Move over Kool-Aid! Now there’s something FUNNER! OK, that’s not a word, but if you just take a gander at Goofy Grape, Choo Choo Cherry, Freckleface Strawberry, Jolly Olly Orange, Lefty Lemon, Rootin’ Tootin Raspberry, and Loud Mouth Lime I think you’ll agree.
Back in 1964, Pillsbury released FUNNY FACE drink mixes. They were meant to be a delicious rival to the popular Kool Aid. Mom’s loved it because it was a “great alternative to soda and fruit juices” (hah!).
What made Funny Face so different from Kool Aid was that it was a “sugar free drink” and each flavor had a unique character. This made it totally ideal for advertising and excellent promotions.
They even released a record album!
Here’s my lil collection:
Way Out Watermelon was a later addition to the gang. His Elvis side burns crack me up!
I love this old commercial—although be forewarned, Jolly Olly Orange and Choo Choo Cherry still have their older super un-PC names: Injun Orange and Chinese Cherry. (EEP!)
Do you remember these?? I think they sold them well into the 70s. I don’t think I ever tried them, but I remember friends having the cups!
When I was a kid, there was nothing amazing than Dynamite Magazine! All the cool kids had a copy in their lockers squished between the pages of their Social Studies book, which was wrapped in a a brown paper bag. Although the magazine was published between 1974 to 1992 to me they had their best covers from 1978 to 1982. Pure awesomeness.
The covers of Dynamite magazine read like a totally random Who’s Who of the late seventies/early eighties. Like these:
And don’t forget about Shields and Yarnell. It’s SHIELDS and YARNELL!!!
But Dynamite Magazine wasn’t only about the covers. Inside those shiny front pages were so sweet goodies, like magic tricks from MAGIC WANDA!
And amazing comic puzzles that were WAY cooler than the Daily Jumble!
And don’t forget about Bummers–the write in column where kids could send in their “bummers”. If a kid’s “bummer” of a story was used, they would get $5–sweet! Oh, to have those bummers instead of dealing with traffic or mortgage rates. Sigh!
Every now and then I spy that signature rainbow cursive logo at an estate sale or Flea Market and I can’t help but smile.
Did you read Dynamite Magazine? Do you remember any specific cover? Were you lucky enough to actually SUBSCRIBE TO IT? Sigh…
Do you remember the post I did in December on Rankin & Bass and their amazing animagic that was behind sooo many great holiday specials like Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer and Nestor the Long Eared Donkey?
Well, one holiday wasn’t enough for these guys–they needed to create something “unique” for Halloween.
Oh, and they did…
With the genius help of Boris Karloff and Phyllis Diller, Mad Monster Party is a complete hoot! It is a send up of horror films and at the time “spooky” was very chic–think The Munsters and The Addams Family! A lot of famous monster movies were also being played on TV and gaining a new group of fans.
A while back at the thrift store I spied a yellow box. I thought it looked like a good lil storage container and when I went to pick it up, it weighed about 20 pounds. What the? I opened it up and saw that it was filled with vintage Betty Crocker recipe cards. OHMUGERD.
There are SO many crazy cards in here, I wasn’t sure which to share with you. I mean, so I go with “Salads for Every Occasion”? “Men’s Favorites”?? The intriging “Come for Coffee” ??? But I had to go with “Recipes Children Can Make” and “Children’s Parties” because they were just OH-SO festive! I really don’t think I need to explain, now, do I?? Take a gander at THIS:
And now let’s BRING ON THE PARTIES!
Oh who doesn’t love a balloon???
Oh woe to the poor kiddo who gets a “PATRIOTIC BIRTHDAY” with little George Washington cherry trees…..I love these wacky cards so much! Do you have a favorite??
Pigtails….Pixie Cut….Princess Leia buns….lavender bangs?? Wow. Even the little girl in red is impressed. Knit one. Pearl two. Shock three. I’m into it.
