tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24558766.post5581492680946398086..comments2024-03-08T03:21:10.018-06:00Comments on SECRET FUN BLOG: ANATOMY OF A 1980s NOVELTY SHOP WINDOW DISPLAYKirk D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05700097965524197825noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24558766.post-34260181835715938232021-12-28T21:53:41.258-06:002021-12-28T21:53:41.258-06:00Beaumart, Sorry, I just rescued your comment from ...Beaumart, Sorry, I just rescued your comment from "awaiting moderation" hell nearly two years later!<br />Thanks for solving that mystery! I would love to see that collection if you ever post it anywhere! Might make a good book!Kirk D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/05700097965524197825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24558766.post-24979649708556993232020-04-13T13:12:55.896-05:002020-04-13T13:12:55.896-05:00I am a huge collector of Poynter Products memorabi...I am a huge collector of Poynter Products memorabilia and gag gifts and this is how I ran acrossed your blog about this novelty store window. It is awesome to see and get to read the comments. I have almost 200 different items invented by Don Poynter in my collection,and many of his items are in your window. This leads me to answering one of your mystery questions. The pink box in the lower left side of the photo ,with the hand dropping the coin is battery operated bank that is identical to Poynters Adams Family “ The Thing “ bank, where the creepy hand comes out of yhe shaking black box and grabs the coin,snapping quickly back into the depths of the box. Well, this one has a twist, it grabs the coin,and throws it back at you, hence the name, “The Instant Refund “ mechanical bank. I have 5 of these for sale, still new,mint in the original box if anyone is interested. I can be reached at beaumart89@gmail.com and if anyone out there knows where i can obtain an item that is in the photo, I would greatly appreciate the info on where to purchase one. My collection lacks one of the items shown in the center of photo,and has had info on it placed in the blog. It is the gas up battery pocket flask that looks like a gas pump. Hey, I enjoyed adding to the blog, Michael B.Beaumartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24558766.post-67887041044626070212017-05-31T07:56:13.025-05:002017-05-31T07:56:13.025-05:00Awesome Flashing Skulls mug I love it. I love spoo...Awesome Flashing Skulls mug I love it. I love spooky stuff like that even though it can be kitch.<br />I was looking at <a href="http://80sskateboards.com/powell-peralta-ripper/" rel="nofollow">some of the old powell peralta boards </a>recently and it got me searching for spooky stuff like this.<br />Glad to see an old blog still going!Old Schooler38noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24558766.post-22351099422536305422017-03-01T10:01:15.940-06:002017-03-01T10:01:15.940-06:00I have one of those Fishlove urinals and usually f...I have one of those Fishlove urinals and usually fill it with M and M candies which really "grabs" guests. <br /><br />My wife and I have a huge collection of Fishlove items and recently had Fishlove relatives tour our exhibit. The daughter of Irving Fishlove, the former owner, said he at one time took the urinal, filled it with cream soda, and hung it in the men's restroom at the Cubs Wrigley Field!!<br /><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18411088418987074293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24558766.post-10963869610079293012016-05-10T18:39:01.565-05:002016-05-10T18:39:01.565-05:00Hey Kirk, check your email. I figured out the &quo...Hey Kirk, check your email. I figured out the "camera looking" thingy.VertigoJonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18271591704116800089noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24558766.post-66957125071839271242016-03-01T15:00:25.245-06:002016-03-01T15:00:25.245-06:00I'd like to see it Frank!
you can email it to ...I'd like to see it Frank!<br />you can email it to kirkd@centurytel.netKirk D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/05700097965524197825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24558766.post-77187466673853292362016-03-01T14:46:29.012-06:002016-03-01T14:46:29.012-06:00Hi Kirk!
