Halloween 1963

From April 1965: Whipped Cream and Other Delights

I've always said that 1965 was the best year for music.

Certainly it brought to listeners one of the most iconic records of the decade, if not ever.  Not just for the music, mind you (but oh, that music was fabulous!)...but that sexy, salacious, audacious album cover.

You know the one, because chances are, your parents had this record in their collection, too.

Let's have a cocktail party.  

Put the kids to bed early, put this record on the hi-fi, and put the nibbles on the coffee table.  I hope I made enough rumaki for everyone...

I'll have a vodka gimlet, please, darling.  Will you zip up my new dress?

Now, sweetheart, remember...you promised not to get too tight and argue politics with Stan Facemeyer like you did the other night at the Howards'.  Linda Facemeyer is one of my very best friends, and we hate it when you boys argue.

*DING DONG* Get the door, will you, sweetie?  I can't go out there without my lipstick!

From 1983: Margaret's Sweet 16 Birthday Party

"Taken with a Kodak Instamatic with flashcube."

I'm not sure which one is Margaret, but I love this picture: wood paneling; a dude with a mustache and tinted glasses; a guy who looks like either a used car dealer or the lead singer for Sparks in the back; the wonderfully random Rose Acre Farms crate ("the good egg people"); the LPs and some sort of makeshift DJ booth; the elegant choice of decorations for this fête galante, including a "sweet sixteen" banner.

I'm sure the dining choices for this gala included several buckets of Kentucky Fried Chicken, several bags of Taco flavor Doritos, one of those sugary grocery store bakery cakes the size of Texas with pink rosettes in each corner and "Happy Birthday, Margaret!" written in loopy pink frosting script.   And five cases of Schlitz.

Who was this motley crew of boys, I wonder?  Well, I will venture a guess: the boy in the plaid shirt is Margaret's slightly older brother, and those knuckleheads are his friends.  They've known Margaret since she was a little girl, and they love her like a sister.  Honestly, they do.  It's just that...little Margaret is growing up to be hot.

And you just know that these awful boys took over poor Margaret's party, most likely forcing the DJ to play nothing but Rush, Van Halen, and KISS records all night while they drank Schlitz and talked about Atari and  Phoebe Cates' tits.  

"Hey, man!  Play Christine Sixteen again!  KISS Army rules! Happy birthday, Margaret!"

The Felt-Up Files: Moments In Love

Oh yes, on the couch with Josh M., it was October 1987, and we're in Sarah T.'s basement rec room.  I remember I was wearing the Benetton sweater that I got for my 17th birthday a few days earlier.  

"Benetton, nice." Josh said, partly into my lips, partly into my cheek.  I guess he saw the tag, or something, when I moved to his lap.

"Birthday," I whispered.  I kicked off my shoes.

"Oh, right," he murmured.   "Happy birthday."

"Thanks," I said.   The word had no sound.

***

Here's "Moments In Love," by Art of Noise, the song of choice for Making Out in those days.

This is not the official cut of the song, but it's my favorite arrangement, with the piano interlude at the beginning.

Have a wonderful Saturday night, everyone
...may you all get felt up tonight.

 

p.s.  The Eighties were a FABULOUS time to be young.

Donuts + Ukelele Music = Great Party

Hooray for donuts!

Hooray for parties!

Hooray for Young America!

(This message is brought to you by the Bakers of America.  Yes, readers: always look for that red, white, and blue seal.) 

Edited to add:
I totally want to have a donuts and ukelele party now.
It sounds like a lot of fun.
Yes, really.

Gelatin and Green Olives...Together At Last, United In Deliciousness!

Wonderful memories of my Grandma Mary, who most certainly would have made this Jell-O salad and served it proudly with dollops of mayonnaise...all the while with a Pall Mall burning between her fingertips manicured with Revlon's Fire and Ice and a highball awaiting her when she finished the chore.

From 1971: When American Housewives Are Tormented By The Exotic Birds In Their Lives Because Of Common Laundry Problems

And who is this actress? She looks so very familiar to me.



And a question: who taught the parrot to say "ring around the collar" as a taunt to this beleaguered housewife? I suspect the 1971 Husband here in this clip. He looks like the type to badger his wife about those pesky stains and complain about her lousy cooking. Or perhaps the bird was a fan of soap operas, and learned the statement from other Wisk commercials.

