Category Archives: Curious Clutter

WFIL 56

Posted on April 22, 2021 by Joe

Before Philadelphia’s American Broadcast Company affiliate was WPVI it was WFIL, and it had a sister radio station on the AM dial that played a heavy rotation of top forty hits and a whole lot of commercials.

Posted in Blast from the Past, Curious Clutter, Stax o' Wax | 2 Comments

Read this students, QUIETLY!

Posted on January 12, 2021 by Joe

My Weekly Reader from the Spring of 1972. I found this in a crumbling folder of ancient homework and handouts from grade school circa 1972. Teachers would hand these out and make the students read them QUIETLY so they could cadge … Continue reading →

Posted in Blast from the Past, Curious Clutter | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Syd Kushner W I D E S H O E S

Posted on January 9, 2021 by Joe

Advertisement for a Philadelphia shoe store from a November 23, 1971 edition of the Courier Post, a Southern New Jersey newspaper.

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Things to do about four decades ago…

Posted on August 15, 2020 by Joe

These ads were on the back of an article in what was probably The Courier Post that I thought was very important at the time. This was before the home video market took off and not everybody had cable television … Continue reading →

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It seemed like a good idea at the time…

Posted on May 6, 2020 by Joe

Behold…the FUTURE! …or at least it was about 20 years ago.

Posted in Blast from the Past, Computers, Curious Clutter, Illustration | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Only Two Bits at Broad & Lombard

Posted on April 11, 2020 by Joe

I found another pay phone in Philadelphia, and a call on this one will only set you back 25¢! Of course, the disinfectant used to kill whatever transferred from the receiver to your ear may cost considerably more. This coin … Continue reading →

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BEYOND the Spinning Rack of Comics

Posted on July 9, 2019 by Joe_Williams

I guess the thing I miss most about comics is the newsstands and druggists that once carried the 4-colored treasures I eagerly plucked from spinning racks or wooden shelves. I would spend what was probably an inordinate amount of time … Continue reading →

Posted in Curious Clutter, Trash or Treasure, What I Miss About Comics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Like Spotting Bigfoot

Posted on June 16, 2019 by Joe_Williams

Inexplicably, a phonebooth stands at the corner of 15th and Snyder in South Philadelphia. I haven’t seen one in years and suddenly coming upon one was surprising if not startling. Sadly, the receiver was vandalized so no, it was not … Continue reading →

Posted in Curious Clutter, Looking South, South Philly Safari | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Blister Pack of Mayhem

Posted on May 11, 2019 by Joe

Tina made this find in a junk store in Philadelphia’s Italian Market. It cost all of 50¢.

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KOH-I-NOOR CZECH REPUBLIC 48

Posted on May 4, 2019 by Joe_Williams

Having worked in art supply stores for an inordinate amount of time in the 20th Century, I’ve gathered a lot of rare, old or obscure art making tools just as a whale gathers barnacles. This fat lead holder is one … Continue reading →

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