Bag O' Pinback Buttons
SO! Here's another GDB tangent. Or maybe it's not even a tangent, maybe it's a trip to another planet. Recently, I shared photos of some Disneyland lenticular ("flasher") pinback buttons. Well, those are stored in a big ziploc bag; yes, just like you'd use to store leftovers in. Don't worry, I have put them in small individual zip bags to prevent wear (I know you were worried). Most of these pinback buttons are not especially valuable, but I like them because they are mostly oversized (bigger than 2" in diameter), and the graphics are appealing. Let's see what you think!
First up is this fun pin for the AMC Gremlin, a subcompact economy car introduced in 1970. It was based on the AMC Hornet, and was deemed "cute or controversial - depending on one's viewpoint". I think they're kind of cute! Some felt that the name "Gremlin" was detrimental, since gremlins were "held to be responsible for malfunction of equipment". In 2007, Time Magazine listed the Gremlin as one of the 50 Worst Cars of All Time. Hooray!
Here's an interesting one; in 1980, rock legend David Bowie played The Elephant Man onstage, starting at the Denver Centre of Performing Arts, and eventually moving to Broadway. Contemporary accounts rave about Bowie's performance as the "physically misshapen John Merrick". He continued the role through to January 3, 1981.
On October 1, 1972, at a convention held at Walt Disney World, the tubby little cubby all stuffed with fluff was nominated to run for President. Years ago, our friend Chuck graciously wrote a two part post about his experiences seeing Pooh on the campaign trail - see those HERE and HERE! Thanks Chuck. Like any good candidacy, pinback buttons were produced to get the word out. I thought Kevin Corcoran ("Moochie") was Disneyland's favorite son?
Many people have fond memories of Ferrell's Ice Cream Parlors; where the employees wore straw boaters and made a big noisy commotion if a kid happened to be celebrating his/her birthday there. In the early '70s, my family went to the Farrell's in Buena Park a few times, and of course a trip to an ice cream parlor was a special thing to a child. The legendary "Pig Trough" sundae was a double banana split with six scoops of ice cream (plus toppings). I never had one of those, I'm happy to report. The "Zoo" sundae was delivered with great fanfare by a number employees carrying it wildly around the restaurant on a stretcher, accompanied by the sound of ambulance sirens. Good times! Sadly Farrell's closed its last location in 2019.
This magnificent badge is a souvenir of the 1964 New York World's Fair. "I Was There"! Jeez, I wish. Nestled in the high-quality blue plastic badge is a lenticular scene showing the Unisphere surrounded by orbiting satellites. The badge is thin, making it lightweight enough to take on your Mercury spacecraft if you so desired.
And finally (for today), here's a nice employee badge from a Red Owl grocery store. Red Owl was founded in 1922, but they expanded over the years, peaking at 441 stores, mostly in the northern midwest (and into North and South Dakota). In 1988, a wholesaler purchased Red Owl stores, and phased out the name. Still, I love the stern (and slightly goofy?) red owl logo.
There you go! The first in a series of oddball posts featuring these large pinback buttons. I hope you liked them. I'm not sure I'm going to post six of them every time, this was like homework. But you'll just have to wait and see!
20 comments:
Major-
Oh, dear... it's Farrell's. "Farrell's features fabulous food 'n' fantastic fountain fantasies for frolicking, fun-filled festive families." (Alliteration never sounded so delicious).
Although I "dined" there a few times, I was a bit too old for 'frolicking', and always felt the fun was a bit forced - but that's just me. I DID however, finish a Trough all by myself-! and was rewarded with a blue ribbon memorializing the occasion. The ribbon has been lost to the ages at this point, unfortunately.
I like the Red Owl, proclaiming with his 'scornful' expression that "Courtesy is Our Business". That would never pass muster these times, unfortunately.
Thanks, Major.
Gee, I didn't know that American Movie Classics had a gremlin mascot. ;-)
The Elephant Man pin doesn't do much for me. Maybe because it's in black & white. I do like the unusual oval shape, though. And the misshapen stick figure does convey the subject matter.
Pooh Bear doesn't strike me as the political type. It's a nice enough pin, but it seems odd to try to make him into something he isn't. Then again, he's a fictional character... and Disney owns him (still?). So I guess they can do what they want with him.
