SS Adams

I just want to give a big shout out to Kirk Demerais, author of the wonderful book "Life of the Party" a history of the SS Adams company. The book has rekindled my childhood interest in practical jokes and got the collector in me hunting down old favourites, and collecting both old and new. The packaging on these pranks have great artwork that may appeal to those that love their Kaiju header cards, rather than just what is in the bag. The contrast between the packaging from the 60s with that of today is so marked and even packaging between countries varies in the type of artwork used. I'm particularly fond of the 50s/60s era American packaging.

Its interesting to see how changes in society and mores are reflected in the gags, even language. Anyone call a fart a "bronx cheer" still? When did it become acceptable to package whooppe cushions as "fart cushions". Even these ephemeral novelties leave an anthropoligical trail of shifts in attitude in society.

Kirk's book (and blog) gives a fascinitating insight into the history of some of the pranks from sneezing powders origins (now banned by the FDA and reduced to a far less effective pepper) to the hand buzzer. This is the story behind those ads in the comics.

Picked up some sneezing powder last week, black soap, hot sweets and a whoopee cushion on Wednesday.


Kirk's blog: http://secretfunspot.blogspot.com/

Anyone else a prank collector or have fond memories of these?

 

Wow, I haven't been to secretfunspot for quite some time... I used to read the Johnson-Smith ads/catalogs as a kid. I've always been drawn to vintage package art, etc.
But a bit of the magic died off when it was revealed that "itching powder" was something akin to ground-up cactus needles.
In 6th grade ('88-ish) a guy poured a whole box of it down this girl's back at my school. Result: Emergency Room visit and a schoolwide announcement stating the strictest intolerance of any similar substances or products.

 

Oh man, I can't wait to use this!

 

i need to read this book. some of the adams family lived a couple blocks away from me in jersey in the 80s. I don't know what relation though.

 

Well I heard Uncle Fester and Lurch had an apartment together for awhile...

 

I'm pretty sure I was slightly obsessed with the Adams 'Smoking Donkey' as a kid. They made that right? I would always pick some Adams gadgets up on trips to Osaka in local mall.