Mystery Creature Sighting

Earlier tonight I snapped a picture of a mysterious creature...

Actually this is a unintentionally blurry shot of something I'm working on for Halloween.  I thought the shot was sorta artistic, and it works as a little tease for an upcoming post.

Preternatural Peculiarities: The Tulip Staircase Ghost

I have a little tradition of making some sort of animation to celebrate the holidays.  Unfortunately this year I've been busy with other projects, and haven't had much time to devote to a new animation. Well, certainly nothing as elaborate as what I did last year. 

However I did find some time to conjure a short spooky animation for Halloween.  Although first here's a little biographical introduction...

I vividly remember this book,  Haunted Houses by Larry Kettelkamp, in my elementary school library...

That cover was fascinating, and I leafed through the book a number of times while standing in the school library.  I don't remember ever checking it out.  I think I was probably too scared to actually take that book home with me.  It was safer to just leave it in the school library.

Anyway that cover photo is Tulip Staircase Ghost, and for my money, probably the best ghost photo ever taken.  If it's a hoax it's pure genius.  The way the figure is distorted and elongated is truly otherworldly.

If you'd like to know more about the Tulip Staircase Ghost photo please click this link.  If you'd like to watch a short animation I made using this photo simply click play if you dare...


Hopefully I'll find the time to do another quick "Preternatural Peculiarities" before the month is through. Are there any ideas out there?

Return to Prehistoric Forest

Back in 2010 I did a little post on Prehistoric Forest in Irish Hills, Michigan...

I only had one color photo to share back then, but as luck would have it I just turned up two more...

Above is the fiberglass mountain Prehistoric Forest entrance.  Back in 2010 I wrote, "...at least when I visited everything was well maintained and freshly painted," but looking at this photo now I have my doubts.  Are those yellow areas on the mountain where the grey paint has pealed away?  Although the two-tone color scheme kinda breaks up the monotony of solid grey.  That large white figure on the left is the "Giant Ground Sloth" as seem on the B&W brochure...

Here's the Prehistoric Forest Tyrannosaurus photo-op.  Midway thru your tram ride in the forest passengers were allowed to walk around a small photo-op area with about a half dozen dinos.  There's some kid in what looks like a red hoodie on the lower left.

Here's some great 60's home movie footage from Prehistoric Forest I found on YouTube...



Lastly here's nice little look at how Prehistoric Forest looks today by someone who has obviously visited my blog before...

This is Halloween...

Hey it's October, and that means it's time once again for a month long celebration of Halloween and other spooky stuff.

If you know this blog, you know not to expect a new post every day like some of my fellow bloggers are doing for Halloween.  I'll have a couple of new posts each week. Frankly I'm not even sure what I'm really doing yet, but that isn't anything new.

So to kick things off here's a few pictures of my first ever attempt at Halloween decorations.  It might be surprising, but the last year I went out trick-or-treating was in the 4th grade.  The next year I thought it would be more fun to set up a haunted display on the front porch to hand out candy to the trick-or-treaters.

One dummy siting next to a fake fence...

... another dummy on the porch..

...and a kid in an alien mask pretending to drink a dry ice infused drink.

It's a little sloppy, but it's completely kid made.  Over the years I got a lot better with my homemade props and other decorations.

Stay Up and Watch the Stars Come Out

Labor Day just isn't the same without the Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Telethon.  Although for a kid whose first day of school started the day after Labor Day it was the most miserable day of the year.  It's funny how even misery can have a certain nostalgia now...



Heck, I think I'm nostalgic for those old Hickory Farms mall stores too.

Anyway a slogan used on the Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Telethon was "Stay Up and Watch the Stars Come Out."  So before September slips away, and discussing Labor Day and old telethons becomes horribly belated, here's my take on "Stay Up and Watch the Stars Come Out" with this star-studded collection of 1970's magazine ads.

Look it's Buddy Ebsen for Soft Parkay Margarine.  I think this ad is subtly attempting to invoke the country charm of The Beverly Hillbillies in which Ebsen stared.  All that's missing is a dopey young guy siting at the table to stand-in for Jethro. 

Up next is Barbara Feldon for Rockwell International calculators.  This little checkbook & credit card holder \ calculator thingy went for $45 back in 1976.  Adjusted for inflation that's $182.20 in 2012 dollars - and I don't think it's real leather either.  Well I guess it seems like something Agent 99 might need.

