Allee Willis’ Kitsch O’ The Day – Bowler’s Coffee Cup

Submitted by Allee Willis June 28th, 2011
Certifikitsch Winner

I’m not a bowler. But I AM a bowling-kitsch-artifact collector crazy person. Bowling was THE happy-go-lucky, stylish, social sport of the 1950’s. So it follows that I would like anything that involves bowling balls and the accoutrements that accompany it, even occasionally lifting the ball myself and tossing it down the lane for the inevitable gutter ball.

Well, at least I had balls. I love the sound, feel and aesthetics of a bowling alley. I love the balls, the shoes, the snack bar, the tables you sit at to keep score. And over the years, other than the snack bar, I’ve collected a lot of it. I have bowling coin purses…

…a bowling pin lamp…

…a bowling pin bottle opener…

… bowling balls in my garden…

… bowling tables in my home…

… a wide assortment of bowling coffee mugs…

… bowling shoes…

…and a bowling ball brush.

I even use bowling trophies as door handles in my house…

…and have them carved into the floor.

That’s my kitchen floor, above which the Bowler’s Coffee Cup featured today sits in a cupboard stocked with other vintage cups.

I drink out of the bowling cup a lot because it cheers me up when I stagger into the kitchen bleary-eyed every morning.

I love all the graphics on this cup.

Less thought out than the graphics, however, was the color used to create them. I love when people who design things don’t think about the product in full use, in this case coffee being poured into the cup and lessening the effect substantially.

And that’s a real gutter ball.

4 Responses to “Allee Willis’ Kitsch O’ The Day – Bowler’s Coffee Cup”

  1. Lisa Rios

    Fabulous collection. Nothing says America in the 50’s more then bowling.

  2. k2dtw

    I LOVE the bowling balls in your garden!!.. I remember I got so excited reading in the Cara Greenberg 1950’s Mid -Century Modern Furniture Book.. (the 1st edition…smile).. about the bowling balls in your yard!!! I thought it was the the best idea ever!!!.. Are the turquoise pieces sea glass scattered in your sand?? Just beautiful!!!

    • Allee Willis

      Yes, sea glass. All collected along 17 Mile Drive in Monterey next to the water.

      I was happy to be in Cara Greenberg′s Mid Century Modern book, which is where the term for the period was invented. However, you wouldn’t believe how many mistakes are in that book. Everyone with just a couple of exceptions were really good friends. We were literally the first people on earth to have 50’s collections. But we all had major gripes about some of the liberties taken with the photos. For example, mY downstairs was put in someone else’s home and my living room photo was reversed so it all is unbalanced.