Ostrov's Shoes Buster Brown Ad – March 15, 1956

The well-remembered rendering of Buster Brown and his dog, Tige

Remember shopping for shoes as a kid?

I don't have fond memories of it. Shopping for shoes wasn't interesting to me (it still isn't). But we had to do it. The worst part was that if Mom did take my siblings and me shoe shopping, then she probably was buying them for all of us – meaning a marathon session in the stores. 

I've written before how Lorain used to have a lot of shoe stores – Downtown, in South Lorain (Pic-Way), out at O'Neil-Sheffield Center and later, at Midway Mall. Sometimes Mom had to drag us to several of them on the same night. 

Back then you had your own personal shoe salesman, who fitted you with his measuring tool and then proceeded to bring out as many styles and sizes as you requested. I remember how the man used to crush your toe with his thumb when he was trying to see how much room you had. I also recall how it was somewhat embarrassing to have to march around the store to see if the shoe slipped. 

Isn't it odd now that people buy shoes online without trying them on?

Anyway, one of the weird things I remember about children's shoes back then was that Buster Brown was a major brand, and he always appeared prominently on signs in the stores. I didn't quite understand who he was; it wasn't until much later that I learned that he was a comic strip character from early 1900s. He was somewhat otherworldly, with his hat not unlike that of Donald Duck. And his bulldog – with his shark-like teeth – was a little creepy.

Below is an ad featuring the sailor hat-wearing tyke and his namesake shoes for Ostrov's – a shoe store with outlets in Lorain and Elyria. The ad appeared in the Lorain Journal on March 15, 1956.

The ad mentions that kids could win big prizes in Buster Brown's "Paste-Up Pet Contest" and that a free comic book with all the details was available in the stores. What was that all about?

Fortunately, several copies of the Buster Brown comic book from March 1956  are on eBay right now. 

That's Western star and comedy sidekick Andy Devine on the cover along with the characters from the Andy's Gang TV show (including Froggy the Gremlin – who a few decades later would tease the Ghoul on his late night horror show on Cleveland television).

And here's the spread from the book showing the contest entry.

The idea was that kids would cut out the various pieces (designated as eyes, noses, ears, etc.) and glue them down on the entry blank to create their own 'pet' (or nightmarish freak of nature as the case may be).

Much like Snap, Crackle and Pop being redesigned to appeal to kids, Buster Brown was also rendered in a more modern style in some ad appearances.

An ad detail from a 1957 Christmas magazine ad

And here he is as depicted on two birthday cards. That's Captain Kangaroo himself in the top one.

And here's a vintage commercial. I had forgotten about the Buster Brown logo printed inside the shoe where your heel goes.

Today, Buster Brown shoes supposedly exist as a brand, but are nowhere to be found on the website of the company that owns them. Hope Buster and Tige are still around!

"Greatest Flood of the Century" Paralyzes Pittsburgh – March 18, 1936

With the coming of spring, flooding is often a threat to cities located next to rivers. And ninety years ago today, Pittsburgh and the surrounding area suffered through some of the worst flooding ever.

Above is the front page of the Lorain Journal from March 18, 1936 with the story, along with the continuation on page 13.

"The greatest flood of the century menaced the western Pennsylvania area today with damage already running into millions and 12 known dead, and a possible toll of 40," the lead article noted. "Rampaging waters inundated the flood city of Johnstown and almost covered Pittsburgh's famous "Golden Triangle" business district. Water stood at 18 feet in the "triangle" and damage here was placed at $10,000,000.

"Pittsburgh, Johnstown and dozens of other cities and towns were virtually isolated as most of the highways were covered.

"Between 8,000 and 10,000 persons are reported homeless in Johnstown, Pa., as the result of the flood."

You might remember that Lorain became a 'steel city' when the Johnson Steel Rail Company relocated to Lorain from Johnstown in 1894 a few years after the disastrous Johnstown Flood of 1889. 

An article on the front page above notes, "Grim memories of the Johnstown flood of 1889 in which 2,209 persons lost their lives were recalled by many Lorainites who survived that disaster as the Pennsylvania steel city was hit by another flood disaster today." In the article, Lorainite Charles Bremer shares his eyewitness memories of the 1889 flood.

