Thursday, February 26, 2009

And the little box at the top of the stairs, with my Indian rug, and a pipe to share...

Roadrash’s comment on Pampdog’s post below once again inspired me to attempt to hunt down my favorite advertisement slogan/campaign of the 70’s. Last month for the umpteenth time I tried in vain to find ANYTHING on the web regarding this long out of business paraphernalia company (now revealed to be Progressive Plastics, Inc.). As a matter of fact, when you search Yahoo! with “Strike a blow for freedom” one of my blog posts in which I discuss the futility of my quest comes up as number two on the hit list. Here’s more from another post:

“I wonder what kind of case I'd have had if Mr. Macek had actually been able to SEE that the poster of Uncle Sam I had on the inside of my eight grade locker actually said, "Strike a blow for freedom: buy U.S. Bongs" . The poster had ole Sam, like the one pictured above, passing one of the bong companies elaborate smoking devices to the reader vs. pointing at a perspective army recruit. My math teacher noticed it while I was getting some crap out of my locker before class. Once he saw it, he began giving me a run down on how he'd always liked that poster (the original non-bong one that is) which had been a staple of armed forces recruiting since WWII. I was relieved that he did not recognize that what he was actually looking at was a spoof (this guy was so old that he had taught my dad math when he was in 6th grade). I would have had a hell of a time explaining that one to my parents much less the US Supreme Court.”

Be sure to read the linked article. Very interesting.

Anyhoodle, thank God someone was smart enough to scan a copy of the advertisement and post it on the web for all prosperity. The quest is now over, behold:

The one ole Unkie Sam is thrusting in our face was the same model as the one I bought from Wheels in 1980(?) except it was purple. And of course, there was the ‘Capital Hill’. What a stunning piece of American ingenuity and engineering that thing was. It had to have won awards at M.I.T. or something, right? Man, if Huck Tater could find the photo I took of myself with that monstrosity sitting in front of me and sent to him when he was over in Belgium we’d have a good laugh. Huck, could you by any chance put your hands on that photo?

12 comments:

ROADRASH said...

Ahh yes...the gatling bowl. Too bad the weed was usually the same color as the wood. Was there a special name for doing all the hits from the gatling bowl in one lung full?

Tony Alva said...

I'm not sure Roadrash, but I recall that Commandant's son could pull it off.

Anonymous said...

Mr. Macek scared the hell outta me back in the day!

pampdog said...

Just the name Capitol Hill sends shivers up my spine. Was there a time where we did not use that device with wicked abandon?! The contests, my god, the contests. First, we would break all laws of physics by jam-packing more ganj into one of those bowls than could be crammed into a large landfill. Just to get the lighter flame to pull down into the granite-packed mass of hooch took jet engine lungs. Second, the multi-phase smoke fill of each chamber prep hit—a pile of onlookers gaggling in amazement at the volcanic volume of smoke being prepped for consumption, as if ALL the exhaust from the space shuttle launch had been miraculously crammed into 12 inches of clear plastic tubing. Third, the hand-over-the-mouthpiece, blow-out prep phase—followed closely by the hand off, mouth-snug-to-the-rim, momentary pre-feat silence, all punctuated by whispers of 'oh my god' across the room. Then BOOM: the violent inhale—a blur of condensed smoke moving through the tubing like a freight train of highly dense fog at 1000 mph into the open mouth. The aesthetic is semi-surreal, at moments looking as though the victim just sucked a 4-mile long dense white towel into his lungs! Next, the face turns red, the eyes bulge—as if a super nova has detonated in the chest cavity yet is being desperately contained by every muscle of the body…again, the room silent in anticipation. Finally, the body gives way and the smoke is viciously yet mercifully exhaled, enough smoke mind you to darken the eastern seaboard on a sunny day for over 12 hours. And then, the incessant and pain-drenched coughing intermixed with pleasured groans of having accomplished the superhuman. The room is awash with a blend of laughter and applause. There is little time for reflection or recovery, for it will be your turn again soon enough. Just the name Capitol Hill reawakens a PTSD my lungs will never forget.

Tony Alva said...

LOL Pampdog!!! I'd probably hallucinate if I did one of those right now, followed by a coughing fit induced heart attach. Remeber filling that bitch with snow? :-)

pampdog said...

I remember doing that a few times. A cool draw, for sure. Yet another naughty experiment.

Ward Haskell said...

I remember that thing making a trip or two to garristone for a friday night session at Jimmy Puchhini,s house. We had rules on our side of the river a dollor gag fee was in place and 50 cents for any ghosts left in the chamber Scott simpson had a scull bong that was awsome. there were like 6 tubes and 3 stages of tubes. We used to call bongs bing er,s and first one to crash at a party was the person who mud sharked. first one to mud shark was the guy who got messed with. There was one guy who was famous for mud sharking a little guy who stood no more than 5 ft 3 or so. I dont remember his name. I do remember dean the commandants son could definatly take a huge hit. There were others. Some of those hits were deadly. Eyes were so red it looked like you had been crying for hours some times the hacking would last for 10 minutes. AHHHHHH theres nothing like a huge bong hit. I gave up smoke at 43 4 years ago this has brought back some good memories.

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Unknown said...

I have this poster in physical form. Love it.

Unknown said...

Do you have any more information about this poster? I have the original printing, where it's just Uncle Sam and The bong with lettering, none of the products in the bottom corner. I've attached a photo of it. If you have any more information about it I'd love to know.

http://i.imgur.com/nYWDXe6.png