Not sure what to watch this holiday weekend?
Perhaps you’d like to kick back and check out these TV promos from the mid-70s.
This was the TV line-up for New Year’s Day programing on NBC.
As 2011 comes to a close and we ring in 2012, here’s an interesting piece of New Year’s Eve/Prohibition memorabilia.
This is a poster promoting a New Year’s celebration at a speakeasy.
The soiree was held to ring in 1928.
The location, however, is unknown as the consumption of alcohol was banned at this time in U.S. history.
So only those ‘in the know,’ knew where to go.
My hunch is this flyer is a reproduction.
I base it on condition (nearly flawless) and there’s a copyright (see photo 3).
Unfortunately, I don’t know anything else about it.
If any MVG fans know more please contact us, we’d love to know more.
In the meantime, a happy and healthy New Year to all!
As you enjoy this holiday weekend, be entertained with this classic TV clip from The Dick Van Dyke Show.
Merry Christmas!
Here’s a great 1937 ad for NOMA Disney Christmas lights.
I believe it’s from the December edition of Mickey Mouse Magazine.
In addition to these Mickey Mouse lights, NOMA also manufactured sets featuring characters from the Silly Symphony shorts, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Pinocchio.
To learn more about this ad and NOMA lights, check out a great blog called Vintage Disney Collectibles.
Christmas is coming; the NBA lockout is over.
The season finally gets underway next week!
To celebrate I thought it would be fun to feature a team that takes basketball to an entirely different level.
Here’s the theme to the 1970s cartoon starring The Harlem Globetrotters.
"Ratty Please, I want to row." Illustration by Ernest H. Shepard, 1959
There are so many wonderful illustrated editions of the 1908 children’s classic The Wind in the Willows.
Here’s just a brief sample taken from a new annotated edition by Seth Lerer.
"The Piper at the Gates of Dawn" illustration by Paul Bransom, 1913
"O Unhappy and Forsaken Toad" Illustration by Nancy Barnhart, 1922
"Toad peering out the window." Illustrated by Philip Mendoza, 1983
"Badger with Car" Illustrated by Charles van Sandwyk, 2008
I hope you can take a moment from your busy holiday shopping and dig this clip!
Watch Mike, Mickey, Davy and Peter shop for a Christmas tree.
The Monkees feature in this week’s My Vintage Video.
Pillsbury Doughboy Lights
‘Tis the season for baking, so it’s a perfect time to offer this brief bio on the Pillsbury Doughboy!
This 14 oz, 8″ dough creature debuted in a Cresent Roll commercial in 1965.
He goes by the name Poppin’ Fresh.
The doughboy was originally drawn by Chet Noice, a freelance artist from Minneapolis.
The Leo Burnett ad agency helped launch the doughboy’s TV career.
Martin Nodell, the agency’s artist, added the finishing touches to Poppin’ Fresh.
Nodell, by the way, was the creator of the original superhero Green Lantern.
The doughboy has blue eyes and wears a baker’s hat and scarf.
He giggles when he’s poked in the belly.
Since his inception numerous collectibles have been made including this set of lights from 2000.
Set of lights from 2000
I just upgraded to a new cell phone (an iPhone 4S) after using a flip phone for the past 7 years.
My new purchase had me wondering about the first cell phone.
This week’s My Vintage Video is look back at one of the first TV commercials for the then-new device.
I’m glad to see the phones we have today just fit in a pocket!
What a pain to carry this Centel cell phone around!
Marianne Faithful
Ready Steady Girls! is a very groovy website!
It’s devoted to fab female singers of the 1960s.
RSG is base in the UK, so much of the focus is on European femmes; there’s Dusty from Britain, Francoise from France and Mina from Italy.
You’ll find bios, rare video clips and links.
Dusty in Memphis LP cover
I first became aware of Ready Steady Girls! after doing research on a compilation CD that came out earlier this year. It’s called Chicas!: Spanish Female Singer 1962-1974 and I think it’s one of the best CDs of the year.
So go-go on over to Ready Steady Girls! Have fun!