The front page also reports on deadly flooding in New Hartford, Connecticut; Wheeling, W. Virginia; Cumberland, Maryland; Binghamton, New York; and Marietta, Ohio.

Speaking of Ohio, another report on the same page notes, "Turbulent Ohio river today was watched anxiously by residents of cities in eastern Ohio and northern West Virginia as the rising waters warned of flood crests.

"In Ohio hundreds fled to higher ground from lowlands in the East Liverpool and Steubenville areas. Marietta merchants began moving out stock and anticipated the entire business district would be inundated."

Things would get even worse, including in Ohio, judging by the front pages of the next few days.

St. Patrick's Day – 1956 and 1966

Happy St. Patrick's Day! 

Continuing my look back at the holiday as reflected in vintage editions of the Lorain Journal, here are some ads and clippings from 1956 and 1966.

The Hoop had a nice half-page ad in the March 16, 1956 newspaper promoting its special menu of Irish Stew and Corned Beef and Cabbage. 

The front page of the March 17, 1956 Journal included this look at the various observances and celebrations around town.

As was the custom back then, the Journal managed to slip in a typical 'pretty girl' photo, but with an Irish twist since it ran on the holiday.

Ten years later, the Journal ran this small ad for Lorain Novelty on March 5, 1966 so that its readers could pick up their St. Patrick's Day decorations and other doodads. It used to be fun walking around in the store on Broadway. It was filled with little party favors, wall decorations that you might see in a classroom, etc. I remember buying old time straw hats in there that a few friends and I wore when we performed as a hillbilly band and competed in an Admiral King "Gong Show."

On March 17, 1966 the paper included this great reminisce by its General Manager, James Lonergan, about his trip to Ireland. It's a nice story that might get you choked up if you ever contemplated visiting Ireland to see where you came from (like me).

Two businesses – Sandy's Hamburgers and Sweeney's Buick & Opel – had special promotions that day.

 

And of course the day would not be complete without at least one party.

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For a wee bit more St. Patrick's Day fun, be sure to visit some of my past blarney-filled posts from this day.

St. Patrick's Day – 1926, 1936 and 1946

Tomorrow is St. Patrick's Day – another holiday that, like Groundhog Day, adds a little fun to our lives.

I've already shaken up my normal St. Pat routine by cooking up my own corned beef this year for a change. It turned out perfect in my o'crock pot so I know I'm going to have a good sandwich. (I already had some of it with cabbage and it was great.)

I'm also making Slow Cooker Guinness Beef Irish Stew for a potluck luncheon at work. I just hope I don't get pulled over on the way home and fail a sobriety test – or it'll be a ride in the Paddy Wagon for me.

Anyway, it's always interesting seeing how the holiday was celebrated in the past. Some years there's hardly any acknowledgement, other years there's dances galore. 

So here are some Lorain Journal ads and clippings from St. Patrick's Day 1926, 1936 and 1946.

March 16, 1926 - Page 1

March 16, 1926 - Page 1

March 17, 1926

The holiday was observed a little more ten years later.

March 16, 1936

March 17, 1936

March 17, 1936 Editorial

March 17, 1936 Editorial Cartoon

March 17, 1936

March 17, 1936. Gee that's not exactly
an illustration of a leprechaun! 

By 1946, the infectious fun of St. Patrick's Day apparently had resulted in many more dances and parties. All the ads are from Saturday, March 16, 1946 since the holiday fell on Sunday that year.

Next: Sure and there's more St. Patrick's Day fun

The Journal Entertainment Page – March 13, 1976

Well, the weekend is finally here – time to think about eating out and finding something fun to do.

Fifty years ago on March 13, 1976 your entertainment choices would be found on the page below from the Journal of that date. I was junior at Admiral King High School then, but not 18 yet. So I wasn't hitting the bars for some refreshing 3.2% beer yet. But I saw a fair amount of movies.

Looking at this page reminds me just how long I've been doing this blog. I've written about most of the businesses listed in the ads! Restaurants that were the subject of blog posts include L-K Restaurant, Arby's, and the Homestead Inn Restaurant.

