I
love looking at the old ads in vintage comics and monster magazines. So many treasures to be had for such small amounts of money...Why, you could order your own live squirrel monkey from
Monster World magazine in 1966! The ad claims the monkey will be "almost a member of the family soon after you get" it. (Hmmm. Wonder how many 1960s moms felt that way when their son's monkey arrived with the daily mail?) If a live critter was too much, other ads offered 10 foot rubber snakes for only $1.98, and promised that "people will admire your courage" when they see it wrapped around you. If crafts were more to your taste, a mere .98 would get you "Madame Tussaud's Chamber of Horrors Guillotine" model which, in a seemingly incompatible pair of testimonials, claimed both to "really work" and provide "harmless fun!"
Click on the pictures for more details. I don't recommend trying to order the squirrel monkey, though. I think we have laws about that sort of thing now...
I was flipping through one of my old copies of Famous Monsters of Filmland last night (the May 1978 issue) and found this Star Wars toy advertising insert at the back. How cool to see these much-loved toys of my childhood in what were surely some of their earliest ad appearances! Click on the pics for more details.
Here's one of my favorite issues of Famous Monsters Of Filmland, from April 1977, featuring Robby the Robot. Just a fab cover!
I have a small collection of vintage "monster magazines" from the 1960s and 1970s. They're loads of fun to read, especially the old ads. Here's one of my favorites: the July 1966 issue of Monster World, with a feature article about the Addams Family tv show. The back cover has a fabulous ad for the Addams Family model house that you could order for only $1.98!
