1950

The Johnson Smith Company was a mail-order company
established in 1914 by Alfred Johnson Smith (1885-1948)
in Chicago, Illinois, USA 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, the company marked its 100th anniversary. On
December 31, 2019, the company’s website announced
that they had ceased operations and closed. Johnson
Smith was acquired by Collections Etc in 2020.

(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

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.

On this day in 1963, the Hula-Hoop, a hip-swiveling toy that became
a huge fad across America when it was first marketed by Wham-O in 1958, is patented by the company’s co-founder, Arthur "Spud" Melin. 

The novelty song "The Purple People Eater" was written and performed
by Sheb Wooley, which reached no. 1 on the Billboard pop charts in 1958
from June 9 to July 14.

Shelby Fredrick "Sheb" Wooley
(April 10, 1921 – September 16, 2003)

"Charlie Brown" was a top-ten hit for The Coasters in the spring
of 1959. It went to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles charts,
and was the first of three top-ten hits for the group that year.