Listen... I know what you've been really wanting. Not candy, or money, or fame, or even love. What you want is PINS FROM THE BAG! Well, you've come to the right place, folks.
I have quite a few pinback buttons from the 1939/40 New York World's Fair ("The Dawn of a New Day"), but this one is a somewhat recent addition to my collection. 1940 was the 126th anniversary of the bombardment of Fort McHenry by the British Royal Navy, as witnessed by Francis Scott Key. He wrote a song about it! Hey, let's give Baltimore a pat on the back, it will make them so happy.
Next is this cool pin commemorating the centennial of Marshalltown, Iowa. A Century of Success! I hope that guy sowing crops has some Banana Boat sunscreen on(SPF-50 at least), I don't want him to burn. Looking at the Wikipedia page for Marshalltown, it looks like a very nice place to live.
I'm always fond of pinback buttons for vintage comic characters, especially characters that are largely forgotten today. This one, for the Sunday Bulletin, features the freaky likeness of Ozark Ike. Ozark Ike is a newspaper comic strip about dumb but likable Ozark Ike McBatt, a youth from a rural area in the mountains. The strip was created by Rufus A. ("Ray") Gotto while he was serving in the Navy during World War II in Washington, D.C. as an illustrator for Navy instruction manuals. The strip ran from November 12, 1945, to September 14, 1958.
Ozark Ike comic books almost always featured Ike with his enthusiastic girlfriend, Dinah Fatfield, whose family has been involved in a feud with the McBatt clan for several generations (inspired by the famous feud between the Hatfields and the McCoys). I think it's time for a $250 million dollar Ozark Ike movie, with Conan O'Brian in the starring role.
Well, this one is not a pinback button, but it does have pins! It's an unusual celluloid item advertising Kemp and Burpee M'F'G. Co (I've never seen the word "manufacturing" abbreviated quite like that before), and the "Success Spreader", which "fertilizes the Earth". Ordinary sewing pins are are stuck into the rim of this thingamabob, as you can see. You just never know when a pin will come in handy.
Ceresota Flour produced pinback buttons and advertising mirrors in such quantities that they are fairly common. Their ads typically featured this hungry little boy holding a loaf of bread that is almost as big as he is. Pro tip: when sawing away at a loaf of bread, always draw the sharp knife towards your throat; this kid knows!
You have to be of a "certain age" to remember Soupy Sales. I don't really remember ever watching any TV show with Soupy, and yet I was certainly aware of him as a personality. Milton Supman, known professionally as Soupy Sales, was an American comedian, actor, radio-television personality, and jazz aficionado. He was best known for his local and network children's television series, Lunch with Soupy Sales (later titled The Soupy Sales Show) (1953–1966), a series of comedy sketches frequently ending with Sales receiving a pie in the face, which became his trademark. Soupy's two sons, Hunt and Tony, went on to become respected musicians, playing with artists such as Todd Rungren, Iggy Pop, and David Bowie. If you know Iggy's song, "Lust for Life", that's Hunt Sales on drums!
There are many more PINS IN THE BAG!
Major-
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun grouping of pins. Even though the Marshalltown 'guy' doesn't exactly strike the same pose, he still reminds me of Elektro from the 1939 World's Fair.
I wonder if that poor child on the Ceresota Flour pin has become out of register from eating far too much bread-? (It could happen).
I have a fairly vivid memory of my Cub Scout troop gathering at the home of John Welch for a troop meeting, probably around 1961, and all of us being spellbound watching the antics of Soupy Sales with his puppet friends Black Tooth, White Fang and Pookie, during the broadcast of an episode of The Soupy Sales Show. It was the perfect age for such things.
Thanks, Major.
I have a pin, probably a modern copy, with the words "HOPALONG CASSIDY in the Daily News" and a photo of William Boyd. Boyd played Hopalong onscreen from the late 30s into the 50s, when Saturday matinees headed for the last roundup. He managed to buy up all his old movies and right and relaunched Hopalong Cassidy on the new medium of television. A comic strip was just one manifestation of his TV superstardom.
