QUICK "POPEYE SODA" QUESTION

[SODAPOPBOB]

I hope no one objects to my getting a little (a lot ?) side tracked on the Popeye theme. Just think of it as a so called "History Lesson" regarding some of the more obscure soda bottles. Plus, I realize now I should have titled this thread ...

COMIC CHARACTER SODA BOTTLES (FACT OR FICTION?)

With that said, here is an auction result for a Mickey Mouse ginger ale bottle. I am not sure where they got the 1932 date, but it does say c. (circa/appx) so I guess that's close enough for the time being. And for those of you who have one of these bottles, but didn't realize what they are worth, this should give you a fairly good idea of what one was worth in 2009. Notice where it says one sold in the past for $631.00. Man-o-man ... I need to find me one of them dudes! (Photo is actual auction item with double labels).





Winning Bid:
$468.05 (includes 15% Buyer's Premium)



Bids:
4

Bidding Ended:
March 26, 2009 at 12:00 PM EDT

Auction:
Auction #197 - Part II
Item numbers 992 through 2667 in auction 197.
Item Description
9.5" tall 12 oz. glass bottle with pair of attached labels. By Ludford Fruit Products Inc., Hollywood, CA ©1932. Large label features image of Mickey with spotlight shining on him as he says "Have One With Me." Smaller label repeats his name and image. Both labels have scattered trace of aging and some edge wear including tiny tip off lower left corner of bottom label. Bottle has moderate aging and is a slight bit cloudy but no chips or cracks. Fine. We have only offered a few of these bottles in our 42 years, one of those was in Auction #195 and it sold for $631.

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

Regarding the introduction of talking movies, the Jazz Singer, starring Al Jolson, premiered on October 6, 1927. Steamboat Willie premiered on November 18, 1928. A full year later. But Steamboat Willie is still acclaimed as being the first talking/sound cartoon feature.

Thanks for tagging along ...

Appreciatively,

SPBOB

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

And now back to bottles ...

As you can see I have been a "Busy Beaver" today. Or, if you look at from a different perspective, I guess you could call me a "Lazy Bones." []

In any event, here's another bottle I'm researching. I got the photo from one of wonkapete's post, (which I hope he doesn't mind) and is another comic/tv character of interest. At present I know little or nothing about it other than it is another fairly obscure bottle that appears to be extremely hard to find. If anyone has information or comments on any of these bottles, please feel free to share. Thanks.

SPBOB

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

Back to Betty ...

Regarding the possibility of there ever being an actual "Boopsi Cola," the following may help to shed a little more light on the subject, but at present the question still remains unanswered. Many of you will immediately recognize the bottle below and know where I am going with this. And for others it will be a first. It pertains to a brand of soda, and it's accompanying acl bottle, called "Holly." But rather than confuse anyone with my limited knowledge on the subject, please note the following comments from members I found here on A-B.net.

Member: Maine Digger - July 12, 2004
I dug a dump in the woods across the road last year, and most of the stuff was 1920-30s, there were losts of old lysol, clorox and a few of those double handled jobs.[8D] Although I did find a couple 'keepers' especially marbles. My digging buddy pulled out a 'Betty Boop' bottle[] I put the lysols, etc. all in a neat pile and covered them over with leaves and some pine branches for someone else to find in the future.

Member: ACLS - June 14, 2009
I don't know much about them, but I will tell you the little that I do know. The two on the right I am pretty sure are from Ohio. The bottle with the Betty Boop looking girl is what is called a fantasy bottle. The Betty Boop girl was not on the original bottles. A collector named Thomas Marsh bought a bunch of Holly bottles with only neck labels and then added a high quality decal of the girl character. The quart is the rarest of the bunch and I have seen them go for as much as $40 in good shape. There is also a 12 oz version that looks similar to the quart. Hope this helps a little.

~ * ~

I am not sure which bottle Maine Digger is referring to, (there was no photo with his text). But it may have been a Betty Boop "perfume" bottle that I know existed for sure.

However, ACLS is for certain referring to a similar "Holly" bottle like the one shown below. This particular photo I got from a current e-bay listing.

From what I was able to determine, this so called fantasy "Holly" bottle originated in Youngstown, Ohio in the 1980s. Apparently there was a great deal of controversy surrounding it, and appears at some point may even have involved a law suit against the Thomas Marsh that ACLS mentioned.

(More to follow).

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

And here is the photo of a collection of original (1960s?) "Holly" bottles that Thomas Marsh used to create his fantasy bottle. I borrowed this photo from a thread that wonkapete posted on July 24, 2007. Notice the blank area on the bottles where Thomas Marsh placed the Betty Boop image.

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

Lastly is this collection of "Holly" bottles that is currently available on e-bay. The seller doesn't seem to know much more about them than I do. I suspect they are still being made to this very day. However, I am still researching that aspect.

In any event, this is only the tip of the iceberg, and still does not address or answer the question as to whether the "Boopsi Cola" is somehow related to all of this, or if it was a real soda pop or just another fantasy brand. The research continues and I will report back if/when I find anything else to help resolve the mystery surrounding "Boopsi Cola." (Fact or fiction ???) Comments encouraged.

Thanks,

SPBOB

Current e-bay link to bottles below.
http://cgi.ebay.com/HOLLY-BEVERAGE-FILLED-BOTTLES-BETTY-BOOP-IMAGE-RARE-/280564834877?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4152f7a23d
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[wonkapete]

Just FYI Bob - these were actually Tom Marsh's. I bought his collection a few years ago - about 3000 bottles.

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

Wonka ~

Thank you.

Questions:

1. Are they from the 1980s or some other date(s)?
2. Are they still being made today?
3. Was there ever a law suit involved with them?
4. Are they considered rare as the e-bay seller suggest?
5. Are you the e-bay seller in question?
6. What can you tell us about "Boopsi Cola?" Fact or fiction?

Thanks again,

SPBOB

 

[wonkapete]

1. Are they from the 1980s or some other date(s)? The bottles are from the 1960s. I'm not sure when he started applying the Betty graphics.

2. Are they still being made today? Not by Tom, since he has passed away.

3. Was there ever a law suit involved with them? I never heard of one.

4. Are they considered rare as the e-bay seller suggest? Certainly, there can't be that many out there in the market. However, I'd consider them nearly worthless since it's a fantasy item.

5. Are you the e-bay seller in question? Nope, I haven't sold anything from his collection I bought.

6. What can you tell us about "Boopsi Cola?" Fact or fiction? I've never seen one in all my years of collecting, but anything's possible.

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

Wonka ~

Thank you so much for that.

I just scrolled through all 114 pages of your amazing website and compliment you on it. And for those who have not done the same I highly recommend it. It's like a free book that could easily sell for $25.00 or more. Great stuff!

One more question if I may. What can you tell us about "Plantation Punch?" You may have seen the "IN SEARCH OF" thread where member Anthonicia is looking for a photo of one of the Plantation Punch bottles. I didn't see one on your site, but thought you might have one tucked away somewhere.

Plus, I would be honored if you would share your opinion regarding the "maybe" Popeye bottle that launched this thread initially.

Mucho Gracias' ... and please keep up the hard work and much appreciated/enjoyable to see bottles on your website.

SPBOB