Here's Connie Stevens for ACE Hardware surrounded by Ortho brand pesticides.  The internet tells me Connie was the first to sing ACE's "Helpful Hardware Man" jingle.  Only a few years after this ad was printed, Suzanne Somers would be singing the jingle on TV.

Richard Deacon for Thermatronic microwave ranges.  Under Richard's pic it reads, "Richard Deacon star of his own cook show, 'Deacon Does It In the Kitchen.'"  Richard Deacon is well-know for his classic sitcoms roles on Leave It To Beaver and The Dick Van Dyke Show, but I can't find anything on the internets about 'Deacon Does It In the Kitchen.' It's a show I'd love to see.  However, I did find a microwave cook book he authored.

Duke Ellington for Hammond Piper organ. Duke was about 74 years old when this ad was made.  The pose is kinda juvenile, but it's nice to know Duke was so spry in his latter years.

Elke Sommer for Kellogg's Special K.  Elke was everywhere in the 60's and 70's.  For example she stared in Mario Bava's Baron Blood (1972)  which I've embedded below in its entirety for your enjoyment...

Here's George Burns for Tabby cat food.  This ad is from 1976 when a 10¢ coupon was still a good deal.

Next is the sensational Joey Heatherton for Serta Perfect Sleeper mattress.  Even though she's dressed rather conservatively I thought Joey projects quite a bit of sexiness in this ad.  If you don't see it, check out this Serta Perfect Sleeper TV commercial and see if it changes your mind...

 

Sandy Duncan for Alive Support Pantyhose by Hanes. This ad is proof that having a glass eye in no way impairs your ability to high kick.  So can we please put that old wives' tale to rest?  It's 2012 fer crying out loud people.

Shirley Jones for Sunbeam.  This is the only ad in this post that uses a word balloon.  Although this unique word balloon has a curvy pink edge that you'd find on a thought balloon.  So is Shirley speaking to us, or sending us a telepathic message?

The renowned Peter Ustinov for Chenin Blanc from Ernest and Julio Gallo. Peter says, "It may be one of the finest wines you've ever tasted."   I believe him.  He's a very erudite man that surely knows his wines. Unfortunately it seems "E&J" no longer produces a Chenin Blanc.

 

Last, but certainly not least here's Charlotte Rae for Mr. Muscle overnight oven cleaner.  Well Charlotte is playing a character in this ad, so it's not an endorsement like the ads above. She's doing a great acting job in this ad, and especially in the TV commercial...

Back to School

From 1953 it's Happy Journey Preparing Your Child for School  a handbook for parents whose child will soon enter kindergarten or first grade.

It's a 32 page booklet published by the Department of Elementary School Principals, National School Public Relations Association, and National Congress of Parents and Teachers.  I'm not going to scan all 32 pages, but here's a few I think are good.

School is your child's job...

School is a place to try, to practice... to be a pirate

School is a place to practice good health habits...  My favorite is "use the bathroom regularly, independently in a sanitary manner." Important words to live by.

This booklet was originally 40¢ back in the day, but I've seen it available online for anywhere from $7 to $22.95.  My booklet is in excellent condition so if you're looking for a copy don't hesitate to make an offer.

Maxine and Rosie

Whoa, the month almost went by without a post, and if that happened the world might have just slipped off its axis. 

So to prevent a possible Mayan calendar prophecy, and for the betterment of all mankind I proudly present a look a couple of forgotten early 70's ad women...

Fist here's Vivian Vance as Maxine the coffee lady. Vivian is well-known for  playing Lucille Ball's sidekick, but I don't think many remember her time as a pitch-woman for Maxwell House Instant Coffee... 

 

These print ads are kinda like story storyboards for a commercial, and she did those too...



This next forgotten lady is named Rosie, and she wants you to know Clorox does more than the wash...

Whoever Rosie was I don't believe she ever got to do Clorox commercials, but nevertheless I've regularly poured Clorox in my toilets.  Yeah, that last sentence was a total non sequitur, but letting Clorox sit over night in your toilet is great way to get them sparking clean without the chore of scrubbing.  I think that was another non sequitur also.