gayest Easter eggs!” These two adverts for food colourings are from 1958 & 1963.
“Mommy protects me with baby powder.” These ads for Mennen baby powder are from 1944.
“New Griffin Savers Account has a lot to offer young savers.” This Midland Bank advert is from 1984-85. I had the Griffin Savers Account myself and still have the dictionary and pencil case somewhere!
“Get in on the swinging sound!” Here’s a selection of images featuring children playing musical instruments from various catalogues dating from 1970-90’s.
“Isn’t it time you replaced your piggy bank?” These graphic design style ads for NatWest banks On Line account are from 1986-87. The account was aimed at teenagers.
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.
These fun Italian adverts for Texas Instruments are both from 1990. I don’t remember maths being so cool!
“Have fun with things occult.” Here is a selection of scary boardgames from various catalogues ranging from the 1960’s-70’s.
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.
“An exciting offer for earthlings!” Here are some spectacular b&w adverts for the Star Wars Fan Club I found in Boys’ Life magazine (1977, 78 & 80). I also found two belt buckle ads, a patch ad and a flying model rocket ad.
Ahh. Memories of scratch n’ sniff stickers! Here are a selection of sticker adverts from 1984-87. I now feel like covering everything in sight in technicolour, scented stickers!
“A galactic collection to knit and sew!” The Doctor Who Pattern Book by Joy Gammon was published in 1984 and featured all kinds of weird and wonderful things to knit and sew.
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…
“She’ll wash clothes, run water, turn knobs! Busy, busy in her Frigidaire kitchen! It’s all pink… and just her size!”From mothers little helpers to mini gourmet chefs, here’s a collection of toy kitchen sets from 1962 to 1989.
“Crank out and paint these plastic uglies.” Here is a selection of different types of monsters from various catalogues ranging from the 1960’s-70’s.
“All kinds of robots are on the move.” Here is a selection of toy robots from various catalogues ranging from the 1960’s-70’s.
This large full page ad for Woolworths toys is from the Daily Express, Friday November 20th 1959.
“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…”
“Like daddy’s in all but size.”These ads for Twigs boys clothing date from 1947-50.
These images are from an article in Life magazine of an Easter Party held by Glen Taylor School, Walnut Creek, California in 1949. I love the dancing eggs!
“A pencil case can only take so much!” This ad for various WHSmith stationary dates from 1988.
“Makes you feel so fresh and feminine.” These five Yardley ads for are from 1956-57. The dolls in the images were designed by Madame Alexander, a company which has been making dolls since 1923.
