The Orange Bird returned to Walt Disney World last week. The news of this has a number of the Disney fan blogs buzzing. It's nice this little bit of WDW history has returned, but personally it's not something I can get too excited about. The Orange Bird was a Disney designed mascot for the Florida Citrus Growers, and was used in ads for Florida orange juice - like this magazine ad from 1973 that entices you to save 50¢ on your next juice purchase...
... but saving that 50¢ wasn't so straight forward. First here's the 10¢ coupon to use in the store...
... and then to collect the other 40¢ you needed to fill out the 40¢ cash refund form and send in various proofs of purchase. Mail-in refunds aren't done much anymore, and especially not for 40¢.
Although to be fair this is 1973, and according to an Internet inflation calculator 40¢ in 1973 is worth $2.07 in 2012. However collecting the refund is going to cost at least one first class stamp. So using 2012 numbers again, a first class stamp is 45¢, and therefor your net refund is actually $1.62. I don't know if that's really worth the trouble.
Aggh, writing about that Orange Bird has me doing financial calculations. Who would have thunk it.
Let's forget about that Orange Bird because there's another Disney designed advertising mascot (who also happens to be a bird) who I'd truly like to see make a return - it's 7-Up's Fresh Up Freddie...
The ending of that commercial looks like it could have influenced the Pixar movie Up (2009).
Here's a late 70's 'brochure card' for Homosassa Springs in Homosassa, FL - back when Homosassa Springs was a privately owned attraction...
Here's little bit of trivia I stumbled across, the photo of the alligator with the No Swimming sign was taken by photographer Bob Moreland who won a newspaper Photo of the Year Award for it.
Okay here's the flip-side...
Now that Homosassa Springs is part of the Florida State Parks you can't hand feed the animals anymore, and the monkeys are completely gone now. Also making the gators leap out of the water to grab their food is a thing of the past. Although you can still "walk under water," but it's more accurately (or boringly) called a underwater observatory.
Yup. Been there, done that. Except for that inflatable egg thing.
I was thinking there might be some packaging remnants of Dudley's Shake-An-Egg tucked away somewhere, but instead of going to the hassle scrounging around for it hither and thither I've discovered that Flickr is my friend...
... a big thanks to fellow blogger Dan Goodsell for posting that photo.
Dudley is still around, but the character has had a redesign to make him look generically cute and not like a cross-eyed moron.
Although I don't think Dudley has made a dent in the PAAS empire...
Hmm, this has reminded me of something. When I was growing up there were some jackhole neighbors with an inground pool. I once fantasized about rolling a giant PAAS into their pool in the middle of the night. The very next day the family would blissfully dive into their pool completely oblivious to the color of the water. They surface in shocked horror to discover both themselves and their precious pool are permanently stained.
I don't usually talk about stuff like this, but look at that lottery ticket of mine up there. I don't normally buy lottery tickets, but the feverish hype about the record breaking jackpot of the Mega Millions last Friday enticed me to take a chance. So I put three bucks down on three easy picks. If you'll notice not a single one of my numbers matched the winning numbers drawn on March 30: 2-4-23-38-46 and Mega Ball 23. I didn't really expect to win, but I thought I'd probably match one number at least.
I've been strangely lucky with the number "69" in the past. This is NOT a cheap attempt at crude humor, and if you check out my post from March 3, 2008 you'll see I'm telling the truth. Unfortunately, there's no "69" in the Mega Millions game.
Yeah, I won't be buying another lottery ticket anytime soon. The odds of winning are so ridiculous it's foolish to throwaway money on this game.
Here's something else foolish to throw your money away on according to these Yelp reviews, and it's something a little more in keeping with the spirit of this blog - it's the World of Illusion in Gatlinburg, TN...
I didn't intend to post this retro brochure since it can be easily found elsewhere on the internet. In fact some of my fellow blogger acquaintances have blogged, and blogged well about this place. But then I noticed that my brochure is slightly different than ones I've seen online. The difference is that last bullet point, or more accurately star point on the purple page. It reads, "Create pure energy in a Star Sculpture exhibit." I have no idea what a "Star Sculpture exhibit" is or was, but I'm thinking maybe it was one of those novelty plasma globes.