I may have an answer for what the "...Hi Kirk!<br /><br />I may have an answer for what the "tasseled fabric thing hanging next to the flags in the upper right corner" is! I found one in an old box of my Dad's stuff! How can I send you a photo of it?<br /><br />=Frank T.=Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24558766.post-73550963621480345642016-02-29T16:47:36.817-06:002016-02-29T16:47:36.817-06:00Kirk: this is insanely comprehensive and entertain...Kirk: this is insanely comprehensive and entertaining. Thank you. My father, whose mom owned an antique store for more than 40 years in small-town east Texas, has a Weepy the Wee Wee. It sits next to a piggy bank (in the shape of a pig, naturally) that farts when you feed it (coin slot in the pig's butt, obviously) and his prized possession: the duck phone. He has never not laughed when Weepy pees, when the pig farts, or when the duck phone quacks. <br /><br />I emailed you about something else entirely about a week ago. Not sure if you got it. 2 Warps to Neptunehttp://2warpstoneptune.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24558766.post-4395858798841291662016-01-14T00:51:41.265-06:002016-01-14T00:51:41.265-06:00Mike- I do indeed! Wow, that's just about the ...Mike- I do indeed! Wow, that's just about the best specimen of a Novelty shop that I can imagine. (I would love to see those pictures about ten times larger!) That fire is heartbreaking. Seems like all East coast fun stuff is in constant danger. Fun site too, there's much more for me to check out. Thanks for the link!Kirk D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/05700097965524197825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24558766.post-89331807189973087602016-01-13T14:40:24.273-06:002016-01-13T14:40:24.273-06:00You will love this.
http://www.funchase.com/Image...You will love this.<br /><br />http://www.funchase.com/Images/The%20Fun%20Shop/FunShop.htmMike V.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07065344528667945429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24558766.post-47932604747751944032016-01-07T17:29:05.230-06:002016-01-07T17:29:05.230-06:00Becky- That is the ultimate compliment! Thank you ...Becky- That is the ultimate compliment! Thank you for lurking and for commenting and for your encouraging words, they mean a lot!Kirk D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/05700097965524197825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24558766.post-23601578139894807862016-01-06T22:12:55.895-06:002016-01-06T22:12:55.895-06:00I have been a lurker on your blog since I truly do... I have been a lurker on your blog since I truly don't know when. I had to finally write this time because this is the best blog post I've ever read. Funny, well-written, and nostalgic. Thank you so much! – Becky Beckyhttp://www.beckyhaycox.com/hamblognoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24558766.post-5443071361990333362016-01-06T16:56:32.056-06:002016-01-06T16:56:32.056-06:00Brian- Yes, that frank has tempted me many times o...Brian- Yes, that frank has tempted me many times over the years too, but the same factors have kept me away. I agree that the Shogun Warriors are a safer bet!<br /><br />Chris- That is brilliant!! I had no idea the fake urinal would yield such amazing tales. Wow, it seems like that would cost quite a bit for shipping. But what a perfect thing to order from J-S.<br /><br />Eric- I'm glad you enjoyed it! This caused me to reminisce about our local novelty shop too, also in a mall. Two of them actually, Coach house gifts and Cedric's. Amazing that a smallish mall could support two novelty shops for years. Coach house had whatever was hot front and center. Amazing masks at Halloween, all sorts of novelty lights from lava lamps to the soda cans with the giant flickering bulbs. There were blacklight posters, smurfs, stickers, pewter gaming figures, box gags, and everything else. sigh. After that I'd go to the book store, the toy store, and the music store. All of those are gone too. I would love to see them again.<br /><br />Tom- Boy, I'd love to do a book on novelties in general. I've thought about pursuing it, and maybe I should think about it some more!<br />-good theory on the camera thing!<br />-where I live basements are scarce. An estate sale in a house with a bar basement sounds wonderful.<br />Kirk D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/05700097965524197825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24558766.post-37427446976221676802016-01-06T11:45:39.987-06:002016-01-06T11:45:39.987-06:00Great post. Looks like it's shaping up to be ...Great post. Looks like it's shaping up to be content for another book mayhaps?<br /><br />I'm wondering if that "camera" is a toy bank of some sort and the "lens" is the dial.<br /><br />I love bar basements. I see a lot of them when I go to estate sales. Seems like everyone had one.Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03119827816698009731noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24558766.post-46486305542928839962016-01-04T21:35:50.892-06:002016-01-04T21:35:50.892-06:00I remember the novelty shop in my local mall in th...I remember the novelty shop in my local mall in the mid eighties, and have long wished someone would have had the foresight to go in and shoot rolls and rolls of pictures for posterity. This post was a close second to that alternate reality, and I thank you good sir for it!Bubbashelbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05304403353153855498noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24558766.post-40367711465773889362016-01-04T17:01:21.243-06:002016-01-04T17:01:21.243-06:00Ha! I remember ordering the plastic urinal from J...Ha! I remember ordering the plastic urinal from Johnson-Smith when I was in junior-high school. I ended up wearing it for Halloween that year (taped to my chest), and cut the bottom portion off into a 'flap' and held my candy bag below so the candy-givers could toss them into the bottom of the urinal.<br /><br />Good times!Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01976357961501536858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24558766.post-56950835377148762872016-01-04T15:47:11.083-06:002016-01-04T15:47:11.083-06:00I'd have to agree with what was said before, i...I'd have to agree with what was said before, it looks like a display cabinet that was inside somewhere -- there are hinges off to the left. The lettering in "Michel..." is pretty cheap, actually, you can see that it's not cut out but on a square sticky area that has discolored a bit. The reflection looks like a store front (from the inside.)<br /><br />Yes, over-analysis!<br /><br />The pants-dropping Frankenstein is one of those novelties I've always coveted but didn't want to spent the money on, especially as I can never be sure of their condition. I'll collect things like Shogun Warriors because it's obvious their quality as giant hunks of plastic, but mechanical toys always worried me.Brian Barneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15737535617796413548noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24558766.post-56390816822730153682016-01-04T12:35:23.919-06:002016-01-04T12:35:23.919-06:00(actually, there might not be an opening between t...(actually, there might not be an opening between the glass panels. But maybe those metal glass fasteners are a clue?)Kirk D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/05700097965524197825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24558766.post-33070217345181236742016-01-04T12:32:57.957-06:002016-01-04T12:32:57.957-06:00Chris- I love your story!! What are the odds of a ...Chris- I love your story!! What are the odds of a leak happening right there? I suspect a ghost did it.<br /><br />Todd- Thank you! Yes they were totally keeping with the times with those Venetian blinds.<br /><br />Hugh- Your theory is great! Now I see that a ceiling is visible in the reflection. And the Michel's sign and number (that I just added to the post a moment ago) could be something every booth had. <br />The one thing that makes me question it is the heavy duty glass and the fancy lettering on the glass. Speaking of which, there is a small opening at the seam between the glass panels. Not something you'd want if it were an exterior window. So if not a trade show, maybe a mall of sorts?Kirk D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/05700097965524197825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24558766.post-70138150676255957482016-01-04T10:35:40.886-06:002016-01-04T10:35:40.886-06:00Possibly - and from the 90º angle of the peg-board...Possibly - and from the 90º angle of the peg-boards - this is an internal display, the lack of obvious prices suggesting trade not retail, maybe a jobbers unit in the old New York - 200 5th Avenue - toy centre? Even a lobby or corridor display?<br /><br />HughHugh Walterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10689023221814673819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24558766.post-79842172335937165822016-01-04T07:26:49.409-06:002016-01-04T07:26:49.409-06:00Wow! Great post... The background on the Think Fa...Wow! Great post... The background on the Think Fat Wall Poster is gold...Todd Coopeenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24558766.post-67795274792132698892016-01-04T07:03:03.012-06:002016-01-04T07:03:03.012-06:00I once worked for a wholesale novelty company that...I once worked for a wholesale novelty company that sold the Mr. John plastic urinal. We brought it to a trade show and displayed it against a pegboard display (like what you see here except an ugly white.) During the night, the security people at the convention center would frequently mess with our samples and displays at night and we would also have to complain, but the worst thing was when we came in to our booth at the convention center and found a wet puddle below Mr. John that trailed down from it. My boss screamed at the convention centers manager and they promised to look into it and fire somebody. As it turned out there was a leaky steam pipe behind the pegboard that was leaking exactly where Mr. John was located. Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05038213045337275194noreply@blogger.com