The Mimi Award

The Wikipedia entry for MECHANIX ILLUSTRATED tells us:

A long-running feature of Mechanix Illustrated was "Mimi," a shapely young woman dressed in skimpy overalls with blue and white vertical stripes; and, in the early sixties, a matching railroad engineer's cap (later discontinued). She was in a picture holding, standing beside, sitting on, lying on or just in the picture with a new product each month. Each "Mimi" held the job for a year. Their names were never given except for the announcement of a new "Mimi" in the January issue. One Mimi did, however, hold the job for a few years in the sixties. An actress from Southern California, she left to live in Hawaii, and a readers' poll was conducted to choose a replacement from a short list. The readers' choice only lasted a short while, and was replaced by one of the runners-up. "Mimi" was discontinued with the change to Home Mechanix.

Ten more Mimi's after the jump.



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Posted By: Paul - Fri Apr 09, 2021 - Comments (3)
Category: Hobbies and DIY, Magazines, Technology, Sex Symbols, Twentieth Century

Mae West Cocktail

Last night I was watching TV with my 98-year-old great aunt, when an ad for Alka-Seltzer came on. She immediately perked up and said that, back in the 40s, they used to mix Alka-Seltzer and water in a glass, and then put a condom over it. They called this a Mae West cocktail. It was a popular party trick, she said, to ask someone if they wanted a Mae West cocktail and serve them this.

I immediately thought that I needed to add this to my list of things named after Mae West that I posted four years ago.

I googled the term 'Mae West cocktail' and found a variety of different recipes for alcoholic cocktails named after her, but no mention of the Alka-Seltzer and condom trick. Though I did manage to find a picture of the trick being performed.

image source: ourbusandus.blogspot.com

Since my great aunt's version of the cocktail has no alcohol in it, I suppose that technically it's a virgin Mae West cocktail.

Posted By: Alex - Sat Nov 07, 2020 - Comments (0)
Category: Sex Symbols, Pranks

Follies of the Madmen #444

Source.

Posted By: Paul - Wed Sep 18, 2019 - Comments (2)
Category: Business, Advertising, Sex Symbols, 1960s, Perfume and Cologne and Other Scents

Astra No. 8

Weirdness galore, plus cheesecake! What more could you ask? All sponsored by the UK Air Force.

Posted By: Paul - Sun Sep 08, 2019 - Comments (0)
Category: Beauty, Ugliness and Other Aesthetic Issues, Daredevils, Stuntpeople and Thrillseekers, Movies, Sex Symbols, 1950s

Mystery Illustration 83

Which famous sex symbol actress of the Fifties and Sixties is seen here, imitating Elvis Presley?

The answer is here.

Or after the jump.



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Posted By: Paul - Thu Jul 18, 2019 - Comments (2)
Category: Imitations, Forgeries, Rip-offs and Faux, Movies, Music, Sex Symbols, 1950s, Parody

Follies of the Madmen #430

Source.

Posted By: Paul - Mon Jun 24, 2019 - Comments (4)
Category: Business, Advertising, Disasters, Public Indecency, Sex Symbols, 1950s

Follies of the Madmen #425

Would any "respectable" company today use, oh, Dita von Teese as their product spokeswoman?

Oh, wait a minute--they would!

Posted By: Paul - Thu May 16, 2019 - Comments (3)
Category: Business, Advertising, Domestic, Sex Symbols, 1950s, Twenty-first Century

Victorian Lady in Her Boudoir

Oldest striptease on film?

Posted By: Paul - Sat Mar 30, 2019 - Comments (0)
Category: Fashion, Movies, Sexuality, Sex Symbols, Nineteenth Century

Follies of the Madmen #417

Kiss the foot!

Source.

Posted By: Paul - Wed Mar 13, 2019 - Comments (4)
Category: Business, Advertising, Hygiene, Sex Symbols, 1950s, Feet

Follies of the Madmen #414

Source.

Posted By: Paul - Mon Feb 25, 2019 - Comments (3)
Category: Business, Advertising, Technology, Sex Symbols, Appliances, 1960s