Hmm, fingers forming the letter "F" aren't the first thing that comes to mind when I think of Farrell's... or fun. Maybe I'm just grumpy tonight.
The World's Fair badge is my favorite today. Bright colors, interesting shape, lenticular, and space-age plastic!
Red Owl. Strange name for a grocery chain. They should have went with something more sophisticated, like Piggly Wiggly.
Nanook, "Courtesy is Our Business". One would think that selling groceries was their business.
Thanks for the pins, Major. I promise not to be so grumpy next time.
I like all of these, but my favorite is the New York World's Unfairstanding button. It's interesting that they made the plastic part sort of in the shape of a police badge.
I have fond memories of going to Farrell's with family, and then later with friends from high school. I remember getting large flat sheets of taffy in their candy shop, located near the front door. I also remember them having jaw breakers in a large array of sizes. Another Farrell's memory I have is visiting one in July, and the entire restaurant was decorated for Christmas, and they were playing Christmas music. For me, it was like walking into a "Twilight Zone" episode. Up to that point, I had never heard of such a thing as "Christmas In July."
No surprise, but the Pooh for President button gets my vote. And you are most welcome, Major!
TM!, Christmas in July? Ludicrous! Whoever heard of such a thing? Why, that’s as ridiculous as decorating the Haunted Mansion for Christmas before Halloween!
Major,
Maybe you should have saved these for a Tuesday post. Then you would have a Tangent Tuesday to go along with Snoozer Sunday.
My brother had a Gremlin years back, some kind of purple color. Looked like half a grape going down the road. He liked it, weird as it was, pretty good vehicle for him.
Pooh For Prez! (Maybe not a bad idea now) My then girlfriend/soon to be wife developed her love of Winnie a few years later. She would have been onboard this campaign for sure.
And when we were in the mood for an ice cream fix, it was a toss-up between Farrell's out on Aurora Ave and about 135th or so, or the Big Scoop on Market Street in the Ballard neighborhood in Seattle.
Good times. Tangents are fun. Thanks Major.
W
Tangentially speaking, I like these. It’s a good idea, there’s always something to love from your collections, Major, whether from a box or a bag.
I sure remember gremlin cars, and my Dad and Uncle Hal laughing at them. I saw one here in town last week, so some are still running, which is more than can be said for my Mustang of the same era.
WTP for President isn’t a bad idea either, I’d vote for him in a heartbeat.
I like the Red Owl, can’t help thinking there’s some occult connection there. We’re they bought by Procter & Gamble, or perhaps the Bohemian Vlub?
Well, I didn’t plan to post that comment till it was spell-checked and complete, but whatever…
Bohemian Club, I was trying to say.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bohemian_Club
My favorite has to be Farrells though, we visited their Fresno location off and on, always fun. Never had a trough though.
Thanks Major, boxes and bags forever!
JG
Nanook, I can’t even imagine trying to eat one of those Troughs. SIX scoops of ice cream! I feel like at some point I would start crying, ha ha. But hey, you did it, so good on you. My best friend Ronnie Smith had an older sister who finished a Trough and had the ribbon on her wall, next to her photo of Bobby Sherman.
JB, American Movie Classics SHOULD have a gremlin as their mascot! Imagine the merchandise they could sell. I like the Elephant Man pin for many reasons: Bowie, the oval shape, and that “stick figure” logo among them. You’re right, Pooh is not vicious enough to be in office. I feel like the “F” on the Farrell’s button was purposely “naughty”. I love the Red Owl logo, almost as much as the Owl Drugs logo!
TokyoMagic!, I’m guessing that the blue plastic badge portion of that World’s Fair flasher is somewhat generic, it was probably used for many other events and products. But I like it! We used to go to a Farrell’s in the Huntington Beach area (maybe it was in Fountain Valley?), as a kid I thought it was a little weird, but hey, ice cream!
Chuck, Pooh could have been one of the greats, up there with Lincoln, Washington, and Polk.
Warren Nielsen, nice to hear from you, it’s been a while! “Tangent Tuesdays”, not a bad idea. Maybe I will start doing that, but it will have to wait until next year, I’m already working on posts for March 2023, believe it or not. It’s how I can post every day. I can’t explain why I like the Gremlin, it’s certainly not the most beautiful car in the world (to put it mildly), maybe I just like the vintage look of it compared to the many cars that have a similar appearance (to each other) today. I think ultimately we went to Baskin-Robbins the most, probably out of convenience, but also because I loved their Rocky Road.
