This is for all the fools out there...

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.

Rubber Flintstones

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. 

Magic World Update

I just wanted to make a quick announcement that I've updated the Magic World Brochure post.

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.

Flintstones Vitamin Poster of Bedrock

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...

Scenes From a Late 50's School Fair

Here's some photo's from the Bulman School Fair in Redford, MI taken in 1958 and 1959.

Do you prefer your photos of vaguely disturbing clowns in "portrait"...

...or in "landscape" modes?

The photo above of "Mr. Thomas Saunders operating the cotton candy machine" looks amazingly timeless to me.  If I were told this photo was taken last year I could believe it.

And that's latest a Bulman School Fair photo could have been taken (if they were still having school fairs).  In researching this post I learned that the Bulman Elementary School closed , and was scheduled for demolition after the 2011 school year.

Going Out With A Bang

To end the month long celebration of Valentines here's a sizzling selection of tiny vintage B&W ads found in the back of popular magazines...

This above ad for a set of naughty strip tease hi-ball glasses seems like something I might have found in some smutty gentleman's magazine. Nope it's from Family Circle November 1976.  Yeah that surprised me too.

In the same issue of Family Circle was this ad for Frederick's of Hollywood.  That's not so surprising, but I'm kinda confused by the copy in this ad. Take a round trip to Hollywood? How is a catalog subscription a round trip?  Is that supposed to be an allusion to something? Well anyways, I get an excuse to post the the pic of the sexy 70's cartoon lingerie lady.

This is my favorite ad of those tiny B&W ads.  Various versions ran continually for years, but I like this one from 1973 the best.  The "BLOW YOURSELF UP"  really catches ones eye. It's probably too much of a stretch to think this service for enlarging (or blowing up) of a photograph has any connection to the popularity of Antonioni's Blow-up (1966).  I don't think the film was that popular.  I mean when I saw that film I thought it might have been fun to be a mod fashion photographer in 60's London - not a desire to blow-up my photographs.

Actually "blowing yourself up" makes me think of that classic SCTV skit...

We must, we must, we must increase our bust!

Last month I posted a bunch of comic book ads for muscle building systems and products directed at young male readers, and since turnabout is fair play here's something for the ladies - it's a 1976 ad for the Mark Eden Bust Developer...

As you might have guessed this product didn't quite live up to the claims, and after 11 counts of mail fraud it was finally taken off the market in 1981.  If you'd like to see what you got if you sent in your $10.45 back in the 70's check out Julie's Tacky Treasures for some photos and more info.