[Photographs and Ephemera Documenting Drug Store Promotion in Texas]

Texas, 1951. Very good +. 33 photographs and 12 pieces of ephemera. 24 photos measure 5¾" x 3½", the rest are 6¼" x 10¼". Items generally very good plus or better with evidence of scrapbook removal on many versos.

This is a small collection of photographs and ephemera documenting a promotion for a Texas-based drugstore, Skillern's Departmental Drug Stores. The item promoted was Schick razor blades and contestants competed for trips to exotic locales like Rio De Janeiro or Havana by submitting entries which finished this sentence in 25 words or less, "I buy Eversharp Schick Products from Skillern's because . . ."

The photos are spectacular and, with one exception, are entirely devoted to internal shots of store displays for the contest. Each image is filled with razors and promotional signs. One of those signs is included here as part of the ephemera. Because the promotional displays were placed all over the stores we see other store sections within, including canned goods, produce, dinnerware, liquor, the butcher and a Valentines display.

Ephemera includes a multipage typescript itinerary for the winners of the contest as well as a five page mimeo of the contest rules. There are six leaves of photo-ready newspaper advertisements for the promotions as well as an original in-store sign-that sign can be seen in some of the photos as well. Rounding out the collection are four colorful travel brochures featuring Havana, Peru, Rio and the Caribbean.

A compelling group of images and ephemera showing in-store promotional displays in Texas.