Speaking of novelties, I pity the fool who hasn't seen the awesome Stunt Rock (1980) trailer. The reason I mention this it features a bad-ass white bearded wizard that looks similar to the wizard on the front of the World of Illusion brochure...
This movie has been popping up on TCM recently (the last time was late "Mega Millions" night March 30, 2012). You might wish to check it out the next time it plays. I'll warn you it doesn't quite live up to its trailer, but then again it won't really cost you anything either.
Since I posted the Flintstones Vitamin poster earlier this month I thought I'd finish the month with some more of the 'Stones.'
Above are three rubber Flintstones figures I got as a kid around 1977 (I'd guess). I remember they were purchased at Sears. They were sold individually out of a container (like a plastic fish bowl if I remember correctly) sitting by a cash register near their cafeteria. The Flintstones weren't the only characters available either. Mixed in the same container were a bunch of Warner Bros. characters too. For a while there whenever I was shopping at Sears with my Mother I'd ask if I could get a new figure.
The characters are made of a strange rubber. They almost seem to be made of a pencil eraser-like material, but they do not work as an eraser. If you're wondering about the scale, Dino is approximately 2 ¾ inches tall.
That's about all I know about these things. An image search on Flintstones toys didn't really turn up any more of these figures. If anyone reading this knows who manufactured these things please leave a comment.
I know I had Fred too, but he's currently MIA. So for now Wilma and Barney will have to make do alone (I always thought Wilma and Barney should get together anyways. They both have the same eyes). Along with Dino, and that strange stone-age cat sitting by Wilma's feet.
This is important because Magic World's General
Manager Sonny Thrower has graciously answered a few burning questions about "The Never Neverland Like You've Never Ever Seen."
Sonny also sets the record straight on why Magic World eventually shut down.
If you're a fan of that famous modern stone-age family, and have been searching for a cartoon 'fun map' of Bedrock search no further. Get ready for an internet exclusive (presented this clearly at least) with this Flintstones Vitamin promotional poster from 1970...
Click to POSTER-SIZE!
Here's a close-up of the "History of Bedrock" text, and its sketchy information of a mysterious "tribe of twelve families" that founded Bedrock.
Another mystery is the little known first leader of Bedrock - Cornelius Granitebuilt. How little known is Cornelius Granitebuilt you might wonder. According to Google this is the first time the name "Cornelius Granitebuilt" has been written on the Internet. Well whoever he was, Cornelius was important enough to have a hospital named after him complete with a bust of his likeness placed outside.
Also Cornelius Granitebuilt is craved into Bedrock's Mount Rockmore, and that seems fitting for the first leader of Bedrock. Sometime later Fred, Barney and Dino were bestowed this honor. Not bad for a guy who works at a quarry, and another guy who works... well, wherever Barney works, and a pet dinosaur.
It wouldn't be Bedrock without lots of stone-age versions of modern day landmarks with one of the words replaced with a similar sounding rock or mineral. Although it doesn't have the prestige of something like the "Empire Slate Building" I'm kinda fascinated with the County Quartz House.
Probably my favorite thing in this poster are the Bedrock Playground's very literal, and therefore wildly impractical monkey-bars.
In case you forgot who's responsible for this poster here's the Flintstones Factory the very place that makes those delicious chewable Flintstones Vitamins.
I found an early Flintstones Vitamins commercial featuring the Flintstones Factory. This commercial answers the important question, "Are there child labor laws in Bedrock?" Also check out that very off-model Dino...
J.R. Wainwright is the name of the artist who signed this poster. I think J.R. did a great job, and it wouldn't surprise me if he worked for Hanna-Barbera - but I can't find any info to support that. If you happen to know anything about J.R. Wainwright please leave a comment.
And just to be complete, for those who like to read the fine print, here's the fine print...
