The Allee Willis Museum of Kitsch

“The Florida Room”

My grandparents, being proper New York Jews, started wintering in Florida in the early 1970s. By 1973, they decided to set down some roots a...

by MeshuggaMel

6 comments

Casey’s Dug Out Saloon

I went here for lunch on my last trip home. Check out the paintings/artwork on the walls! Gold diggers? And the preacher said to his wife...

March 20, 2010 by denny

cat figurines

My daugher painted these at Color me Mine. No they are not old but they way she painted the one on left with the spots totally gives it the ...

by leebamarks

Baby Beatniks from 1961

I found this article on line. Figured I would post it since there is a section for the Beatnik stuff here....

by denny

6 comments

Alligator planter gets me organized

More fun to use it as a note organizer than a planter. Inside his mouth is a Florida souvenir sticker from years ago. Love the eyes & te...

by MyFunCloset

“The Fonz” lives on…

The 70’s was an amazing time to flash back to the sterotype teens growing up in the 50’s . The kids were respectful, innocent an...

by MyFunCloset

Women Only Hand Wash Sign

Hialeah, Fl. Wood sign referring to washing women with a plastic banner “hand wash” blowing in the wind. Also a photo of the mak...

by DetroitKent

Lil Wampum (a nut from florida) Coconut Bank

This was one of those 50 cent purchases. I love the fact that it’s hard to get into and a real chore (for some of us) in having to ope...

March 19, 2010 by denny

Bar Hounds

This 1950 print by Constance Depler Coleman (who, by the way, is still alive and churning out art) is entitled, “Bar Hounds” and...

by Douglas Wood

10th Grade High School Picture 1981

I know it’s a small pic but the detail are visible. My Mother had a fit that she paid for these class pictures as I have a hickey on m...

by denny

4 comments

Classy Mirror Sign

These smart-aleck signs that one sees in small businesses, restaurants, bars, etc. really make you wonder: does anybody REALLY find them fun...

by Douglas Wood

True Value “Happy Holidays” LP w/ Perry Como, Nat Cole, Elvis & Anne Murray!

...

by denny

MaidenForm Jack-In-The-Box Bra Ad

This is my favorite MaidenForm Bra ad., all because of that fabulous hat/scarf combo and waist accessory! “boing……boing...

by denny

22 comments

Allee Willis’ Kitsch O’ The Day – Astroturf Purse

The National Garden of Kitsch is landscaped with Astroturf. This petite little handbag only has enough room in it for a couple packs of gras...

March 18, 2010 by Allee Willis

A plate celebrating the radio show “The Archers”

A map of the fictional village Ambridge....

by shirlie williams

4 comments

Original Howard Johnson Restaurant

This is here in Orleans, Cape Cod. There is actually a plaque in the foyer telling all who enter that it was once a Ho-Jo’s. It is now...

by denny

One of Florida’s Kitsch Contributions

In the 40’s and 50’s, Florida made its’ contribution to the world with wonderful flamingos, crocs, oranges, sandy beaches ...

by MyFunCloset

4 comments

Fruit or Fowl?

Look! Up in the sky! It’s a bird! It’s a piece of fruit! It’s a bank! It’s all three! This plastic 1/2 Orange, 1/2 B...

by Douglas Wood

Jayne Mansfield “Shakespeare, Tchaikovsky & Me” promotional lp

Who doesn’t love hair-do’s and Jayne Mansfield…....

by denny

7 comments

Humpty Dumpty USA Ceramic Planter

I love old ceramics depicting fairy tale characters. It’s about 4 inches high and 3 inches wide. Very cool little piece with fab detai...

by denny

This is one of my favourite pieces, a cactus vase.

...

March 17, 2010 by shirlie williams

A Bugs Bunny Adventure with Breakfast

These are mini comic books given free in cereal boxes sometime in the 50s or 60s. Last year, a neighbor was doing a cleaning blitz and threw...

by MyFunCloset

Owl Painting – 1968

No, this 1968 owl painting is not oil on canvas but rather melted crayons on construction paper....

by Douglas Wood

10 comments

thrift shop queen with child

A young girl at Angel View Thrift Store, is pregnant, alone, and then her landlord made her give away her cat. I promised to make her someth...

by monica johnson