The Allee Willis Museum of Kitsch

Happy Birthday Sweet Potato Lady

This is what I awoke to on March 19th (my birthday). Yes, that’s neon orange “secondary” hair under the arms and down be...

March 23, 2012 by Douglas Wood

8 comments

3D Potpourri

Below are some items I got at the recent estate sale of Daniel Symmes who was an early innovator and historian of the 3D process. Given wh...

March 20, 2012 by Douglas Wood

Perfect for Cocktails after A Night at the Opera

I’m not a Marx Bros. fanatic, but I flipped when I found these vintage 1954 Groucho cocktail napkins. All 36 were in the original box ...

March 19, 2012 by Douglas Wood

Cool 50’s Ashtray

I love the minimal but bold statement this vintage coral and black ashtray makes. And the crackle glaze. Almost makes me want to take up ...

March 11, 2012 by Douglas Wood

9 comments

TV Lamp, Florida-style

This is a TV lamp from the fifties, which I recently found at a garage sale. The starfish is a real one; so are the shells. The base is ...

March 6, 2012 by Douglas Wood

Board game from hell… 70’s style.

This has to be the least fun board game in existence– it’s designed for kids to play with their therapists, with the goal of g...

February 23, 2012 by Douglas Wood

1 comment

A craze that never caught on. Huh.

The title page of this titillating 3D comic book declares, “HERE IT IS! The Ageless Story of Love In A New Dimension.” The co...

February 22, 2012 by Douglas Wood

1 comment

BOD man!

These three body sprays, made in Mexico, (screw those wimpy French colognes– if you want real “machismo,” head to Tijuana)...

February 20, 2012 by Douglas Wood

15 comments

Valentine from a budding Menendez bro

...

February 15, 2012 by Douglas Wood

Bert Parks – Someone’s Knockin’ At Da Doah!

From 1976. I have no other comment because, well, I’m speechless....

February 6, 2012 by Douglas Wood

No, thanks. I’ll just grab some chips and guacamole.

Who says kitsch and Super Bowl Sunday aren’t compatible? Check out this recipe for Buffalo Chicken Wings Cupcakes… Buffalo Chi...

February 4, 2012 by Douglas Wood

Bottoms Up!

The following illustrations are from an old textbook I found at a recent estate sale. Warning: If scatological images upset you, STEP AW...

January 28, 2012 by Douglas Wood

Honey, did you remember to put the baby out?

I came across this startling ad in a 1915 magazine called, “Housewife.” This is real. Perhaps this is what inspired Michael ...

January 27, 2012 by Douglas Wood

Nutty Christmas Ornament

Below is the home-made Christmas ornament I received from my wife this year. (We ate a lot of pistachio nuts in 2011 and she memorialized ...

January 14, 2012 by Douglas Wood

6 comments

Happy New Years, 1977 style!

Happy New Years, Allee and my fellow akitschionados! Here’s a clip is from a Carpenters holiday special from 1977 and features not ...

January 2, 2012 by Douglas Wood

Thankfully, mountains are tone-deaf.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah and Happy New Years to Allee and all my akitschianado friends at AWMoK! Here’s a lively clip to help...

December 26, 2011 by Douglas Wood

This is why God created “fast forward” buttons

...

December 22, 2011 by Douglas Wood

Finally, a Mitt I can get behind

Found this amazing vintage oven mitt recently at a flea market, featuring a housewife smiling insanely while apparently having a psychotic e...

December 21, 2011 by Douglas Wood

Color Me Wasted

This is a Crayola crayons ice bucket. Yeah, I don’t get it either. Not sure what the connection is between coloring and drinking, ...

December 13, 2011 by Douglas Wood

The saddest book ever.

Anti-depressants not included. Scroll down for 2 Amazon customer reviews: “It used to be that I got home from work and the only thin...

December 1, 2011 by Douglas Wood

6 comments

Thanksgiving, Blair Witch Project-style

Happy Thanksgiving to Allee and all my akitschianado friends!...

November 24, 2011 by Douglas Wood

6 comments

What an asshole!

Yes, that would be the image of Jesus Christ you see on this dog’s hind quarters. Not that I’m making a statement about orga...

November 20, 2011 by Douglas Wood

1 comment

You can always bank on Emerson

Found this cool little (about 4″ in length) item recently at a garage sale. It’s a Bakelite bank that was given away as a prom...

November 16, 2011 by Douglas Wood

“Slick Chick” and “A Good Number” punchboards

I bought these two pin-up punchboards years ago and just now discovered them again. They’re from the 30’s and were often found...

November 14, 2011 by Douglas Wood