American Airlines Groupie

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Text on Button AA GROUPIE
Image Description

White background with a smiley face in the center formed out of capital A's (ridge side red, left side blue) over a red nose shape and blue crescent shape with 'GROUPIE' written in white to represent teeth. The American Airlines eagle logo is found at the top center of the button in blue. Around the edge are small blue smiley faces.

Curl Text N.G.SLATER CORP., N.Y.C. 11 (Union Bug)
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American Airlines, established in 1930 as a conglomeration of small airlines, was the first to make a profit by transporting passengers, and was the first to hire a female pilot in the 1970s. American Airlines grew through the years by acquiring smaller companies and by the 1970s had flights going across the United States and to some international cities as well. To encourage their growth they advertised on television and sold merchandise like this button. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s the airline experienced massive growth and continued buying new airlines and opening new airport hubs. In the 2000s, American Airlines was hit hard by the struggles in the airline industry following 9/11, and was again affected during the stock market crash of 2008. Yet the airline continues to thrive and is currently the world's largest airline by fleet and revenue.

American Airlines. (n.d.). Retrieved September 29, 2015 from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Airlines

Catalog ID SM0055

Yoo Hoo

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Text on Button Yoo Hoo
Image Description

White background with red text and two blue faces looking at each other from opposite sides

Curl Text AM. Badge Co. Chgo.
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"Yoo hoo" is a phrase used to get someone's attention. The expression may have originated in America in the late 1920's.

Catalog ID IB0486

Wolf

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Text on Button WOLF
Image Description

Red background with a drawing of a man with a yellow shirt and black bow tie. Some drool off his smile and sweat coming off his head. The man has a red woman's silhouette in each eye. There is white text above his head to the left. 

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This button is part of a set that features cartoon images of men's behaviors. There are at least five pins in the series, each depicting a different man. They are "Wolf," "Loudmouth," "Freeloader," "Lush," and "Shy Guy." Each man's illustrations accentuate their particular title with small details; the "Wolf" has a shapely woman's red silhouette for eyes. He is also drooling and sweating. The term "Wolf" in this context refers to "a man given to seducing women," or "a person who habitually preys upon others." Stylistically, the drawings are similar to mid-century cartoons found in adult magazines or illustrations on cocktail napkins.

Catalog ID IB0052

Why Try Harder

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Text on Button WHY TRY HARDER? I'M NUMBER 1
Image Description

Light pink background with black text

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The phrase “why try harder? I’m number 1” is often used to express confidence or pride in oneself. It can also be used to indicate that one is the best at something or that they are in first place. 

"I'm #1 so why try harder" is a more well-known variation of the phrase that was popularized by a photograph of an obese young man dressed in a T-shirt bearing the phrase while holding a cigarette in his left hand. The photograph was taken at the 1983 Fat People's Festival in Danville, Virginia, and was famously used as the primary cover art for the second studio album by English musician, DJ, and records producer Fatboy Slim (1963-), titled You’ve Come a Long Way, Baby.

Sources

Albums. (n.d.). Fatboy Slim. https://www.fatboyslim.net/music-albums/youve-come-a-long-way-baby/

Antonym of try-hard, who does not try to impress. (2014, February 19). English Language & Usage. https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/152773/antonym-of-try-hard-who-does-not-try-to-impress

Fat Peoples Festival in Danville, Virginia, America – 1983. (n.d.). Shutterstock Editorial. https://www.rexfeatures.com/set/100734

Catalog ID IB0284

What's Buzzin Cuzzin

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Text on Button WHAT'S BUZZIN' CUZZIN
Image Description

White background outlined in red with blue text. In between the text there are two bees, one red one blue, facing each other

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"What's Buzzin Cuzzin" was a popular phrase during the 1940's. 

Catalog ID IB0298

What You See

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Text on Button WhAt you see is whAT you GeT
Image Description

Black background with orange text

Curl Text Copyright Best Seal Corp. NY. NY 10013. 1971
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"What you see is what you get" is an expression popularized by Flip Wilson in his performance as the drag character Geraldine in Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In in the late 1960s and on The Flip Wilson Show.

Evidence suggests that the phrase was coined in the 1940s; the earliest citation of a form of the phrase traces back to an ad for a Filmo Sportster 8mm film camera in The Charleston Gazette in November 1949:

"You just sight, press a button and what you see, you get!"

The citation of the phrase in its exact form was first seen in print from an ad for a house sale, in The Oakland Tribune, May 1966:

"So with the exception of landscaping and decorator furnishings, what you see is what you get."

Sources

The meaning and origin of the expression: What you see is what you get. (n.d.). In The Phrase Finder. Retrieved from: http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/what-you-see-is-what-you-get.html.

Catalog ID IB0409