Pins From the Bag
Hey, what's in that bag? Why, it's a bunch of old PINS!
This first pin (or button) is fun, from the days when SoCal had the only Universal Studios. Most people know that there was a walk-around Frankenstein's Monster, but for a while there was a Baby Frankenstein! I'm unsure of the exact time, though I think "the 70s" would be at least partially correct (Google says BF was there into the 90s, much to my astonishment). There are a few Baby Frankenstein toys (plush dolls, at least), and I've seen souvenir slides showing Baby Frank, but so far I've haven't seen any that were taken by guests. I sure would love to have one!
Just for fun, here's a scan of a postcard with Baby Frankenstein:
Speaking of babies, in the 1950s your milk would be delivered to your doorstep by babies wearing hats. Things were screwy after the war. My dad used to talk about opening a bottle of milk and finding the layer of cream that had risen to the top, but that never happened once it was HOMOGENIZED. You get the good with the bad.
I don't believe I ever went to a Piggly Wiggly market, even though my family moved a lot. I do remember going to the A&P in Pennsylvania! And the Rainbow Market (?) in Minnesota. Anyway, I love this employee name badge with the cheerful piggy himself, paper hat at a jaunty angle.
I've mentioned the many pins that I purchased when I would visit a particular antiques store in the midwest, from states such as Minnesota, North Dakota, Iowa, and so on. I love the small-town celebrations; in this case, it's Benson, Minnesota's "Kid Day", circa 1958! The little girl with the tiara looks like the ideal midwest sweetheart, the Queen of Kids, perhaps.
I did not buy this one in that antiques store - I've had this one for decades. "Land in Cleveland Ohio In '36". Don't mind if I do! Back in the early days of the 20th Century, many cities hoped to lure folks to their fair land (via colorful pinback buttons), to start businesses, work in the local factories, and stimulate the local economy in various other ways. Find happiness and prosperity in Cleveland!
And finally, something a bit more modern. I think I bought it because I remember when McDonalds introduced Shamrock Shakes (in 1970)... going to McD's as a kid was a real treat (possibly not for my mom and dad, though). In my memory, Shamrock Shakes were just vanilla flavor with green food coloring added. My understanding is that they have been mint-flavored for many years, but I haven't had one of those shakes since I was under 10 years old.
That's it for this installment of PINS FROM THE BAG!
2 comments:
I hope that tangled, exposed film that BF is playing with wasn't anything important! A cute pin.
In the postcard of BF, i have that decorative font in my downloaded fonts folder. But I can't recall what it's called at the moment. Big Frank's platform shoes look a little ridiculous.
Milkbaby pin: We had (Darigold) milk delivered to our doorstep up until sometime in the mid-sixties. At first it was in those square, waxy cartons. Later, the milk came in clear, flexible plastic bags that would be placed in a (supplied) plastic pitcher. Then you snip a small corner off the bag and enjoy your plastic milk!
I always thought the Piggly Wiggly pig was a dead ringer for Porky Pig. I wonder if there was ever any litigation? On the other hand, Warner Bros. was probably happy to get the free publicity for Porky... even though it wasn't Porky.
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Green shakes that just tasted like vanilla? WHY??? I'd like to try one of the mint-flavored ones.
Hmm, another installment of "What's in the bag" where it's hard to choose a favorite. I suppose I'll go with the Milkbaby pin. I like the red, white, and blue, vintage design.
Thanks, Major.
Major-
This is a fun grouping of pins-! (I still say Baby Frankenstein is Eddie Munster with bangs, instead of a widow's peak-!)
We had home delivery from both Arden Dairy and Adohr Farms but I can't say I remember babies being responsible for handling all those heavy glass bottles - but maybe I wasn't paying attention-!
The only Piggly Wiggly Market I ever saw was the gigantic Piggly Wiggy Continental Market, opened in 1962, on Ventura Blvd, in Encino - across the street from Ralph Williams Ford - which is another story entirely. The 'Continental' was about as close to a "themed supermarket" as I ever saw... fancy casework for shelving; [as I recall] miniature ship 'galleons' held the produce; a miniature cable car held San Francisco sourdough and other breads; other parts of the store were styled like a Parisian boulevard with specialty displays; plus they carried a fully-stocked gifts and cosmetics counter; etc. Clearly, this 'folksy' style of button had no home in this grocery (and beyond) paradise-!
I have yet to add a tiara to my wardrobe, but the more images I see of them perched atop the head of a young lass, I keep asking myself 'why I should be denied that luxury just because I'm a boy'-!
Thanks, Major.
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