ReplyDelete"He wrote a song about it!" Of course, we all know that song: "Heyyyy Macarena!"
ReplyDeleteThe Marshalltown pin reminds me of a sundial for some reason.
I wonder if Ozark Ike was always drawn with freaky expressions? He looks like he's just seen a T-Rex! (Or mebbe a nekkid lady.)
The comic book: Still freaky looking. I guess that answers my question. So it's pretty obvious that Ike and Dinah are cashing in on the celebrity of Li'l Abner and Daisy Mae. I wonder if there were any lawsuits?
Everything about he pincushion thingy is just plain weird. What is a "Success Spreader"? What does a lion have to do with it? And like you said, why is 'manufacturing' abbreviated that way? And why isn't this pincushion shaped like a tomato, like all decent pincushions are? I can see how the quirkiness of this item would appeal to you.
I like the rich, saturated colors and graphic design of the Ceresota Flour pin. I'm gonna call this one my favorite today. And yes, three seconds after the artist created this illustration, the hungry little boy accidentally sliced his head off with the knife. Taught him a lesson though; he'll never do that again!
I do remember watching the Soupy Sales Show as a kid. And I do remember the pies in the face, but not much else. A polar bear comes to mind for some reason. Maybe that was part of a sketch he did?
Nanook, I think it was White Fang that was a polar bear? It rings a bell.
It's a good thing you posted this when you did, Major. I was starting to get "pin withdrawal syndrome". Thanks for the fix!
The flag that flew over Fort McHenry and inspired Francis Scott Key, is in the Smithsonian. I took a picture of it! Just think, if he hadn't written that iconic song, we'd have nothing to sing today at birthday parties! ;-)
ReplyDeleteOzark Ike is wearing some nice cerulean blue lipstick on that button. Looks like he swapped it out with charcoal gray for the comic book.
I am too young to have watched Soupy Sales original children's show, but I am familiar with the "pie in the face" and White Fang's arm/paw coming through the door and grabbing at him. I must have seen him do his shtick on someone else's show, maybe a variety show? Okay, I just checked. He was on Tony Orlando and Dawn's show and did his usual shtick! I also remember him as a regular panelist on "What's My Line" in it's later years.
Thanks for sharing more or your pins with us, Major!
Hooray for the Star Spangled Banner. We visited Ft. McHenry, a fascinating place, definitely button-worthy.
ReplyDeleteThe Marshalltown golem is first cousin to the little Oscar guy, they are both gold plated.
Ozark Ike has the emotional range of Zendaya. What an odd character. Thanks for the introduction, Major. I had no idea.
That pin arsenal reminds me of one my Mom had. I don’t recall the logo or decorations, but it was a round flat disc just like this, with pins stuck in the edge of the “coin”. Mom always had a pin on hand, for some reason unknown. The slogans on this one demonstrate Manifest Destiny, which is fine by me.
The Ceresota Kid is wearing his Dad’s hat. An unusual picture. Having enough to eat has always been popular.
Soupy Sales hovered at the outer edge of my awareness, mostly as a game show guest. I had no idea who he was, or had been. This post is more information about him than I ever thought possible, or necessary. Thanks!
Fun stuff, Major! A regular cavalcade of oddities.
JG
Nanook, I thought of Elektro too (for the Marshalltown guy), but it also looks as if an Academy Award decided to take up farming! I wonder if, in the old days, people actually made loaves of break that were 2.5 feet long? “I only want to make one loaf, so I’ll make a big one”. My memories of Soupy Sales are so vagues that I don’t really even know how or where I saw him, but he was around.
ReplyDeleteDBenson, yes, William Boyd was one smart cookie. He took a big risk, but revitalized his career. And like George Lucas, Boyd made a fortune on merchandising. I only have a few Hopalong items, but they always make me smile.
