Red text over a black background. The red is bleeding off the letters in a sinister way. 

The Rocky Horror Picture Show is a 1975 film that embodies genres such as comedy, horror, and musical. It was created by writers Richard O'Brien (1942-) and Jim Sharman (1945-) and directed by Sharman as well. It is based on the 1973 musical stage production The Rocky Horror Show, which was written by O'Brien, who wanted to combine elements of science fiction and B horror movies and add in a twist of camp.

English actor and singer Timothy James Curry (1946-) stars in the film as Dr. Frank-N-Furter, a mad scientist who welcomes the troubled and newly engaged couple Janet Weiss and Brad Majors, played by Susan Sarandon (1946-) and Barry Bostwick (1945-), into his bizarre castle, where strange events occur for the duration of their stay.

When first released, critics and reviewers were quick to note that the film was not a success or worthy of attention because of its campy qualities or what they deemed as a pointless plot. It has since gained a passionate and global cult following that saw the film break records as the longest continually running movie release of all time and gross over $170 million worldwide. In 2005, the United States Library of Congress deemed the film as culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant by selecting it for preservation in the National Film Registry.

Black text over an orange background. 

"Dawn's Patrol" was a comic strip series featured in the British girl's magazine Judy from 1968-70. The series follows girl scout leader Dawn Martin and her friends as they overcome difficult situations. Judy often offered free accessories to readers, and this button allowed wearers to feel that they were a part of Dawn's thrilling adventures.

Yellow text over a black background. A Yellow and black semi-circle pattern lines the rim. 

Please contact us if you have more information.

Dark purple cursive text on light purple background

Please contact us if you have more information.

Color illustration

Please contact us if you have more information.

Blue text and illustration on white background with a blue border

Johnson Smith & Company began in Chicago, Illinois in 1914 as a mail-order novelty and gag gift supplier, settling in Racine, Wisconsin in 1926. Johnson Smith & Co. or Johnson Smith Company sold an array of toys including pinback buttons with suggestive slogans meant as ice breakers.  Their 1929 catalogue touts, “These Buttons provide subjects for pleasant jokes and amusing conversations, and thus smooth the way to a more familiar acquaintance and cordial friendship. They are very wittily worded and quite unobjectionable. Wear one and see the effect.”

The phrase "Looking for a nut" emerged in the early 20th century as part of a trend in male humor that embraced playful, and somewhat lewd, innuendos and double entendres. 

Black text and illustration on white background with red and white checkerboard edge

Johnson Smith & Company began in Chicago, Illinois in 1914 as a mail-order novelty and gag gift supplier, settling in Racine, Wisconsin in 1926. Johnson Smith & Co. or Johnson Smith Company sold an array of toys including pinback buttons with suggestive slogans meant as ice breakers.

Comic Motto Buttons, as they became known sometime in the 1940s (previously known as Comic Celluloid Buttons), hailed from Johnson Smith & Co. catalogues and became popular in the early to mid-20th century. Recognized by their iconic checkered border and featuring salacious slogans and witty banter, the catalogue promised, “Get acquainted – wear these comic celluloid buttons. Slip one or two of these buttons on your lapel and then wait for the wisecracks to begin. The girls get lots of fun out of them. At parties, you break the ice right from the start. Just give one of these to your guest, and it gives the party a flying start.”

The verb "lay" has a long history in English, meaning "to place or put down" something, and also in phrases like "lay an egg". The use of "lay" with a sexual connotation emerged as U.S. slang in the early 20th century. It's likely related to the idea of placing or putting oneself down for sexual activity, as the phrase "to lie with" has an archaic and biblical meaning of intercourse.

Black text and illustration on a white background with a checkerboard edge

During World War II, U.S. soldiers experienced extreme hardship, physically and emotionally, resulting in desired moments of joy and distraction. These patriotic checkered buttons were produced to lighten the moods throughout the war. The collection's color scheme and checkerboard style were a way to express gratitude, yet it consisted of borderline risque catchphrases and humorous taglines, providing light-hearted amusement for those who wore these pins.

Black text on white background with red and white checkerboard edge

Go Easy, Mabel is a humorous song that was written in 1909 by J. Fred Helf and Ren Shields. The song tells the story of a young ribbon cutter, Percy, who takes Mabel to dinner. Mabel, who has mistaken Percy for a millionaire, orders an extravagant meal and many bottles of wine. Percy, worried he will go to jail as he does not have the means to pay for the date, exclaims “Go easy, Mabel! If you can’t go easy Mabel, go easy as you can!”

In 1922, a musical comedy, also titled “Go Easy, Mabel”, was introduced at Longacre Theatre in Manhattan, NY. The play, written by Charles George, was about a playwright who had been neglecting his wife. The husband and wife perform a series of antics to gain each other’s attention, which apparently worked because the play ended with the couple living happily ever after. Interestingly, the musical was shown again in the 1930s at the Federal Theatre. The Federal Theatre Project was part of the New Deal program (1935), which was created to provide work for performers who had been out of work. The project also had a program which produced plays depicting the African American experience. 

Black text and illustration on white background with red and white checkerboard edge

During World War II, U.S. soldiers experienced extreme hardship, physically and emotionally, resulting in desired moments of joy and distraction. These patriotic checkered buttons were produced to lighten the moods throughout the war. The collection's color scheme and checkerboard style were a way to express gratitude, yet it consisted of borderline risque catchphrases and humorous taglines, providing light-hearted amusement for those who wore these pins.