Save The Date - Inspiration Vol. 3: "Go GloCal!"

Save the date. It's almost time for Rin Tanaka's Inspiration Show Vol. 3: "Go GloCal!"

Happy New Year from the American Oil Company

To all the readers and followers of The Design Morgue, we wish everyone a happy and a healthy New Year.

Last year at this time we took a look at one of my favorite illustrators, J.C. Leyendecker, and his New Year's babies for The Saturday Evening Post.

This year we'll take a look at Leyendecker's babies again, but this time they are pictured on ink blotters for The American Oil Company (AMOCO). Also included in this group is another favorite illustrator, Norman Rockwell.

All of these, with exception of the 1942 and 1948, are from my personal collection. I have looked for other years with Leyendecker and Rockwell, but haven't been able to locate any.

It's interesting to note that Leyendecker's work for The Saturday Evening Post came before Rockwell and here Rockwell's work appeared first.

Happy 2012!

Merry Christmas!

The Design Morgue would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. Hopefully you weren't to naughty this year and you'll get everything you wished for.

This little piece of Christmas ephemera is from the Central Savings Bank in New York City. The die-cut could be used as a hanging ornament or the bottom could be folded as a stand up. It was used to promote the banks Christmas Club. I'm not sure if banks still do Christmas Clubs, but it would be nice if they still had cool Christmas stuff like this.

Happy Hanukkah - 1944 style

Happy Hanukkah to all my Jewish readers out there. The above Hanukkah greeting is post marked December 26, 1944. These postcards were apparently supplied to Jewish servicemen by the USO. It's interesting to note that this card had to pass through Army censorship as noted by the stamps on the back. 

Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving piece by J.C. Leyendecker

The Design Morgue wishes everyone and their family a Happy Thanksgiving. Eat tons of turkey and watch lots of football, but most important is to spend time with your family and friends and be thankful. I for one am very thankful to be spending the day with my wife Ali and our newest edition, Zachary.

Thanksgiving piece by Norman Rockwell

Grid Iron Dance

I picked up this nice little football themed 1935 dance card on ebay recently. I was drawn to by the great clip art.  I suspect it was produced by one of the sports poster companies I covered previously. The "Kick Off!" was held at the Odd Fellows Temple in San Francisco. The building is still in use. Some great images and history of the building can be found on Up From The Deep. Music was provided by The Melody Stars. The event was hosted by the Golden West Lodge, which is also apparently still in business. 

The Greatest Thing Ever

Having worked in sports publishing and fashion for over 20 years has given me the opportunity to meet some amazing people, travel around the world as well as see and do some pretty awesome things. But nothing will be as great as seeing my son being born. Zachary joined the family on November 6th at 11:07pm. We can't wait to show Zac the world and everything it has to offer. If I never do anything else, I will still be a happy and lucky man.