Illustration of a red train with a triangle of railroad tracks around it and a landscape behind that with red and black text above and below.

The Triangle Trolley Trip was a sightseeing trip offered by the Pacific Electric Railroad in the early 20th century in California. Billed as “The Way to See Southern California,” the 100 mile trip cost sightseers $1.00. The tour travelled southeast out of Los Angeles toward Santa Ana, and advertised such points of interest as “the walnut groves of the Whittier country,” “the oil fields of the Olinda District,” Huntington Beach, Seal Beach, and an aviation field.  The tour stopped for two hours for lunch in Long Beach, and included a free ride on the Hippodrome, a large ocean-side merry-go-round. 

Click here to see an alternate version of this button, also held by the Button Museum. 

The button is divided into three ringed segments: the outer ring has red and white stripes, white stars on blue, and gold bands that recall the US flag; the middle ring has blue and red text on an off-white background; the center ring features a sepia-toned photograph of a white man with short dark hair and a prominent mustache. 

The American Thresherman was a farming magazine which began, with its first issue, in 1898. Also known as "The Power Farmer's Magazine,” The American Thresherman focused on farm equipment and other farm-related technologies and topics. Its editor and publisher Bascom B. Clarke was born in Rockbridge County, Virginia in 1851 and in 1890 moved to Madison, Wisconsin, where he founded the magazine. 

White background with black text on the below a larg black line illustration of a bird holding a rope in its beak; the rope unfurls to spell out Early Bird in a cursive-style text

Light blue text on a white background below a red, yellow, blue, and green rainbow

Color photograph of Joey McIntyre with red text

Joey McIntyre was just 13 when the boy band, New Kids on the Block (NKOTB), released their self titled debut album in 1985. NKOTB was created after the band’s producer and promoter, Maurice Starr, was fired by New Edition, the popular R&B band. McIntyre was the last member to join the group. However, he felt as if he did not fit into the group as he was the youngest and was not initially treated well by the other members of the band. 

After a heart to heart with fellow bandmate, Donnie Wahlberg, McIntyre chose to remain a member of NKOTB. The band rose to stardom after the song “Please Don’t Go Girl” won the hearts of young girls everywhere. Since then, McIntyre has remained in the spotlight as a member of NKOTB and, later, as a solo artist, actor, and TV host.

Color illustration of a young boy wearing red overalls and a brown hat opening sitting on a stool, opening a bag of flour

Color illustration of the San Gabriel Mission in Los Angeles with red text above and below

Tilton’s Trolley Trip gave a tour of “100 Miles for 100 Cents,” around the Los Angeles area, "From Sea to Orange Groves." Stops included San Gabriel Mission, as shown on the button, and also Long Beach, Pasadena, San Pedro, Miramar, and Cawston Ostrich Farm. As per their brochure, “Nuff sed.”

Black and white illustration of the character Sparkie surrounded by black text on a white background

The character on the button is a puppet named Sparkie, from the children's radio show Big Jon and Sparkie.  The radio show ran from 1950-1958 and centered around Sparkie, an "elf from the land of make-believe" who acts just like a real boy.

To be part of the Sparkie Club, a company had to sponsor the show. Many companies were part of a merchandising program where child fans of the show could mail in proof (for example, ten milk bottle caps or milk carton lids) to get a specifically branded Sparkie Club Button.

Stewarts Juvenile Shoe Store was a children’s shoe store located on  historic Broughton Street in Savannah, Georgia. It is considered historic because it lies between Savannah’s city limits before the Civil War. The architecture in the area has remained mostly unchanged since then, with a handful of hotels and businesses from those days still open.

Red illustration of the character Sparkie surrounded by red text on a white background

The character seen here is a puppet named Sparkie, from the children's radio show Big Jon and Sparkie.  The radio show ran from 1950-1958 and centered around Sparkie, an "elf from the land of make-believe" who acts just like a real boy.

To be part of the Sparkie Club, a company had to sponsor the show. Many companies were part of a merchandising program where child fans of the show could mail in proof (for example, ten milk bottle caps or milk carton lids) to get a specifically branded Sparkie Club Button.

Lewis & Reilly’s is a shoe store that was opened in 1888 by Welsh Immigrant Jennie Lewis along with David Reilly and Mary Davies, who later left the company. In 1952, they opened a new branch in Scranton, Pennsylvania under the slogan “Always Busy”. Jennie was known as the region’s most successful businesswoman for being involved with the company’s daily business operations until she died in 1941. She was a director of the Young Women’s Christian Association (now YWCA), a social justice organization that has fought for women’s rights since 1850, as well as a member of the Quota Club, a faith-based organization that seeks to help struggling communities.

Blue and yellow background with white text on blue and blue text on yellow