Welch's Weight Watching

Nope, unfortunately this isn't a post about Raquel Welch (RIP.) Instead it's a post about how some of us could probably stand to lose a few pounds-- especially with Valentine's Day quickly approaching. And in the 1930's, that's exactly where Welch's Grape Juice stepped in with this handy (NRA approved?!!) booklet about how their purple sugar beverage could help ya out! Personally, I know this wouldn't assist in the shedding of a single pound, because if I actually did have this stuff in the house, my kid would guzzle it all up in about 30 seconds! So instead, as usual, let's take a look at the adorable key art illustrations scattered throughout the inner pages. That's way more fun than trying to lose weight anyways... plus, that sexy cover model, --grrowr!

Poor Devil "Potts"

Before we get into another mmm-mmm-good month of annual Valentine Madness here at AEET, I have quite a few birthday wishes to get out of the way to those who celebrate that magical event this Feb! And here it comes in one big 'ol lump post, via a single sinsational card, aka a jolly Jesters Forget-Me-Not 60's classic found yesterday at an antiquer mall. The original recipient seems to have been affectionately known as "Potts", and I think that's hilariously cute. It's almost as cute as the artwork featured on the card itself. And yes, if my photos aren't quite translating the overall silly sex 'n drunks punchline enough, that's a mirror glued inside the card... does this reflect upon any of you, too? Jesters seriously had the best greeting card mascot ever.

Happy February Birthday to all that apply!

The Asteroid Witch

The Greensboro Cultural Arts Center in North Carolina recently honored one of their hometown heroes, late great comic book illustrator, Murphy Anderson, with a plaque installation --read about it HERE! We also honored this special occasion with a post over at THOIA HERE! So as promised, it's now time to do the continuation of honorary commemorations here at AEET as well, with a couple of great DC one-pagers via The Unexpected #116 and #119, as well as this wonderfully, witchy-weird, gorgeously illustrated sci-fi classic from the Ziff-Davis, 1950 debut issue of Amazing Adventures #1.

The Art of Top Value

When I was a kid I loved old advertising art, (okay, I still do) --especially colorfully cute ones like this full-pager from Top Value Stamps in 1956. It's fun to analyze each teeny, simplified scene featured below, noting the choices made by the illustrator of what to include, and not include, so the miniature size of everything "market, station, and store" still reads well, and with style, to the naked consumer eye. Yep, I like this ad so much that I also think we should blow up each one of these splashy green environments and really give them a good going over. Please do enjoy!

Flick Bozo's Switch

It's not just the internet that has a way of ruining things, sometimes production houses do just fine on their own. Sometimes it's inadvertently, but mostly it's with questionable design choices that leave people giggling as they gasp in disbelief. I mean, we've all seen the disastrously funny Jesus light switch, for example, right? Undoubtably a bad concept from the get-go with its head-scratching lack of switch placement awareness, not to mention the "Honor thy Father..." quote. Welp, now Larry Harmon's beloved TV superstar, Bozo the Clown can be added to the list of "Limp OFF / Rise ON" wall applications. And yes, it's not as lined-up with the backplate imagery as the Son of God classic is, but seriously, any time you are putting a phallic shaped thang between a man's legs (or near a man's crotch area-- especially one that hangs down and then pops up when you touch it), uhhh, need I say more? Easy to install, too? Oh come on, now!

"Gayrock" 1902

Check out this amazing "Gayrock" Guaranteed Clothing (Kohn Brothers) sampler guide from the Spring and Summer of 1902 Chicago, featuring swatches of fabric for Victorian era, fine wear, gentlemanly suits. That is, this is what the book is for the first half anyway, then you get to about the middle and it suddenly turns into someone's fascinatingly slap-dash scrapbook, full of antique clippings and other assorted illustrated ephemera and odds 'n ends. The colorful M-Born & Company calendar spread is quite beautiful, and that floaty ram's head at the finale below, coincidentally enough, reminds me that I need to pick up my cult robe from the tailors. I say, blade snags at the 'ol alter of sacrifice are so bothersome!