Cards from Christmases Past - Part 4

Here's the last batch of vintage greeting cards for your enjoyment.

This die-cut number also features a sample of forced perspective. Pretty cool.

This IT'S A SMALL WORLD inspired design is just too cute for words - no matter what language you say it in!

This beautiful winter scene is one of my favorites. No red or green needed to convey the spirit of the season.

And finally - the oddest one in the collection. A pink and gold bell-shaped die-ct with an angel wearing a bird for a hat and carrying a poinsettia flower. Gotta love it. Gotta love the 1960s and all the wonderful holiday memories they evoke. Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas.

Cards from Christmases Past - Part 3

I continue my look at some smashing greet card designs from a recently acquired 1964 catalog.

Here's a wonderful Santa face in a die-cut wreath. Love the embossed berries.

Here's a very jolly and glittery Santa, ready to welcome you into the Christmas spirit.

Here's another take on jolly St. Nick - probably from the same artist as the top card. Surrounded by lovely snowflakes.

And finally - the whole Claus family gets in on the act! Adorable. I hope to have some more designs to share tomorrow.

Cards from Christmases Past - Part 1

Hey there readers. I know it's been a long time since I've posted anything new. My apologies - but life gets in the way of blogging sometimes. I just could not let the entire holiday season go by without checking in with you guys.

I was trying to come up with something fun to share with you all. As it turns out last year at this time I came across an amazing Christmas Card catalog from 1964 - and I finally got around to scanning some of my favorite card designs. Here is the first batch. The above SEASON'S GREETINGS image is perhaps my favorite. The hand-drawn typeface is gorgeous. The black background and the use of untraditional colors makes it even more special.

More beautiful type here - this one in a much more traditional MERRY CHRISTMAS design with classic golden flourishes.

This one is super-traditional, yet elegant way to say MERRY CHRISTMAS.

Here's a nice avocado and gold number. This SEASON'S GREETINGS reminds me of church posters from the 1970s.

And finally, here's a pretty blue and gold die-cut PEACE ON EARTH design. I just love how things didn't have to be all about red and green back then. Designers were willing to take a chance on other colors and it often worked out real well. I hope to have more cards to share with you tomorrow.  

More Random TV Guide Ads: The Halloween Treat?

When I first came across this vintage TV GUIDE ad, I thought "Bing Crosby and his Family in GOLDILOCKS...The Halloween Treat?" How weird, I never thought of the story of Goldilocks to be a seasonal story...and though it does have some minor elements of fright, it would take some stretch of the imagination to consider it horror. Only after I scanned the ad did I actually realize that it's Sun-Maid® Raisins that are actually "The Halloween Treat." Not the Crosby family, not the Three Bears and not our young fair yellow-haired maiden...but some saggy old, wrinkly ass grapes. Well, either way cannot deny the grooviness of the GOLDILOCKS logo. It's actually so cool, I'm thinking of making myself a GOLDILOCKS tee-shirt! Hey come to think of it that one Little Bear's face peeping between the "G" and the "L" - just above the "O" is pretty freakin' scary.

More Old TV GUIDE ads that make you say "Huh?"

Here's a repost from 2008: Okay, Channel 9 in Los Angeles had a design template for their advertising back in 1976. The style emulated the marquee of a Broadway theater in which they would call out a certain name or word which would be highlighted in a very funky typeface. Here is an example that worked: Sassy songstress Pearl Bailey hosted a syndicated variety special and the ad made sense.Then, the following day, KHJ-TV aired an episode of THE PHIL DONAHUE SHOW on a sobering topic. For some unexplained reason, the marketing department decided to use to the same exact template as for the Pearl Bailey special. And this is what it looked like...At first glance, you'd think they were airing RAPE!: THE MUSICAL. To make it even worse, the photo is one of Phil smirkily smiling(!) and copywriter added "Guests include a victim and a police commander" making the subject matter seem like it was somewhat entertaining. Like perhaps they'd duet on hit tunes like "Hello Dolly" and many more! What were they thinking? Ah, the politically incorrect graphic design of the 1970s.

A Side Trip to Disneyland

While I wrap up my New York visit, please take a gander at my blogger friend's Vintage Disneyland Tickets blog for some groovy Grad Night Programs from the early 1970s.