Thirteen scans from the November 1964 issue of Family Circle.

Things remembered; things learned… And some mocking.

#1 This Lady Norelco ad reminds me to tell you that retro hair dryers sell; but shavers and beauty kits do not. Is it the resurgence of retro hairstyles, or the ick-factor of personal products which have been just a little too personal? Feel free to discuss.

#2 An ad for Oneida silverplate flatware you could ‘earn’ and buy with Betty Crocker coupons. Collectors may find this helps with pattern identification; the rest us are reminded that it really has been 43 years since we replaced our camping silverware.

#3 Hubby and I actually have owned an old Hoover Shampoo-Polisher. Ours was a lovely retro pink, and sexy — as far as old Hoovers can be — too. Though it traveled from Wisconsin to North Dakota, it ended up being donated to a thrift shop because no one would buy it. Not in an antique store, not at (the endless summer) rummage sales — it would not, could not, be sold.

#4 We’re having Beefaroni! It’s beef and macroni! Beefaroni’s full of meat. Beefaroni’s fun to eat. Beefaroni’s really neat. Hooray! Whee! For Chef Boy-ar-dee!

While uncredited, the illustration for this ad must be done by ‘the guy’ who did Alvin & The Chipmunks. Does anyone here know?

I know it can’t be just me; the tall kid in the band with glasses looks a lot like (the original) Simon Seville. Then again, so did lots of boys in band — especially the ones who ate Beefaroni.

#5 I don’t go ga-ga for planes, trains or automobiles (unless it’s the movie!). Just ask my husband (about me & transportation &/or the film) and you’ll see. But this retro “Jet-age flier” by Wen-Mac is too cool.

#6 This Playskool clock-radio is vaguely familiar… I don’t believe I ever owned one. It’s more likely I’ve seen it at thousands of rummage sales through the years.

#7 Playskool was big in ‘64 — and appeared as hand-me-downs in kids’ closets everywhere for at least a decade (and for two more decades at garage sales and thrift stores). Here’s a look at the ad for the Big, Big Workbench which I ‘remember’ even if there were no boys in our family.

#8 & 9 Here’s an ad for the Playskool “Door Knob Telephone play pay telephone”. Amazingly chunky-ugly, yes; but it certainly isn’t as ‘classic’ as the Pop-Pop Sweeper. (I know people, young and old, traumatized by this toy — ‘pop pop’ didn’t go well with hung-over moms and dads.)

#10 The Playskool play pay phone has this annoying toy phone beat. It’s not even a contest in looks, but this Talk-Back Phone by Sunset House likely made more noise than a chatty kid. As we say, that loud toy’s a gift just right for Grandma’s house.

#11 I literally said, “Oh. M. Gawd.” when I spotted this “Enchanted” Mirror and Comb Set because I’m absolutely sure I had one of these. A felt face with ‘real’ eyelashes and hair (made of yarn), I remember startling my young self when I had the mirror turned the wrong way. Oh yeah, and her face peeled up eventually… Frightening, that.

#12 Ah, smoking Fiji dolls. What else can I say?

#13 I know you think I liked the smoking dolls the best (what’s not to love?), but I did save the best for last.

“Slide Rule Tie Clip Really Works!” Hot-diggity! With all the geeks, engineers, mechanics, and Mr. Smarty-pants in my family I could use a case of these for the 2008 holidays.

Matching but non-moving cuff links? I’m soooooo there.

From Spencer Gifts? Huh. Maybe there’s a case hiding in a warehouse somewhere… Like behind those cases of crossword puzzle toilet paper or something.

Why they keep selling that when they could have continued the slide rule men’s jewelry is beyond me.

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Article Tags: advertising, retro, retro toys, Thursday Thirteen, vintage, vintage ads, vintage toys

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