Remember my post about naming your favorite comedy? Todd's favorite – Blazing Saddles – was playing at the Avon Lake Theatre, which is where he saw it. It was also on the big screen at Tower Drive-In. I saw it in a regular theater, so perhaps I was sitting a few rows behind Todd.

I saw One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (playing at Midway Mall) in the theaters too. I remember being pretty depressed after seeing it. 

But I know I didn't see the latest Disney live-action flick at that time, No Deposit No Return (also playing at the Mall) despite a great cast, including David Niven, Darren McGavin, Don Knotts, Herschel Bernardi (the voice of Charlie the Tuna) and Agent 99 herself, Barbara Feldon (another childhood crush). Gee, I would have thought Dean Jones or Kurt Russell would have been in it!

Car Ads – March 1966

Buying a new or used car these days is a lot different than it was back in the 1960s. Today, most people probably shop online first, comparing deals and deciding on what make and model they prefer, before they head out to a dealer.

Back in the 1960s, however, the newspaper still played a major role in the selection process.  The automotive manufacturers such as Ford or GM placed national ads in the Journal as part of a coordinated marketing effort and to maintain the integrity of their brands. Thus the ads in the newpaper supported and reinforced the themes of the TV and radio commercials.

At the same time, however, local dealers did their own thing. Even though they were affiliated with a specific brand such as Pontiac or Buick, they often came up with their own advertising ideas. Looking back at these ads can be fun, as they're all over the place, creative-wise.

Anyway, here's an ample sample of some local dealer ads, all from early March 1966.

Dave Campbell's Lorain Chrysler Plymouth seemed to have the most corporate approach.

March 3, 1966

And these two Pontiac dealers – Ray Faro and Llewellyn Pontiac – both used little car illustrations. I like the map and depiction of the sign in the Llewellyn ad.

March 7, 1966

March 7, 1966

But here's where things get a little more freewheeling. 

Sweeney Buick & Opel was apparently aware that secret agents (such James Bond, Agent 007) were pretty popular in the movies and TV shows. So the dealer promoted its own Special Sales Agent 009 in its ads. The first one is kind of cute with its trench coat-wearing spy with an eye patch and adoring girls. The second ad is a little more bizarre; it looks like some old, smaller ad was just plunked down on the layout.

March 3, 1966

March 7, 1966

Gary Motors – always a strong believer in advertising over the years – used what looks like a piece of Harry Volk clip art as the basis of its ad. (We had a whole collection of those clip books at my old job, all left over from the 1950s and 60s, which I happily used in ads that I was designing in the 1980s!)

March 3, 1966

George May Ford – another strong advertiser – has a virtual cornucopia of clip art in its ad. The concept of night service appointments is a pretty good selling point, though.

Lastly, this ad for Dean Phillips Motors cleverly includes a 'Dean's List' of quality used cars. The little nebbish wearing the mortarboard is kind of funny. He looks like a rolled up diploma himself!

Hart's Jewelry Ad – March 8, 1956

Easter was a little less than a month away back in 1956 when the full page ad for Hart's Jewelry below appeared in the Lorain Journal on March 8, 1956 – 70 years ago this week.

While the theme of the ad was the 31st Birthday Sale, Hart's was apparently hoping that the 27 inch Easter Bunny (free with any purchase of $5.95 or more) would cause shoppers to hop in.

Twenty dollars seems to have been the set amount that Hart's was offering for old watches (which is roughly $239 in today's inflated greenbacks).

Looking at the ad, I wondered if people today still wore a lot of expensive jewelry – and if so, where do they wear it? I used to always wear a watch but when I started working at my present job, I discovered that jewelry of any kind is forbidden because of safety reasons. (It's a manufacturing plant.) So I've gotten out of the habit. 

Anyway – as longtime readers of this blog know – I always try to find out if some featured item in an ad managed to escape the garbage dump and survive, decades later. (Remember ol' Lanky Long?) 

In this case, it was the stiff-legged 27 inch rabbit that I was looking for. Sure enough, there was one on eBay!

In the eBay listing (where his price is $67.50), he's described as "1950's Vintage Plush Easter Bunny Rabbit With Celluloid Plastic Face 24." 

Twenty-four inches? I guess he shrunk a bit due to old age – like me.