The Beaver: Proud American

I have the sudden urge to Like Ike.

From 1972: Aletha, Viola, Bill, and Shirley Have A Party

1972

I Want To Be That Blonde Perched On The Couch, Blowing Kisses

This video clip incarnates everything "A Touch of Tuesday Weld."

Remembering times like these; that's what this blog is all about.

I wonder what songs they were dancing to!

Be sure to watch to the very end, where That Blonde sexily smooches toward the camera and lights up the entire room with her smile.

New Year's 1965, Manhattan Beach

Film by Richard Jones

From 1964: A Bunch of Ads from The Lucy Show

I especially like the spot for Lux soap.

And dear Lord, can you even imagine what that "Awake" beverage must have tasted like? 

What This (And Every) Blog Needs: More Campbell's Soup

1959

If there's anything I like more than morbidly obese animated children extolling the virtues of My Canned Childhood (we ate a lot of Campbell's in my house growing up), it's using wink-wink nudge-nudge stereotypes about Scottish people to sell soup. "It's thrifty, too...aye, you can add seven or eight cans of water to that soup to make it stretch farther!"

Have you had your soup today?

From 1965: What In The Holy Hell?

I'm en route to getting ready for Date Night, but I was so appalled by this clip, I had an urge to blog about it immediately!

Karen J., you evil and tortuous soul, how can you claim to be "one of my biggest fans" and then release this piece of fresh Hades upon me, knowing full well that I would have to do a post about it here? Devil woman, you!

Words...fail me. I didn't think even The Sixties were capable of children's toys that could only be played successfully by feigning an epileptic fit. But here it is: Swing Wing.



(Thank you, Karen. XOXOXOXO)

From 1947: The Next Time You Think "Meatloaf," Be Sure To Think "Prem"

July 1947

"Prem" is the Sanskrit word for "love," but something tells me that that is not the meaning behind the name of this product.

Be sure to double-click the graphic to get the full story on how the wonderfully delicious world of Prem can enrich your dinner table. It seems that Prem consists of some gelatinous mix of pork and beef by-products, suitable for a wide variety of meal options.

Should you want to make your own Prem mini-loaves for supper tonight, there's a convenient recipe right there for you housewife types. Be sure to note the detail about serving cauliflower topped with slivered almonds!

Hey, they have french-fried onions, too, so things can't be that bad!

From 1976: Oh, How I LOVE These

I'm old enough to remember The Bicentennial. That summer, I was five years old.

I remember going downtown in Lafayette, IN, for the big parade. My sister and I were wearing matching red, white, and blue outfits that Mom made for us (in those days, Mom made all of our clothes...she is a superb seamstress).

I don't have any videos of that day or that parade or that summer of 1976, but these two videos come very close to what my memories look like. Enjoy.

From 1982: Show Me That Smile

This commercial aired on Tuesday, April 27, 1982.

Notice anything about the two young actors playing The Kids?



That's Kirk Cameron and Tracey Gold, roughly three years before they were cast as siblings on Growing Pains!

The Things You Find When You Are Cleaning Out Your Files!

I tagged McCalls and Ladies Home Journal. While I am unsure which magazine was the source, I am positive that it was one of these two!

Papá Noel adora tetas grandes!

"Christmas with the dog lunatic...just for adults"

¡Ai yi yi! Put the kids to bed and put some cocktails in the shaker, because the dog lunatic awaits with some sophisticated holiday fun! ¡Las Pascua de Navidad atractivas para todos!

From my new favorite blog ever, LP Cover Lover.

In This Vintage PSA, Mr. Killjoy Ruins A Perfectly Good Cocktail Party At Sam And Darin Stevens' House

And to think, Mr. Killjoy didn't even mention the handfuls of perfectly legal barbituates the partygoers all downed before they started drinking.

God, I love The Sixties.

Happy November: A Housewife Who Finds Her Own Personal Zen In Her Ability To Make Coffee For Her Ever-Lovin' Hubby, Harvey

This 1960s housewife is dismayed to learn that The Girls At The Office make better coffee for her Harvey than she does (on their "hot plates," no less)!



"If I could just make a decent cup of coffee, I could relax!"