White text on a green background. 

Girl Scout Cookies are sold by Girl Scouts of the USA as one of its major fundraisers for local Scout units. The first cookie sales by an individual Scout unit was by the Mistletoe Troop in Oklahoma in 1917. From 1933 to 1935 country wide, organized cookie sales grew with Troops in Philadelphia and New York City. In 1933, Girl Scouts in Philadelphia organized the first official sale, selling homemade cookies at the windows of local utility companies. In 1936 the national organization began licensing commercial bakers to produce cookies to increase availability and reduce lag time. 125 troops launched cookie sales that year.

Green text on a yellow background

A "Circus Daddy" or "Circus Dad" is somebody who sponsors disadvantaged or handicapped children's fees in order that they could attend a Shriners Circus. Shriner Circuses exist throughout the United States and the proceeds from these events benefit Shriner's Children's Hospitals. The way the Circus Daddy program works is that an individual buys a ticket booklet and then donates the tickets to a Shriners business office. The office then provides free admission for a select number of children in order that they could attend a specific Shriners Circus.

Black text on a white background.

Black Expo is a fair that exhibits the achievements of black culture, business and industry to the public. It was originally engineered and sponsered by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) in the 1960s. Many cities have hosted Black Expo events. 

This button is likely a promotional button for the 1971 Black Expo in Chicago. Larry Shaw, the communication director for SCLC/PUSH (People United to Save Humanity) who advertised and marketed Black Expos in Chicago, was also in charge of the public relations for the movie and sound track of Shaft, the 1971 movie about the suave black private detective John Shaft. "BLACK EXPO IS A BAAAAD MOTHER (SHUT YO' MOUTH)" references the famous tagline in the Grammy/Oscar winning theme song of the movie: "Shaft is a bad mother (Shut your mouth)."

An illustration of three boys dressed in revolutionary war uniforms. One boy is playing drums, one boy is holding a flag, and one boy is playing a flute. Everything is set on a white background. 

This button is a bicentennial button for the American Revolutionary War and the declaration of independence in July 1776. After the revolution, came the phrase "Spirit of '76," which is a patriotic sentiment. The phrase was also used as the title for Archibald MacNeal Willard's painting, The Spirit of '76, circa 1875. The image and phrase on the button are references to the painting. 

Large Green text on a  yellow background with a green outer ring. 

Joan Ganz Cooney and Lloyd Morrisett, through the use of Jim Henson’s Muppets, short films, and animation created the educational television show Sesame Street. The show not only continues to run, it has also evolved with the changing culture of American television. Sesame Street was one of the first educational programs to create curriculum and educational goals. Furthermore, Sesame Street was the first show to evaluate the educational effects that it had. In the 1970s the television show was known for its minority cast and was quickly becoming an American institution. In the 1980s the show expanded its curriculum to discuss relationships, ethics, and emotions. Initially, because of recommendations from child psychologists, the Muppets and humans did not interact; however, after finding that children were not interested in the human segments, the producers had Henson create Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch to interact with the humans in the street segments. 

A picture of a woman dancing on a black background with white text.

The film Midnight at Maxim's was released in 1915 filmed on location at Maxim's - a famous New York cabaret. Having no true plot, the film was on four reels and featured a series of nightclub acts. The plot involves a cabaret dancer (played by Alice Rodier) and a young New Yorker (played by Rollo Lloyd) who almost fall in love until it is revealed that she already has a husband. Produced by Kalem Studios, the film is done in traditional pre-1914 style. 

A picture of John Belushi on a black background with red text. 

Continental Divide is a romantic comedy from 1981 starring comedian John Belushi and Blair Brown. Produced by Steven Spielberg, it garnered a Golden Globe nominations as the last film Belushi made before his death. The movie is about a Chicago reporter, played by Belushi, who is doing investigative journalism on crooked politicians. After being assaulted for his investigation he is moved to the Rockies where he meets Dr. Porter, an eagle researcher played by Brown. As the two experience each others worlds they grow to love one another. 

The "Movie Channel" referenced is now currently known as TMC. 

A drawing of the hulk and light/dark blue text with a light blue background.  

The Incredible Hulk is a Marvel superhero created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby first appearing in 1962. Hulk, is the alter ego of scientist Bruce Banner. Experimenting with Gamma radiation an accident occurs causing Banner to transform into the Hulk when angered. The character has been studied by historians as a example of Cold War culture in media, and truly has been a pillar of the Marvel media empire having a number of comics, television series, movies, and crossovers. During the 1980s Hulk had his own comic line that was very popular in addition to being a member of The Defenders. The Defenders were a superhero group, with their own comic line, including Doctor Strange, Hulk, Namor and, the Silver Surfer. 

At the time of this button the television series The Incredible Hulk  starring Lou Ferrigno and Bill Bixby was on the air. 

A Photo of ALF with a white speech bubble on a blue background with black and red text.

ALF was a popular television program on NBC which ran from 1986-1990. The title character is a friendly extraterrestrial life form that crashed landed in the garage of the Tanner family. The Tanners are a typical suburban middle-class family in San Fernando Valley, CA. The family names their guest "ALF" which stands for Alien Life Form. ALF is from the planet Melmac, he followed a ham radio which caused him to crash land on Earth. The Tanner family took him in as a member of their own family. ALF is a unrestrained, rambunctious character who constantly puts himself at the risk of getting discovered. 

Yellow text over a picture of ALF wearing a white shirt with a blue tie.

Gordon "ALF" Shumway is a fictional character from the 1980s TV series ALF. This button is advertising a joke political campaign attempting to elect ALF as president. He was born on the planet Melmac to parents Flo and Bob. ALF accidentally came to Hollywood when he crashed he spaceship. The name ALF stands for Alien Life Form, and he prefers it to Gordon.

A graduate of Melmac High School and major in software and pedestrian crossing, ALF held a number of positions before coming to Earth including Assistant Boxleitner, male model, Phlegm dealer, and orbit guard. At 245 years old (2012), he would be the oldest elected president. 

The ALF show was the first TV series presented in Dolby Surround sound and totaled 102 episodes. Over the years ALF has remained a piece of American culture having appeared on a number of shows, had his own Marvel comic, and played in Hollywood Squares. Its popularity won the show multiple awards including the People's Choice Award, the Kid's Choice Award and, The Young Artist Award. 

A website is still running for ALF's presidential campaign.