Category Archives: Uncategorized

Come for the gimcracks. Stay for the SPUG.

Colgate ad found on the back cover of the January 1915 issue of The Designer magazine
Colgate ad found on the back cover of the January 1915 issue of The Designer magazine

What’s a gimcrack? Pretty much the same thing as a gewgaw, d-uh.

Mr. Smith must’ve been a real tightwad over clothing, as both he and Mrs. Smith wear the same outfits for several days. Hopefully, Colgate made a deodorant back then. (Nowadays, they do make Speed Stick.)

What’s the deal with fainting couches? In related news, a chaise longue is usually screwed up by Americans as a “chaise lounge”.

It looks like SPUG was made up for this ad, but there are other SPUGS that exist today.

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No relation to Grape-Nuts.

1934 magazine ad for Beech-Nut Gum and Candies
1934 magazine ad for Beech-Nut Gum and Candies

Bone shards:

Looks like I wasn’t the only one trying to figure out who the artist was in this campaign. Not only was the artist identified (Stuart Hay (1889-1969)), but they also include another ad in this circus campaign! Win-win!

Nowadays, Beech-Nut is known mostly for its baby food. They’re the one that isn’t Gerber.

There’s also an unrelated Beech-Nut chewing tobacco. This ruffled some beech-feathers back in 1927.

Want some beech nuts of your own? Go foraging!

Wanna run away with the circus? That’s a bit hard to do these day, so why don’t you find out about its history instead?

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Giggity.

Anywhere is possible with Jiffy Lube

The Kotex secret? Gravity!

Kotex tampons ad from 1969
Found in an American Girl magazine from 1969 or so.

It was a big advance from the old sanitary belts, and a huge leap from sanitary suspenders.

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“It’s a killer-diller!”

“You bet, almost before you know it, a daily 10 minutes with ‘MINI-GYM’ builds you into the kind of real ‘he man’ material bosses want most… and girls go for fastest!” — It pays to read the tiny, tiny type!

How 'Mini-Gym' Turns Plant "Drip" Into Success Dynamo
(1951-1952 or so.)
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“Be the Life of the Party!”

Lit Cigarette Vanishes and then reappears!

Astonish Everybody!

Lit Cigarette Vanishes and then reappears!

With sleeves rolled up, you make a lighted cigarette vanish! Not a trace remains! Then, like a magician, you reach into the air and presto! Cigarette reappears! Actually 2 tricks in one! You can also make bills, pencils disappear too! Easy to do! Astonish everyone! Be the Life of the Party! Order at once.

1.00

Click here for full ad.

Beep-beep zip bang!

1971 Plymouth Road Runner

Fun facts: 

Plymouth paid Warner Bros. fifty grand to use the Road Runner name and likeness.

Hatched in 1968, the Plymouth Road Runner wasn’t discontinued until 1980.

And yes, Plymouth had a special beep-beep horn for it, developed by the Sparton Corporation of Jackson, Michigan. Hear it here.

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“Big bubbles. No troubles.” — Sir Mix-a-Lot (attributed)

Hubba Bubba
1980 comic book ad for Hubba Bubba bubble gum

What a great way to introduce a new brand.

Look at the sheer amount of copy in this comic book ad aimed at kids!

The copywriter even got “akimbo” and “dadgum” approved!

Wowie-zowie! I’m impressed.

Note: I had no idea Hubba Bubba was available in mint flavor back in 1980.

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When you’re not quite sure if that’s a real Burberry ad or a parody Burberry ad.

Twitter needs to change this to “Moments are not loading at this moment.”

Twitter Moments