374. GENE AUTRY COLLECTIBLE BOOKS

One of my favorite Western stars was Gene Autry (b.1907/d.1998), the cowboy performer who first sang the popular Xmas carol,"Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer". In fact, turned many Christmas songs into hits, including "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town", his own composition "Here Comes Santa Claus" and "Frosty the Snowman". I have "Rudolph" among my old records somewhere.

 Autry appeared in over 93 films from the 30s thru the 50s,  and in his own  "The Gene Autry Show" TV series. He personified the straight-shooting hero—honest, brave, and true, and became a role model for many American kids.

He also had a huge hit with a weekly show on CBS Radio, Gene Autry's Melody Ranch. His horse, Champion, also had a CBS-TV and Mutual radio series, T"he Adventures of Champion." As always, his shows generated merchandise that kids went crazy for--from coloring books, Little Golden Books, paper dolls, toy guns, character watches, children's and play guitars. 

Gene Autry was never famous in the Philippines, but somehow, Autry items found their way here, like these assorted books which made good reading for young cowboys (and a nice collection for the Western collector).

373. SLEEPY-EYED CAT SQUEEZE TOY by EDWARD MOBLEY

I've always been a feline fan, so when I saw this vintage squeeze toy, I knew I had to bring it home at once! It was made by Edward Mobley Co. Arrow Rubber Plastic Corp. in 1960, and is known as Sleepy Eyed Squeaky Cat.

This rubber cat is over 9 inches long, and has a close-open eye mechanism similar to those outfitted on dolls. The blue-eyed cat also has a head that can be twisted and posed.

The Arrow Rubber and Plastic Corp. was a custom molding company that made standard body assemblies for toys and dolls, e.g., arms, legs, and bodies in the 1950s and 1960s. They also manufactured toys licensed by Edward Mobley. J.L. Prescott Co. purchased the Arrow Rubber and Plastic Corp. in 1968, changing its name to Arrow Molded Products, a division of J.L. Prescott Company.

They also manufactured toys licensed by Edward Mobley. J.L. Prescott Co. purchased the Arrow Rubber and Plastic Corp. in 1968, changing its name to Arrow Molded Products, a division of J.L. Prescott Company.

372. Politics is a Game: 1965 MACAPAGAL-ROXAS CHECKER BOARD

An artifact from the national elections of 1965 is this lawanit checkerboard game, given away by the Liberal Party--headed by the re-electionist President Diosdado p. Macapagal and his VP bet, Gerry Roxas, father of presidential wannabe, Mar Roxas. This well-worn political memorabilia also features the party's senatorial slate--Ramon Bagatsing, Cesar Climaco, Ramon Diaz, Sergio Osmena Jr., Alejandro Roces, Jovito Salonga, and Lucas Paredes, The party was no match to the up and coming former Senate president Ferdinand Marcos and team mate Fernando Lopez, who trounced them convincingly at the polls. Only 2 of the LP best got senatorial seats too. Marcos would stay in power for over 2 decades and for his opponents--it was back to the gameboard!

371. 1950s,COKE 6-BOTTLE ALUMINUM CARRIER

For quick pick-ups, pick up a couple of Cokes in a nifty 6-bottle aluminum carrier from the 50s. Found in an local online ad, the Coke bottle carrier has a stamped  "Drink Coca Cola" graphics on the body with a wooden handle.

This is a rarely-seen U.S. made version as the most common carriers available are all-aluminum with a wire handle. Vintage aqua Coke bottles are shown snuggly fitted into this portable midcentury Coca Cola relic-- a great memento of those times when all it took was a Coke to refresh you best!

370. PATRIOTIC AND POLITICAL PINBACKS

Buttons up!
A handful of pinbacks and buttons mostly with nationalistic and poltical themes--TOP: A Philippine seal enamel button (1960s), a Red Cross button (1920s), a LABAN sign pin (1980s), Teves for Senator pinback (Lorenzo Teves, elected as senator in 1967, appointed governor of Negros Oriental in 1978), and "Iboto Natin si Mercado" (unidentified political candidate, 1960s.).

369. FREE BOOKS!! McDonald's, Maggi and Esso Collecti-Books

Wonderful premiums for children all! From McDonald's comes a Ronald McDonald Coloring Book with a few coloring pages, fro the 1980s. Maggi Rich Mami Noodles also came out with its own activity book of Nursery Rhymes with games and dot-to-dot pages (I saved this while working for Nestle; in fact, I illustrated a few pages). And lastly, a 1960s Esso Coloring Book featuring the "Tiger in your tank" mascot, with a promo to match! These should make kids busy and keep them quiet...until the next boredom attack!

368. Advertique: '60s PEPSI 'The Big One" STORE SIGN

A well-preserved piece of Filipiniana merchandising for the other softdrink icon--Pepsi Cola. In the mid 60s, Pepsi came out with a bigger size bottle and came up with the solgan--The Big One--to describe it. A barong-clad Filipino holding a Pepsi bottle became the trade character of the campaign, always shown alongside the red-white-and-blue Pepsi logo. For just 12 centavos, one could enjoy the big taste of Pepsi--"Big size. Big value. Big refreshment"--so went the advertising.

The image and the slogan were widely used in print ads and merchandising materials, like this sari-sari store sign flange in good-to-fair condition. The frame of the the painted tin sign is still intact, and it dates from 1966. Of course, modern exterior store signs are now made of framed tarpaulin or canvass. Though lighter, they are less durable than this Pepsi tin sign that has managed to retain its vibrant colors after half-a-century.  And still to this day, everyone continues to enjoy "The Big One'--Pepsi Cola!