Sunday, January 30, 2011

Big Boy Comic Books

i just posted a big boy comic on etsythat they used to give to kids when you were seated and i couldn't resist a little research into the history of big boy's. 

it started in the 1930s in california and one of the regulars  at Bob's Pantry challenged Bob to make something different and he came up with the double decker Big Boy. 

Bob Wian used to give chores to a six-year-old boy named Richard Woodruff. he was a chubby kid with baggy pants and a funny pompadour hairstyle.  one day, a Warner Brothers cartoonist, Benny Washman, sketched the chubby boy on a napkin and gave it to Wian.  and  "the Big Boy" was born.

the comic book began in 1956 and the first of these comic books were written by Marvel Comics legend Stan Lee and drawn by "Sub-Mariner" creator Bill Everett.

big boy was one of the places we hung out when i was a teenager and although my kids didn't go there that often, it was a tradition at gp north high for the senior class to "steal" the big boy from the restaurant at vernier and mack.  they finally chained Big Boy down.

fun memories

Saturday, January 8, 2011

cool 1933 international cookbook

I really didn't intend to post again today, but I just finished listing this great old cookbook from F.W. McNess and I had to share.   These old books not only have great and interesting recipes but they are such a window on the daily life of the average woman.

Furst-McNess Company was started in 1908 in Freeport, IL.  According to the company website (yes they are still in business, with Furst family members) the company served area farmers and small town people with a quality line of livestock remedies and household products.  Frank Furst, a young Freeport lawyer, joined his talents and ambition with those of Frederick McNess, a brilliant pharmacist in this new venture.

The thing I find most unique is that the recipes, from Argentina, China, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Norway, Poland, Russis, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland, printed in their native language and translated into English.

1933 and the recipes for Chop Suey, Egg Foo Young and Bird's Nest Soup are printed in Chinese and English. 

This from a midwest company who makes Poultry Tonic and Barb Wire Liniment, Aspirin Tablets and Mustard Ointment.

Sometimes I forget what a melting pot our nation is.  And my hat's off to a company still going strong after 100 years.




yesterdays pickins

not much going on the last couple of weeks in the estate sale world, but helen and i had fun yesterday.  the sale was is wayne and the people had owned the local dairy queen for many years.  it was fun to see some of the old advertising.  there were no great old commercial malt mixers.  no i didn't buy one even though i love malts. 

but what was there was a wonderful collection of old tin easter candy molds :D   didn't get as many as i would have liked, because there were many people grabbing them, but  i'm happy.  got a large rabbit pulling an egg shaped wagon, a wonderful basket, a lamb, a really cute duck and several traditional chocolate rabbit molds.  i'll get pictures up as soon as i get them cleaned up.  not in perfect condition but very nice.

i spent some time today starting to gather easter things to take pictures for listing.  i have more things than i thought and less than i'd like to have.  what else is new. 

well off  to get something constructive done.  have a great one.