The Johnson Smith Company was a mail-order company established in 1914
by Alfred Johnson Smith in Chicago, Illinois that sold novelty and gag gift
items such as x-ray goggles, whoopee cushions, fake vomit, and joy buzzers.

The company moved from Chicago to Racine, Wisconsin in 1926, to Detroit
in the 1930s, and from the Detroit area to Bradenton, Florida in 1986.

In 2014, Johnson Smith & Co. marked its 100th anniversary. On December
31, 2019, the company’s website announced that they had ceased
operations and closed.

Early 20th century Ventriloquism Guide and novelties catalogue.

Anthony Wilford Brimley (September 27, 1934 – August 1, 2020)

(AP) – Wilford Brimley, who worked his way up from movie stunt rider to
an indelible character actor who brought gruff charm, and sometimes
menace, to a range of films that included “Cocoon” (1985)“The Natural”
(1984) and “The Firm” (1993) has died.

Brimley’s manager Lynda Bensky said the actor died Saturday morning
in a Utah hospital. She said he was on dialysis and had several medical
ailments.

1982

Members of Congress affix their signatures to an enlarged copy
of the Declaration of Independence.

Fifty-six congressional delegates in total signed the document, including
some who were not present at the vote approving the declaration. The
delegates signed by state from North to South, beginning with Josiah
Bartlett of New Hampshire and ending with George Walton of Georgia.

John Dickinson of Pennsylvania and James Duane, Robert Livingston
and John Jay of New York refused to sign. Carter Braxton of Virginia;
Robert Morris of Pennsylvania; George Reed of Delaware; and Edward
Rutledge of South Carolina opposed the document but signed in order
to give the impression of a unanimous Congress. Five delegates were
absent: Generals George Washington, John Sullivan, James Clinton
and Christopher Gadsden and Virginia Governor Patrick Henry.

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