THE JOKE'S ON PEE-WEE

Here's the latest in my unending effort to document the appearances of S.S. Adams brand pranks in television and film. (previous sightings here and here.) This time I've spotted some gems adorning the walls of the hallowed Pee-Wee's Playhouse. A more appropriate home there could not be.

As you are well aware, Pee-Wee ends each episode by opening a hidden panel that conceals his beloved scooter before embarking on a world-wide road trip. If one were to take a screenshot of the eclectic decor covering the secret door it might look like this...


Hidden among the vintage ephemera, the jumbo plastic scissors, the Wacky Wall Walker, the plastic skull, the black fuzzy dice, the rubber face puppet, and the J.R. Bob Dobbs are a few items I'd like to point out.

Note the magenta-colored package in the upper right corner...


That's none other than a genuine 1960's era S.S. Adams Smokie Mule, seen in lung-filling action here...


For those consumers who found the notion of a smoking mule offensive Adams offered a smoking dog...



And if you don't mind moving your eyeballs slightly to the left and following the arrows...


You'll witness the Adams coin changer trick, mint in original stretch-pak. (Note my sophisticated collectors' jargon.)


It's not Adams brand, but the other item is this classic "Hanging Skeleton" from an era when hanging skeletons didn't need trendy brand names determined by extensive market research.


And the red item centered on the right...


...is an early package of "Whoops" brand fake vomit by the H. Fishlove Company.


Hats off to Pee-Wee and Gary Panter (who did the show's set design) for understanding the greatness of these classic items and using them to further enhance our Saturday mornings.

Boy, wouldn't it be great to see annotated photos of the entire playhouse? Please Mr. Internet, make it so.