JG, glad you liked these. I wonder how many Gremlins are still drivable? They might be rare these days. It would be fun to see an example that has been given the luxury treatment, with an engine upgrade, better paint, better everything. Hmmm, Red Owl and an occult connection? I have to admit that his stare is hypnotic. “I’ll do whatever you say, Mr. Owl”.
JG, I like “Bohemian Vlub”, personally. Is there a Farrell’s equivalent anymore? I went to a weird ice cream place in L.A. that had all sorts of odd herbal and floral flavors, and while we were there, school ended and the place filled up with dozens of talkative teens.
I love the Gremlin! Of course I've always been drawn to the "funkily cool." As a kid I had a bright green Hot Wheels Gremlin Grinder, with a huge engine sticking out of the hood, of course. As it turns out, the Gremlin X actually was pretty quick. I wouldn't mind having a real one now. BTW, I've already replaced my Hot Wheels version from my childhood.
Elephant Man? Meh. The stick figure reminds me of The Saint, though, so that's kind of cool.
Pooh for President? Yes, please! I wonder if you would get in trouble for wearing it into a polling place? I'd try it, but I don't have bail money. Also, it would just depress everyone that they couldn't really vote for him.
We had a Farrells in the mall close to where I lived as a kid. I really liked their version of the Hot Tin Roof Sundae. It was wacky fun there, but I wasn't crazy about the noise level, even as a kid. Now, I'm pretty sure I couldn't handle it. I'd be reduced to sitting in my booth screaming at kids to get off my lawn.
The 64 World's Fair button is pretty cool, except that I wasn't there. I was at the Hemisfair in 68, though, but the button doesn't say that. So, never mind.
I never heard of Red Owl, but we sure as heck had Piggly Wiggly! That was the first grocery store I remember my mom shopping at when I was a kid. Fun Fact: Piggly and Porky are cousins on their mom's sides. If you can't find it on the internet, it doesn't mean that I just made it up on the spot...necessarily.
Fun stuff today, Major!
@ JB-
"Courtesy is Our Business". One would think that selling groceries was their business. ALL grocery stores sell groceries, so the only way to stand out from the crowd is to offer something else - in this instance, 'courtesy'. (Perhaps the chain was trying to shed an image of rudeness-?)
Major-
I was probably 21 years old when I polished-off that Trough; so I imagine those six scoops of ice cream kinda slid right down. I forgot to mention, in addition to 'completing the feat', I had to stand up and announce [make that 'shout'] to the other 'diners' - of which I think there were only a half a dozen - that "I was a dirty rotten pig-!" I don't think that sort of 'self-deprecation' would fly these days, unfortunately...
Major, don’t forget Fillmore.
Nanook, I never had the Pig's Trough, but I knew a couple people who had earned the ribbon. I remember it had, "I Made A Pig Of Myself At Farrell's" printed on it. I just checked ebay, and while there doesn't appear to be one of the ribbons listed, there is this small button. I wonder if at some point, the company switched to giving these out instead of the ribbons:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/255722223634?hash=item3b8a3b7812:g:6TAAAOSwJzxjHnGz&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAAoAwfr%2B8iqlL6bwJt8ge1%2Bpk4W5Sbme3t%2BjXutukQJpJVNXU8%2F46HMBKBl24B1w9EOO1MEYFc013eDs4CrAdnkzBPIoGfSqJrp2b%2BBqIp4YeWYhv9xU6NMqPvZXHt9cxZkZsjKxZ9XJyMZ%2FxgyOijSFGfM1jFU7iSwFtjnqdwl04fmPL8sT%2F6mtetKf6v94jSWltDPk50YFt3XkwFaQHQTmI%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR5ahhLf4YA
I always liked that "old time-y" couple they used on their signage, menus, etc.
Interesting items. I do like the World's Fair button too.
Nanook, did you get to pick which flavor the the ice cream was? In any case Bravo.
Pooh should run for president now. He's get my vote.
Thanks Major and Chuck. Looked like a very fun event.
