Previously:
Small-ish towns typically try to broker their small-ish nature with the goal of increasing tourist interest (and tourist dollars). One of the more common ways to do this is with Ye Olde Antique Shop™ (or Shoppes, preferably). And it's with this unnecessary factoid that we begin yet another "Top 5 Things For Sale at..." entry. Today we visit Antiques Etc. in Ardmore. Let's go...
5. Ardmore Matchbook & Postcard
I tell ya, man, ya gotta get into ephemera if you want to start picking up souvenirs. It's cheaper that collectible spoons or shot glasses and takes up much less space. There was tons of this stuff in the store but I picked these two due to the local connection (and because they were right next to each other...what? I'm not being lazy...YOU'RE being lazy!!)
4. Famous Oklahoma Indian Glasses
Forget your Burger King Return of the Jedi glasses, these are older and rarer. From the late 50's, the "Famous Oklahoma Indian" glass set was designed by Native American artist Blue Eagle. The store didn't have a complete set but there were several options available to start your Oklahoma themed promo glasses collection.
3. Dick Tracy Whitman Big Little Book
Big Little Books were all the rage for decades and featured popular characters of the day including Mickey Mouse, Batman and Dick Tracy, who was created by Pawnee Oklahoma native Chester Gould. This one is from 1967 and has the hard boiled detective facing "Facey."
2. Chicken in the Rough Postcard
What did I tell you about ephemera? It's the best! Chicken in the Rough was a chain of chicken joints founded in Oklahoma City. (And apparently there are three of them left.) There's a lot going on with this postcard, from the brag(?) that they serve a half a fried chicken "unjointed" and with no silverware, to the little chick that is "gladly" offering himself up to be fried. I'm not sure he's thought that through.
1. Oklahoma Souvenir Plate
The mother of all old school keepsakes was the souvenir plate. They used to be offered everywhere that might be considered a destination (or on a way to a destination) and celebrated things like the Golden Gate Bridge, the Statue of Liberty and everything in between. The Oklahoma plate celebrates the Land Run, Will Rogers and a few other Okie milestones.
Now that the antiquing is done we'll just hit the local tea room for a Cobb Salad, find a restroom and then pile back into the RV to head to the next small town...
