Much like Dr. Fate’s Tower, the incomparable Smith Family Books in Eugene, Oregon, always seems somehow magically larger on the inside than it does on the outside. Recently this alternate dimension of bibliophilia coughed up a treasure beyond value: the Johnson Smith & Co. Novelties catalog, 1950 edition.
If you’re having trouble picturing exactly what I mean, gents might recall the ads for chintzy, silly crap they used to find consigned to the back of Boy’s Life or early 80s Marvel Comics. (Sorry, ladies, I don’t know the female equivalent.) This book is 500 pages of crudely-drawn, vintage-styled ads for whoopee cushions, costume jewelry, and coins that squirt water. In short, it's bliss.
Some of the ads are bizarre.
Some are horrendously offensive.
Some are illegal!
Some make me think this catalog was actually printed in 1994.
Some of 'em are, um, “spicy”...
...while others are quite chaste.
Some could have really helped me out, if I had discovered them while in grad school.
Some are for the rich...
...and some, for the poor.
But all of 'em are stuff I wanna own. Anyway, just wanted to share. And if you happen to dig this particular flavor of kitsch, I hereby nominate Kirk Demarais' Secret Fun Spot and Mr. Bali Hai's Eye of the Goof for your reading and viewing pleasure. Did any of you actually get suckered in with sort of junk when you were kids? Or, uh, now? Let me know in the comments corral, pardners.
Great find Aaron! And your featured selections are choice. (Sheesh, that chameleon ad is shockingly shameless.) I'd never seen the Mouse Trap pin. Talk about mixed messages. Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Kirk D. | June 08, 2009 at 10:36 AM