JB, wow, I love the Macarena! The song and the dance. It’s still hip and cool, right? Everything reminds you of a sundial, it’s weird! ;-) Ozark Ike really looks like a mental patient, I don’t know why they chose such a weird drawing of him. I doubt Al Capp gave a fig about Ozark Ike, since Li’l Abner was so widely praised and admired. Ha, pincushions shaped like tomatoes, the classic. There is one in my mom’s sewing drawer. I once cut off my own head (shaving), boy was that ever embarrassing. “White Fang”, Jack London should have sued Soupy Sales!!
TokyoMagic!, I prefer the version of the birthday song that you hear at Mexican restaurants, where they add “cha cha cha” to it. So much better. I’ve seen the flag at the Smithsonian, it’s BIG! Ha, now that you’ve pointed it out, I will always see Ozark Ike with lipstick. Tony Orlando and Dawn, my family loved that show when it aired. But MAN, I saw some clips of it a few years back, and it was painful to watch!!
JG, “Marshalltown golem”, HA! Calling Christopher Nolan (I have him on speed dial). Ozark Ike had a respectable run, but his strip ended before I was born, no wonder I’d never heard of him before I got this pin. Those Kemp and Burpee pin things are not rare, and often still have all their pins in them, so I guess they were not well-loved. Interesting idea, though. I love bread, but come on, you have to have some nice salted butter. I could happily go to a restaurant and just eat the fresh bread with butter, and enjoy a beer or glass of wine. I’m hoping to get Tom Cruise to star in my Soupy Sales biopic, but he won’t do it unless I have a scene with Soupy running away from an explosion.
For some reason I read "Marshalltown" as "Marshmallowtown"....which I really got excited about....then let down since there wasn't a marshmallow in sight. I think I told the story about the exploding marshmallow factory in Henderson Nevada back in the 80's....grab a stick, graham crackers and Hershey bars...ultimately, that just sounds very very sticky, sticky for miles! Soupy Sales: here's some data: Soupy Sales guest-starred on The Love Boat in Season 2, Episode 8, titled "A Time for Everything/The Song Is Ended/Accidental Cruise/Anoushka," which originally aired on November 4, 1978. Sales played the character Victor Marshall. In his storyline, Victor and his secretary, Sandy (played by Jo Anne Worley), get drunk at an office party, mistakenly board the ship, and end up taking an accidental cruise together where they fall in love for real. (of course JoAnne Worley is the secretary...). and co-incidentally, last name Marshall...and I wonder if the character Victor Marshall was from Marshalltown...or Marshmallowtown? And is it like Storybook Land? Marshmallow Town? or. "Towne". Connecting the dots...that's my thing...I'm also a member of the Soupy Sales fan club...and ....what exactly was he famous for? Love Boat and Match Game? Gotta love Marshalltown: A Century of Success: shirtless and abs....seems like they grow them sturdy out there...thanks Major!
ReplyDeleteBu, that Marshalltown guy isn’t eating any marshmallows! He avoids carbs and works out two hours a day. I don’t remember a story about an exploding marshmallow factory, but I forget everything. And I’ve still never eaten a s’more, sadly. I didn’t spend a much time around campfires. There’s no reason why I couldn’t make my own now, but it feels like that ship has sailed. Wow, Soupy was on “The Love Boat”?? Just reading that made me hope that he fell in love with Charo, but no such luck. I’ve always liked JoAnne Worley, she just seems like a kick. Maybe she’s a horrible diva! But I doubt it. I watched lots of Match Game, maybe I saw Soupy on that, but I mostly remember thinking that Gene Rayburn was such an odd-looking fellow. Affable, and good at his job, but… not a Hollywood pretty-boy.
ReplyDeleteGrowing up on Long Island we watched Soupy Sales all the time. The "face" that he's making on that pin is Soupy singing his big song "Do The Mouse"!
ReplyDelete