Archie Bunker for President

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Text on Button Archie Bunker Fer President
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On a white background, a photograph tinted in blue appears to the left of red and blue text. At the top right corner of the button are a group of six five-pointed red stars of various sizes.

Curl Text Creative House, Chicago 60641 copyright '72 T. P. Inc.
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Archie Bunker was a character on the CBS sitcom All in the Family, which ran from 1971 to 1979. Portrayed by Carroll O'Connor, Archie was the blue-collar, curmudgeonly husband to Edith Bunker (Jean Stapleton) and father to Gloria (Sally Struthers). Known for his abrasive nature and often bigoted opinions, the character, along with Edith, was one of the most beloved of television and popular American culture in general in the 1970s.

In 1972, All in the Family and its cast of characters were promoted with merchandise as a tie-in with the U.S. presidential election of that year.

Catalog ID EN0148

Americas Foist Family the Bunkers

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Text on Button America's FOIST Family THE BUNKERS
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Black and white photograph of the Bunker Family with red, white, and blue background. White text on the upper portion of button that reads "America's FOIST Family" and white text on the bottom portion of button that reads "THE BUNKERS". A blue star in the middle of the button on both right and left sides.

Curl Text ©1972 TANDEM PRODUCTIONS. INC. OFFICIAL LICENSEE - N.G. SLATER CORP. NYC 10011
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The CBS sitcom All in the Family ran from 1971 to 1979. The show was set in Queens, New York and starred Jean Stapleton as Edith, the long-suffering but devoted wife of blue-collar curmudgeon Archie Bunker (Carroll O'Connor), as well as their only child, Gloria (Sally Struthers) and her husband Mike (Rob Reiner). Ground-breaking for its treatment of the rapidly changing landscape of politics, culture, race, and other divisive issues in the United States, the show is remembered as one of the most popular and well-loved of the era.

In 1972, All in the Family and its cast of characters were promoted with such merchandise as this button as a tie-in with the U.S. presidential election of that year. "Foist" is a reference to especially Archie and Edith's pronunciation of the word first with their strong Queens accents.

Catalog ID EN0098

Alfred Hitchcock

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Text on Button Alfred Hitchcock
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Black text on a white background. 

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Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock, KBE (1899-1980) was an English film director and producer. He is generally regarded as a major innovator in the genres of suspense and thriller and was renowned during his lifetime and beyond for such films as PsychoRear WindowNorth by Northwest, Vertigo, and The Birds. He also was the host and producer of the television series Alfred Hitchcock Presents which aired from 1955 to 1965. 

Catalog ID EN0170

Alfalfa The Little Rascals

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Photograph of a young boy's head and neck, wearing a black bowtie with dark hair and dark eyes on a white background

Curl Text copyright 1983 KING WORLD PRODUCTIONS INC THE BUTTON-UP COMPANY 1202 E. MAPLE TROY MI 48083
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Alfalfa was one of the “Little Rascals” who appeared in the television show called Our Gang, about a group of poor neighborhood kids and the adventures they had. Though “Spanky” was originally the star, Alfalfa quickly gained popularity with his trademark cowlick and off-key singing of Bing Crosby songs. Alfalfa was played by Carl Dean Switzer, an experienced singer and musician, who won the role by singing in the Our Gang Cafe at Hal Roach Studios after being denied an audition in the studio itself. As an adult, Switzer had a few roles in B-movies, but mostly made a living as a dog breeder and experienced hunting guide for the stars. In 1959, at the age of 31, Switzer died of a gunshot wound after getting in a dispute over money with an acquaintance.

Catalog ID EN0160

A League of their Own

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Text on Button A League OF THEIR OWN
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Red and white text on a blue background

Curl Text copyright 1992 Columbia Pictures Inc All Rights Reserved
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"A League of Their Own" is a 1992 movie telling a fictionalized story of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. The film was directed by Penny Marshal and starred Tom Hanks, Geena Davis, Madonna, and Lori Petty. The screenplay was written by Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel based off of a story by Kelly Candaele and Kim Wilson.

The film was selected in 2012 to be preserved in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for being culturally and historically significant.

Catalog ID EN0151

Mahdis Magic Circle

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Text on Button MAHDI'S MAGIC CIRCLE JR. MAGICIAN
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Color illustration of one eye surrounded by a tan background with the abbreviation "JR." above the eye and the word "magician" below the eye in green capital letters. The words "Mahdi's Magic Circle" circle the illustration in light green capital letters. Words, illustrations, and tan background are over a black background. 

Curl Text ADCRAFT MFG. CO. CHICAGO
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Have info on this button? Contact us here.

Catalog ID EN0126

Jerry Lewis Telethon

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Text on Button THE JERRY LEWIS LABOR DAY TELETHON
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Black text along upper portion of button. Illustration of Jerry Lewis with untied bow tie, holding microphone in center foreground. Entire illustration is on a red background with small white stars.

Curl Text N.G. SLATER CORP., N.Y.C 11
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The Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon was an annual televised fundraising event for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) that usually lasted six hours on Labor Day weekend. Actor and comedian Jerry Lewis hosted the broadcast from its 1966 inception until 2010. In the 1950s, Jerry Lewis hosted a Thanksgiving Party for MDA, which raised funds for the organization's New York City area operations, the success of which led to the Labor Day Telethon.  

Catalog ID EN0092

David Bowie Is

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Text on Button David
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White text on a black background.

Curl Text David Bowie is coming to the MCA September 2014
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The button was manufactured by the Busy Beaver Button Company in conjunction with the David Bowie Is exhibit at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago (MCA). The exhibit, which originated at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and ran in Chicago from September, 2014 through early January, 2015, was the first major retrospective of David Bowie's career. The button was manufactured in the run-up to the exhibit—before the MCA had even officially announced it—and was distributed by the museum and its staff in the months leading up to the opening. The lightening bolt that replaces the “I” in David on the button is a reference to Bowie’s iconic Aladdin Sane album cover.

Catalog ID MU0251

Chris Uphues Hearts

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There are 8 hearts with faces forming a circle. Colors of the hearts are red, light and dark blue, light and dark purple, yellow, and orange.

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Chris Uphues is an artist and designer from Chicago, Illinois who currently works out of Brooklyn, New York. His work, often including animated creatures and hearts such as the ones shown here, has been featured in galleries, street art, and in collaboration with clothing and beauty brands. He now produces gifts and greeting cards alongside his wife and studio manager, Jen Uphues. 

Catalog ID AR0395

iWeiwei

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Text on Button iWeiWei
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White text on a black background.

Curl Text www.aiweiweifilm.org
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This button is a play on the name of Ai Weiwei, a Chinese artist and activist. Known for speaking out against corruption and human rights violations of the ruling Communist Party in China, he was arrested in April 2011 and held for 81 days without any charges filed. Before his arrest, he had spent many years residing and displaying his artwork in New York City. 

This button was made for his film, "Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry".

Catalog ID AR0043