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Halloween Countdown: Desktop Goodies #2

Posted in art, Books, craft, halloween, macabre, monsters, photography, retro, toys, vintage with tags art, Books, craft, halloween, macabre, monsters, nature, photography, retro, toy, vintage on October 27, 2015 by shewalkssoftly

Who had these as a kid? (Thanks for reminding me of them, Colleen!)

Not sure if this is what The Weather Girls had in mind when they belted out “IT’S RAINING MEN! HALLELUJAH!”

Side note: if you haven’t seen the video for It’s Raining Men in a while (or ever), I highly recommend you go enjoy the neon chaos at the cardboard weather station.

There’s something I really love about this. Perhaps the simplicity.

Why didn’t I think of this? Next year…

That Pumpkin.

It looked so much cuter in her head when she thought she wanted to look like a doll.

I wish they still sold these!

Gorgeous Green Man.

The shading on Cruella is absolutely impeccable.

I feel this has meme potential. Why don’t more memes involve vintage monster illustrations?

Poor kitty…

4 Comments »

Halloween Countdown: Vincent the Vegetable Vampire

Posted in absurd, halloween, music, music video, retro, undead with tags absurd, halloween, music, music video, retro, TV, undead, video on October 26, 2015 by shewalkssoftly

I urge you to drop everything and watch the inimitable Morgan Freeman in the role of a vegetarian vampire (he starred in The Electric Company 45 years ago). Within 10 seconds, you’ll realize the combination deadpan delivery and exaggerated vaudevillian charm is nearly impossible to describe…but utterly fantastic.

I’ve actually never seen this show. Has anyone watched it?

6 Comments »

Haunted Mansion Board Game

Posted in retro, toys, undead, vintage with tags retro, toys, undead, vintage on September 13, 2015 by shewalkssoftly

Did anyone have the Haunted Mansion Board Game released by Lakeside Games in 1972?

Unfortunately, my source image doesn’t enlarge enough to really read the text…but look at that backdrop!

I’m (surprisingly) not very into board games, but this would be especially great for the Halloween season. I’d love to take my plastic Doom Buggy way through this board.

Haunted Mansion Board Game

6 Comments »

Martin Senn

Posted in retro, sculpture with tags retro, sculpture on September 11, 2015 by shewalkssoftly

These look like the (very talented) doodles my grandfather used to do on random pieces of paper around the house…but they are actually Martin Senn’s three dimensional WIRE SCULPTURES.

Now you see it, right? Wire!

I love his choice of various retro objects, like woven ghosts amid the sleek, streamlined gadgets of the present.

Martin Senn
Source

2 Comments »

Desktop Goodies 9/9

Posted in 80's, absurd, Books, candy coated nightmares, dolls, ephemera, humor, monsters, photography, retro, vintage with tags 80's, absurd, Books, candy coated nightmares, dolls, ephemera, humor, monsters, photography, retro, vintage on September 9, 2015 by shewalkssoftly

McDonald’s Icecapades…how was this not traumatizing for children (or was it)?

This looks like the Codex Gigas.

And then we have the Holy Bible, which apparently has a wider readership than I had suspected…

Seduction for Dummies (*groan*).

Make sure you order a DIET soda with this to save calories.

Puts things in perspective, no?

So true…

A dinosaur’s preferred travel method.

I wish I did!

I couldn’t find an artist for this image anywhere. Any ideas?

Ah, finally a realistic series.

Pants on fire!

4 Comments »

Desktop Goodies 4/27

Posted in absurd, advertising, art, Books, clothing, creatures, horror, humor, monsters, retro, sci-fi, street art, vintage with tags absurd, advertising, art, Books, clothing, creatures, horror, humor, monsters, retro, sci-fi, street art, vintage print on April 27, 2015 by shewalkssoftly

WHY don’t more buses look like this? It’s such a missed opportunity NOT to paint giant teeth on all of them.

I’m sure this valid excuse resulted in instant exoneration:

Yeah, but the Wild Germ has anger issues…

One must look at the tagline and consider whether it is really the kind of attention ones wants.

What has she seen?

…Perhaps Karloff’s carload of arsenic?

If I ever get to space, I’m traveling via giant, helmet-clad intergalactic puppy.

A very touching piece of street art.

AS fellow fans of The IT Crowd know, two is the best number of eyes.

Yep.

The sweet, pink title image is excellent with a cat that looks exceedingly unamused.

2 Comments »

Hollis Brown Thornton

Posted in 80's, art, retro with tags 80's, art, retro on April 22, 2015 by shewalkssoftly

Anyone born around the same time I was, or before, will likely get a twinge of nostalgia when looking at Hollis Brown Thornton’s work. His images made with permanent marker are my favorite:

Ah, VHS and Atari cartridges! I didn’t have Atari, but I certainly had those stacks of tapes.

Who remembers this logo preceding TV specials?

Hollis Brown Thornton

2 Comments »

Cereal Killer Cafe

Posted in destinations, food, retro with tags destinations, food, retro on December 10, 2014 by shewalkssoftly

As terrible as I know it is for me, I have a major cereal addition. It’s basically the only thing I never get sick of. A new London restaurant, Cereal Killer Cafe offers a dazzling array of classic and rare cereals.

Twin brothers Alan and Gary Keery have designed a truly amazing tribute to crunchy, boxed morsels worldwide, offering over 60 types of cereal and 30 types of regular and alternative milk (rejoice, ye lactose intolerant!). All milk is offered on the side, so diners can control the exact amount of crunch they desire.

Rare and imported cereals (anyone remember URKEL-O’s? I don’t) are the same price as common ones, which is rather awesome.

The walls are decorated with vintage memorabilia…

And art made of…you guessed it: cereal.

The cafe also features sweet treats and novelties in keeping with their theme.

Keery brothers…please consider a NYC location!

If anyone across the pond stops by, please tell me your impressions of the place!

Cereal Killer Cafe

7 Comments »

I Don’t Get Fashion: 1970’s His N’ Hers

Posted in absurd, advertising, clothing, fashion, humor, retro, vintage with tags absurd, advertising, clothing, fashion, humor, retro, vintage on November 7, 2014 by shewalkssoftly

I was only alive for mere months of the 70’s, so I did not have the benefit (detriment?) of seeing these fashions arise and fade organically with the changing times. It’s basically a given that anything worn in one time period will be reviled in another (then worn ironically by hipsters). But…was couples dressing really a thing?

This is, as far as I can tell, an actual catalog item, not a Roman Tarzan Baby Wrestling Champion costume.

I feel like the outfits on the left are what 70’s superheroes wore on their days off, if not too concerned with safeguarding a secret identity.

Did no one involved in this entire photoshoot notice that something is missing here? This is not how one leaves leaves the house for (presumably, by the background image) a boat ride.

“We’re soulmates. We finish each other’s sen…sible mint green mini dress sweaters.”

This is what happens when you overshoot the mark after practicing your Catalog Faces too hard.

See more here.

8 Comments »

Halloween Countdown: Link Treat Bag, Part 1

Posted in comics, craft, decoration, halloween, home, horror, monsters, retro, skulls and skeletons with tags comics, craft, decoration, halloween, home, horror, monsters, retro, skulls and skeletons on October 30, 2014 by shewalkssoftly

I always gather months worth of Halloween items to post, and am unable to fit them all in by the time the big day rolls around. So here are a bunch of assorted goodies!

INCREDIBLE “Crash Landing” Lawn Decorations