Sticking with my latest theme of disturbing thrift store finds I bring you the hideous '"Blabber-Mouth Talking AM-FM Radio." Behold its 80s disquieting splendor.Only two possible mid-80s venues where this thing was sold. Either Spencers in the mall or that adult book store in old downtown... you know by the bus station... behind Del Taco? Okay, sure, I'm the only one who knows where the adult book store is.
Vaguely (or not so vaguely) sexual, definitely disturbing. Was this for kids? Why does it remind me of Videodrome? Or maybe the Mac Tonight McDonalds guy?Am I the sickest sort of person on earth (apparently, since only I know where the adult book store is) for envisioning this device being employed inappropriately by a prepubescent youth whenever Kim Carnes, Joan Jett, or Toni Basil came on the radio? (ouch!) And yes, that double entendre was most intended.
Even if it was used "normally" -- ahem -- about how long do you think it would take before a pair of plastic lips and teeth gnashing in robotic sync to talk radio or Kacey Kasem's top 40 became incredibly tedious? Wrong. 4 minutes, 12 seconds. Which is probably how long it takes for the heavy duty C-Cells to run out of juice or for the plastic gears to star screeching horribly.Too bad the adult bookstore doesn't accept returns. I learned that the hard way, if you know what I mean.
So the colors, packaging, and general vibe all cry petroleum-based sex toy, but "Nasta Blabber" really clinches (or clenches) the deal. "Right of Nasta Ind. Inc"? That has some cult-ish pretensions, no? Did we narrowly avert some sort of mass mind-control conspiracy in 1985 when the Blabber Mouth radio failed to get on the shelves by Christmas. We can only hope.Ooh, I gotta go now, Deborah Harry is on the radio... (ouch!)
6 comments:
HA HA Funny! I loved Spencers, I wonder if they are still around. It's kinda fun to go into dirty bookstores just to peek at the clientele!
Things didn't go so well for Mr. Mouth after he lost the Twizzlers account I guess. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAQDY72BJ7w
Hey I'm inspired by your blog so I document also some of my own gnarly thrift store finds. http://hermosavintage.blogspot.com/2009/01/pikachu-toilet-snowcone-maker.html
Yes, Spencer's is still around and they still sell the same kinda stuff! There's one down at our local mall.
I have a teeth thing and that is terrifying.
Okay, you are hilarious! I know if I'd come across this at a thrift store, I certainly would've given it a strange look...but to actually buy it, bring it home, photograph it from multiple angles, and then have soooo much funny stuff to say about it - well, I'm impressed!
very fun blog. i'm a scavenger for great finds at garage sales, thrift store. it can be very funny at times.
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