The Looks You Love

And an example of the pad in use...

Something that happened exactly once—all pages other than this being blank. Pretty reflective of the fate of countless once-intended projects that can only end up banished to thrift shop purgatory.

For as little as 5¢ a day

Undated leaflet. No zip code, so we at least know it's pre-1963.

Proof positive of efficacy—

While it's unknown how this stacks up against Vegemeatavitamin, the product does measure itself against your classic American foodstuffs.

No effort has been spared in providing a rating system, context-free numbers and all.

Don't neglect your security!

Act now!

What I find searching the Ritamine name are several FDA Notices of Judgment from the 1940s. In those cases, products and sales leaflets originating from American Dietaids in Yonkers were seized from health food stores in different cities. This one is from the Southern District of California in November 1944. The February 1945 disposition:

... the case having been removed to Eastern District of New York pursuant to agreement, judgment of condemnation was entered and it was ordered that the booklets be destroyed and that the remaining merchandise be released under bond for relabeling under the supervision of the Food and Drug Administration.

The FDA records reproduce the claims made by each manufacturer charged with violations, so those are an interesting look at hucksterism of the period. In the Ritamine case, more than a page worth of leaflet text is offered. Although text was typical of its kind, an additional contemporary pitch was used. After all, consumers needed all possible help for meeting the stress of wartime living—

Ritamine cases I saw from other years also were charged as labeling violations, and dispositions may have amounted mainly to wrist slaps. It may have been that the product was later produced under a change of company name, in a state other than New York. Or perhaps it was just a matter of these kinds of promises following patterns, so that other marketers recycled the product name at a later time.

Sacrifice: Totally Worth It!

These are the size of business cards. Larger here, though—just to give the full, fruity flavor—

Being on the side of the paleface racism and bloodthirstiness, there's nothing Jesus loves more than Big Chief imagery...

... or a heap big War Party.

CJ's mercy applies even to these immoral monsters.

To conclude today's sermon...

Assorted Stuff

Hey, I remember these...

Transparent strips under the protective paper covers

Once held a plastic rain bonnet—

Another anti-rain measure from back in the day—

Who knew raincoats could send wishes?

Found this a couple years ago, but my mother had an identical one—

When I grew up there were always these kind of giveaways around the house.

As familiar as this is, though, I hadn't noticed until now that the foil paper is a type also used for origami.

As with other origami papers, traditional motifs come from textile designs. Spider web pattern above; hemp leaf here—

The second is inside this find of J's—

Thrift Shop Day

Pictures from the holiday half-price sale, at the Parent-Teacher Organization's shop. While the shop is there to raise funds for student activities, it is itself a highly educational experience.

For instance, before today's visit I would not have known either this object (filter paper for chemical tests), or the 19th century scientist endorsing the brand.

Finding Berzelius' actual endorsement would no doubt take real research, but here are prices from a 1903 lab supply catalog, published in St. Louis.

Program notes from a Philadelphia Orchestra concert.

This was in a locked case, and the place was way too busy to bother having it opened. Going by art style, the program is probably from the 1940s to early '50s.

According to this, the game originated in WWII (but copyright was 1940, per this.)

For this to have caught on, it would seem to have needed public confidence that the Depression was ending. Perhaps a few years of New Deal had inspired enough confidence by then. The early '40s picture does seem complicated by what was on the near horizon: wartime status for the economy, and rationing for the public. Maybe the game's concept was attractive as a matter of aspiration.

Jump to postwar; roughly, early 1960s?

This would work as a soundtrack for the speedway action.

Complete with genuine simulated stereo.

Another country heard from...

Spotted by J, who, a few years ago, found this classic of the genre.

J's other find today—and the pièce de ... something or other—a newspaper-collaged candle holder.

 

At first glance—and in keeping with the motif—this wacked-out face had looked like some medieval equivalent of a hippie. A wild-eyed alchemist? Some ancient Dr. Caligari?

On further consideration... Shylock?

And...

Multi-tasking Lenin, who orates while sheltering a young girl. I assume the cringing figures on the right must be serfs (who haven't yet heard the good news?) Although Marx must be meant to listen thoughtfully, it really has to be said that he looks pained and disbelieving.