Henry W. Longfellow

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Text on Button HENRY W. LONGFELLOW, AMERICAN POET
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Originally a white background (now the celluloid has turned yellow) with black text and a very detailed illustration of a white-haired and bearded Henry W. Longfellow. 

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American Pepsin Gum Co., Button made by The Whitehead and Hoag Co., Newark, N.J. Patent July 17, '94, Apr 14, '96, July 21, 1896

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Part of a series that celebrated poets, these were given out by Pepsin Gum with purchases.

Born in 1807, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was an American poet and translator. He was one of the so-called Fireside Poets, a small group of American poets who rivaled their British counterparts and earned their name due to their popularity as many people read their works next to their fireplaces. One of his most famous works is "The Song of Hiawatha," an epic poem written in 1855. 

Catalog ID AD0702

Gumby

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Green, black, and red color image of the character Gumby on white background.

Curl Text TM ©PREMA TOY CO. HEAVEN ® IMAGE DOCTOR
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Gumby is a green clay humanoid figure with a 233-episode TV show. Shorts of the "Gumby" show ran from 1956 until 1968 on NBC. The series, created by Art Clokey, was done with stop-motion clay animation, and featured Gumby and his sidekick Pokey, an orange horse. It was briefly revived in 1988, with the original shorts being reaired as well as new material featuring new characters. Gumby and Pokey became well known characters, and merchandise included the popular rubber bendable dolls. They were also featured in Library of Congress television ads in 1994-1995.

Catalog ID EN0003

Gremlins It's all Here Hardees

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Text on Button It's All Here - Gremlins - Hardees
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Shows Mogwai in one view and Gremlin in another, with the title "It's All Here" posted above the image and the Gremlins and Hardee's logos beneath.

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As a tie-in with the release of the movie, the restaurant chain Hardee's offered a record-storybook set in a series of 5. This button was worn by employees of Hardee's to promote the tie-in.

Catalog ID EN0060

Gilligan

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Black & white photo of actor Bob Denver as Gilligan from the TV show Gilligan's Island, wearing a sailor's hat and saluting.

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Gilligan's Island was an American TV show which aired from 1964 to 1967 on CBS. The sitcom followed the adventures of seven castaways as they try and escape from the island where they are shipwrecked - led by the bumbling crewman Gilligan, played by actor Bob Denver. The show became even more well known as it was syndicated in the 1970s and 1980s, with the recognizable theme song "The Ballad of Gilligan's Isle".

Catalog ID EN0035

Ghostbusters Square

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Text on Button BILL MURRAY DAN AYKROYD
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Black background with white ghost with red international "No" sign over ghost. White text on bottom right and bottom left of button.

Curl Text ©1984 COLUMBIA PICTURES INDUSTRIES, INC.
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In 1984, Ghostbusters was a sensation, and people still know the response to "Who you gonna call?" (Ghostbusters!). The screenplay was written by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis, inspired by Aykroyd's interest in the paranormal. The lead characters, played by Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis, save New York City from ghosts.

Catalog ID EN0018

Gallagher

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Text on Button Gallagher
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The first image is an illustration of a watermelon on a stool and a man in a striped shirt raising a sledgehammer, with "Gallagher" written in script above the melon. Second image is of the man smashing the sledgehammer onto the stool, with pieces of the watermelon and the text flying into the air. Both images are in black on a white background.

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Leo Gallagher is an American comedian who performed frequently during the 1970s and 80s. He is famous for smashing watermelons on stage as part of his act.

Catalog ID EN0065

Evel Knievel Wheelie

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Text on Button Evel
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Photograph of Evel Knievel standing on the seat of a motorcycle doing a wheelie. "Evel" is written in black script in the upper right corner of the button.

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Evel Knievel (1938-2007) was an American daredevil who was world famous in the 1970s for his motorcycle jumps and stunts. His longest jump was in 1975, over 14 buses at Kings Island in Ohio. He was also famous for his red, white and blue leather motorcycle gear and matching cape. During his career he survived 433 broken bones. His last jump was in 1981.

Catalog ID EN0023

E.T. and Elliott

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Text on Button E.T.
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Photograph of the characters E.T., the extra-terrestrial, and Elliott, the boy who befriends him, surrounded by foliage and against a blue background.

Curl Text © 1982 UNIVERSAL CITY STUDIOS INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED STAR POWER, SAN FRANCISCO CA. 94103 A TRADEMARK OF AND LICENSED BY UNIVERSAL CITY STUDIOS, INC.
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Promotional item for the popular 1982 science fiction film E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial. The film was directed and produced by Steven Spielberg and tells the story of a young boy who befriends an alien stranded on earth and helps him return home. E.T. was the highest-grossing film of 1982, and remains among the highest-grossing films of all time.

Catalog ID EN0004

The Entertainment Channel

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Text on Button I've outgrown ordinary television - THE ENTERTAINMENT CHANNEL
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Button divided into horizontal halves. Black text on white background on top half of button. The Entertainment Channel logo in red text on black background on bottom half of button.

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The Entertainment Channel, now known as E!, is an American basic cable network. The network was created in 1987 and aired movie trailers, entertainment news, event and awards coverage, and interviews. Later, it was acquired by Comcast and the programming changed to include more reality television programs. 

Catalog ID EN0021

Emma Juch

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Text on Button Emma Juch
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Sepia toned portrait photograph of a woman in party dress faded into a cream background.

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Sweet Caporal Cigarette - Buttons Made by Whitehead & Hoag Co. Newark, N.J. 

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Emma Juch (1861-1939) was a popular American soprano opera singer of Austrian decent. From the age of 18 until her marriage in 1894 to former District Attorney Francis L. Wellman, she performed in both operatic and concert stages in the US and abroad. She was the first singer contracted by the newly established American Opera Company in 1886. When it folded a year later, she boldly launched her own company, Emma Juch Opera Company. Juch sang in four languages, designed many of her gowns, and was widely praised.

Sweet Caporal Cigarettes were produced by Kinney Bros. Tobacco Company, New York, starting in 1878. Shortly after, Kinney Bros merged into the giant American Tobacco Company. A.T.C.'s monopoly was broken in 1911 but they retained Sweet Caporal. The popularity of the brand may be linked to its novel use of collectible cigarette cards included in each pack. Some examples were Victorian theater stars, illustrated Mutt and Jeff phrases, American flags, an Aircraft Spotter Series in the 1940s ("Learn to know friend from foe"), and many baseball series over the years. The tobacco company also used promotional buttons series like this to promote their cigarettes. This item was part of the Sweet Caporal's Actresses Series.

Sources

Cards, T., Cards, P., & Cards, L. (2020). Lot of 6 Victorian SWEET CAPORAL Cigarettes Theater Star Photo Cards. Retrieved 21 October 2020, from http://www.rubylane.com/item/338449-RL1759/Lot-6-Victorian-SWEET-CAPORAL

Los Angeles herald. [volume] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1890-1893, March 24, 1892, Image 3. (1890). Retrieved 21 October 2020, from https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84025968/1892-03-24/ed-1/seq-…

Catalog ID AD0092