Squared Away!

 This week I'm sharing a very recent find from an estate sale in Dallas. There really wasn't a lot of stuff I was interested in, but I did find this:

Yes, good old Hollywood Squares (the home version, of course). This is the 1974 version, and it's in great shape! Want to know how to play? Well, here you go!

Here the game is set up in a "simulated game." The plastic "Xs" and "Os" hang on the board. The questions are on cards that you see through a special viewer.

Here are our "celebrities!" Now don't get too excited, you probably haven't heard of any of them. But that's ok, fame can be fleeting in Hollywood!

Let's get a closer look at that viewer. You start by selecting your question.

"Gene" then reads the question (or you do if he won't).

Then, your selected celebrity gives an answer.

Now, you have to agree or disagree. I think I will......Agree!

And look here! I was right! Yay!!!

And that's pretty much how the game goes. It's fun to answer the questions, but one way it falls short of the television version is that you don't get the jokes from the celebrities. To me, that's the best part of the show! So, while they did as good a job as they could with game play, it's just not as fun as the show. Oh well, you can't beat the original, I guess!

That's about it for this week! Until next week, keep searching for treasure!

Jack's Ghost in a Box

 Hello attic fans!

This week we have a little item that you might have seen on here before...except you really haven't! In October of 2021 I wrote this...

When I was in third grade, I had just moved from Denison, Tx to Garland, Tx. In my new town they had a Jack in the Box fast food place. It was actually in the shape of a big box, and yes, you talked into a clown to order.

It was near Halloween (1971) and they were giving away a picture of a haunted house printed on heavy card stock. It had strips that fed through the sides that would make ghost, ghouls, (and, strangely, fast food). move past the windows. I really wanted one for some reason, and one night when we were going through the drive-thru, by golly I got one! It looks like this:

At this point in that post, I explained that while I had never been able to find a real one, I found one online that I was able to print out on some light cardstock. And for years that has been good enough. However, the picture I just shared isn't the one I printed out. You see, a while back a REAL one showed up on eBay! Apparently it was part of an art director's estate who was working with Jack in the Box restaurants at the time! I bid the minimum (which I thought was pretty cheap) and won! I guess I'm the only one who remembers this little item! Here are some more pictures of the "real deal!"

This is the back of the card, which shows the die cut windows and such... The whole card measures 9.75" x 7.75". 

I'm not sure you want to suggest your food is haunted, but it seems to work for Halloween!

If I ever wanted to put it together, I have the instructions...although I could probably figure it out on my own.

A few common sense suggestions for trick or treating are a good idea.

Here are the strips with the "haunts" on them! Onion rings and fries included!

Finally, we have a closer up view of the house! Spooooooooky!

Anyway, I remember taking my Jack in the Box Haunted House to school and being the coolest kid there! (Or so I thought). I'm sure, being thin cardboard, that it didn't last long. I'm going to take better care of this one, though! I plan on framing it and giving it a nice spot on my office wall! Another childhood trophy won!

So there you have it! Nice memories of Halloweens gone by! Oh, and by the way, that Jack in the Box is still there, 53 years later! It's not box shaped any more, but it's the same basic building and it still serves Jumbo Jacks, fried tacos, and fries! But you won't find this little item! 

Until next time, keep searching for treasure!

An Odd One

 Hello!

The summer estate sale season started out really good as far as finding Redline Hot Wheels goes. Alas, this was not to last. In fact, the past few months have been pretty tough on that front. However, there is still hope!

A couple of weeks ago, I spotted a car case and, upon closer look, saw a couple of Redline cars! Laurie and I, therefore, showed up about an hour before the sale opened, and were first in the door! That's the good news. The bad news is that out of four cars I spotted, only one of then was in decent shape. All the rest were missing glass or wheels and their paint was terrible. However, that last one was in really good shape! Here it is!

This is the 1977 car, "Odd Rod!" 1977 was the very end of the Redline era, and, in fact, cars were made with both Redline wheels and basic wheels. The difference is the value is significant, with the Redline commanding prices over double that of the basic wheel version. 

The Odd Rod was designed by Hot Wheels legend Larry Wood. It's not his best design, but still has a certain charm. It's main problem is that it's light. The faster cars are heavier! But it's still fun and I was glad to find it!

Hopefully the skys will open again soon and Redlines will rain upon us once again. Until that time, this little car helps a bit!

Until next time, keep searching for treasure!