Stu29573, until I found that pinback, I never knew that there was a cool Gremlin logo like that. It makes me love the cars a lot more. Very nice that you replaced your childhood Hot Wheel car! Nobody loves the Elephant Man, it’s ironic. Or something. Would Piglet be Pooh’s VP? Or would he go for Owl? Not Red Owl, the one from the Milne books. I can only imagine how noisy a Farrell’s could get on a busy day, it makes me want to leave just thinking about it! We never had Piggly Wiggly where I lived, but we did have A&P. And I think there was a chain of markets called “Rainbow” or something like that.
Nanook, I didn’t know about the part where you had to announce that you were “a dirty rotten pig”. Not sure I would be into that part, but that’s what you get when you go to Farrell’s I guess. And you’re right, that would be not OK these days.
Chuck, how could I??
TokyoMagic!, my friend’s sister (the one who ate the trough) was a larger girl, and even when I was 7-ish I thought it was weird that she would proudly display her “I Made a Pig of Myself at Farrell’s” ribbon on her wall. Oh, I like that tin litho badge! I may have to buy it (or one like it)!!
DrGoat, gosh, I HOPE they’d let you pick the ice cream flavor(s). It would be hard enough to eat six scoops of ice cream that I loved, much less flavors that I was only “meh” about.
Daveland blog had a thread about a modern reopening of Farrell's.
Here is the thread, complete with comments from many Junior Gorillas.
https://davelandblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/traveling-thursdays-farrells-ice-cream.html
JG
All,
If one is inclined to believe/trust Wikipedia, the last Farrell's went bust in 2019. Like a lot of eating chains, there is often a shelf life, and they fall by the wayside. A passing fad, some go on longer, some shorter.
W
@ DrGoat-
You give my memory far too much credit for remembering that factoid. But the info out there seems to agree the ice cream is 'fixed' at (2-scoops each of) chocolate, strawberry and vanilla - so would please most people - certainly me.
JB - Disney still owns the representation of Pooh and associated characters from their movies, but the books and characters have gone public domain. So that means you can make a WTP movie as long as he doesn't have a red shirt and sound like Sterling Holloway.
I'm suspicious that Disney is helping that WTP horror movie to serve as a rationale to convince Congress to extend the copyright on Mickey Mouse.
I forgot to mention that my favorite thing to order at Farrell's was the "Black and White Sundae." It was one scoop of vanilla and one scoop of chocolate, with hot fudge and whipped cream.
When I was very young, my dad did like to order the "Zoo" for our birthdays, but I was never fond of all the flavors they used to make it....especially once they all melted together. I remember the "Zoo" had little plastic animals stuck in the Ice Cream. They were those tiny hard plastic figures that were all one color. I think I still have a couple of them somewhere. I seem to remember there also used to be something called a "Mt. Witney" and/or a "Pike's Peak." That had a little American flag stuck in the top of it.
I also forgot to mention that I know a brother and sister who worked at Farrell's when the restaurant chain was making a comeback, about ten years ago. They said business was booming and all of the customers were happy to see it's return. The customers were leaving happy, too. But then there was a change in top management, and they got all these crazy ideas for making the restaurant more "modern," and getting rid of the old fashion-y look of things. They also started getting really nasty with the employees, and also cheap, as far as pay. I remember them telling me that employee morale took a huge drop when the new management came in, and that the customers didn't like the changes taking place. They both predicted that the restaurant's successful return would be short lived, and that they would eventually close. I guess they were right. Say, I wonder if the new management team that came in, were people from Disney?
Dean Finder, darn....I was hoping there would eventually be movies made, with a homicidal Mickey Mouse running around with an axe or a chain saw.
They're cops! At the fair! They're Fair Cops! (Not to be confused with cops who are fair.)
Pooh was just a puppet of the militant wing of the Stuffed Animal Party (SAP). Vice-President Rabbit would have held the real reins of power. It's Congressman Piglet and his pork-barrel policies you have to watch out for.
The Red Owl button makes me think of the "Pumaman" episode of MST3K, where they're making up lyrics to the Pumaman theme tune and one of them is, "Dick's Red Owl, selection and service."
When I was a kid, the local Woolworth's lunch counter used to do a promotion where you picked a card out of a basket, and the price on the card was what you'd pay for a banana split. Every time I did it, I got the one-cent card.
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