From the readers: Wax royals, Mars, chickens, potholers, Godzilla & more

It's time for an Easter basket full of comments, memories, answers to mysteries, questions and general wondering-ments from Papergreat's readers...

Weekend postcards: Celebrating the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II: With specific regard to the postcard at the top of today's post, Sharid57 writes: "Definitely looks very 'wax like' in their positions in general, and their hand positions and facial expressions specifically. They also appear to be all 'spread out' so as to give the viewer of the original tableau the opportunity to view each one all the way 'round. I have never been to Madame Tussauds' establishments, but this looks on par with that quality from the photographs I have seen of their displays. And, yes! Where IS Prince Philip's chair?"

(I concur. I now fully believe those are wax figures in the postcard.)

Coupons from the E.H. Koester Bakery Co.: Anonymous writes: "I remember Koester's bread from the 1950s. The reason that I even found this site is that my husband and I were discussing bread wrappers from our childhood. Unlike today's bread wrappers, they were made from a waxed paper. He said that he used them to shine the sliding 'pon' — he's a Jersey boy — but we just used waxed paper sheets on the sliding BOARD in Maryand. Anyway, Koesters popped into my mind, and I immediately remembered the sticker on the end of the package that had the painting of the beautiful little twins on it."

Doomed goat stars in Victorian trade card for Kerr & Co.: Tom from Garage Sale Finds writes: "That fable is a new one on me. On a related topic, I've been reading an 1880's copy of Grimm's Fairy Tales and man those stories are dark. Very different from the versions I grew up with."

Comics nostalgia: 1978 Slim Jim advertisement with werewolf: Tom from Garage Sale Finds writes: "I recall those ads as well from my childhood. I came across one recently [featuring a vampire] in a comic book I picked up at a garage sale."

Elaborately designed envelope for Bennett Printing Company: R. Armstrong writes: "My father used to work there and my grandfather was president! It was running at least a few years after I was born (1981). So cool to see someone liking what they did!"

Herbert W. Rhodes' early 20th century bookplate: Archivist Oxford writes: "The bookplate belongs to Herbert Rhodes of Ilkley, Yorkshire, UK. He was a potholer, photographer and lantern slide lecturer as well as being a Fellow of the Royal Microscopical Society!"

Real photo postcard by Penn Park Photograph Gallery in York: Anonymous writes: "I also have two Penn Park Photograph photo postcards. Believed to be circa 1908-1914. They are family ancestors but not sure who."

Activision's Freeway: It was like Frogger, but for chickens: Tom from Garage Sale Finds writes: "I always assumed Freeway was a Frogger ripoff. Interesting. I came into possession of a huge cache of Atari cartridge pamphlets some years back. The artwork was great on them. Always better than the actual game. I've always wanted to do a post on them. This may inspire me. P.S.: Love the chicken seat tie-in."

Ephemera for Lunch #31: Tales with Alice and Peter: Sandi writes: "Peter and the Wolf was my favorite ever. I have long wanted to choreograph it for a children's dance theater performance."

Book cover: "First on Mars" by Rex Gordon: Mike Harris writes: "I had this edition! I picked it up, secondhand, at a yard sale or something as a kid in the 1970s. Although I never finished reading the book, I distinctly remember that Erector Set pentacycle on the cover."

Bingo cards from Rebman's carnival supply house in Lancaster: Michelle Souliere, author of the Strange Maine blog, writes: "I love that they're still open! Fantastic story."

Gravity gone wild, atomic nonsense at Mystery House in St. Augustine: Tom from Garage Sale Finds writes: "This reminds me of a couple brochures I found a while back. One for The Haunted Shack at Knottsberry Farms and the Magnetic House in Cascade, Colorado. Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri, has a similar walkthrough attraction called 'Grandfather's Mansion.'"

Happy Sweet 16 to Sarah! Joan writes: "This makes me The Happiest."

Linen postcard: Parachute jump at Steeplechase Park, Coney Island: Joan writes, with regard to the idea of a parachute-jump ride: "NOPE."

Which vintage "Dracula" cover is your favorite?: Tom from Garage Sale Finds writes: "I'd have to vote for the 1901 edition, only because that scene in the book stands out in my memory as the most disturbing when I first read Dracula. I'd also give a nod to the overtly sexual cover on the Photoplay edition and the obvious tribute to Bela Lugosi on that Pocketbooks edition."

Postcard of Harrisburg (with a minor mystery) mailed in 1922: Anonymous writes, with regard to a somewhat indecipherable cursive word: "Probably 'Lynn' as in Lynn, Massachusetts, which is 'home to two beaches, Lynn Beach and King's Beach,' according to Wikipedia."

(I think I agree. Good sleuthing!)

A Tyrannosaurus matchbox label, phillumeny and thoughts on Godzilla: Jane writes: "Honestly, I'm a stickler for deep, human storytelling, but I've also had a soft spot for the classic, silly fun of many Godzilla movies, including my favorite, Godzilla vs. Destoroyah."

Cheerful Card Company can help you earn extra money for the holidays: Patricia writes: "I sold Cheerful house cards to order things for myself with the profit when I was around 9 or 10 years old. Not sure how I did it, as I was extremely shy. I remember ordering two 'surprise boxes' filled with random items, and then doing my Christmas shopping out of the boxes. I was so proud to mail my grandparents a Christmas package one year, as they used to do that for us, but we never sent them anything. I mailed my grandpa a 'Silent Night' music box made of plastic. It was an angel playing an organ. Grandpa played the piano. And I mailed grandma egg & custard cups. They held your boiled egg or turn it upside down and it was a custard cup."

Thanks for sharing that story, Patricia! And thanks to everyone for their comments on Papergreat!