The Blue Coal Calendar for 1942 (with The Shadow!)

This is not an easy item to find. The Shadow is featured in January, right up front, which is nice. Blue Coal sponsored The Shadow radio show from 1931 to 1949, and I know they made other calendars. I wonder if they also feature The Shadow? I know that the 1943 one does not. So far, the only calendar I could find was this one, which is complete but extremely damaged around the edges. Oddly, the center part, with the various sheets for the months, is in very good condition. Why would anyone cut up various bits and pieces around the edge? Probably only The Shadow would know...

The Shadow in detail.

The Shadow "Blue Coal" Ring and Mailer (1941)

This famous classic "The Shadow" premium ring from 1941 has simulated dark blue coal lump on the top while the bands each depict The Shadow in costume holding a gun.

This is the mailer in which "Blue Coal" sent the ring in the US (the Canadian version is blue). Also included an instruction sheet -- still looking for that one...

The Shadow "Crime Does Not Pay!" Matchbook (Blue Coal, 1940's)

Captain Midnight "Key-O-Matic Code-O-Graph" with key (Ovaltine, 1949)

The Shadow "Blue Coal" Blotter, Style L (1940's)

The Shadow "Blue Coal" Blotter, Style C (1940's)

Tom Corbett, Space Cadet - Promotional Signed Photo (1951)

This is a promotional photo of the classic "Tom Corbett, Space Cadet" pose, with a printed dedication and signature in blue, "Spaceman's luck / Tom Corbett / Space Cadet". According to "Hake's Pop Culture Memorabilia" this photo was part of the membership kit from 1951 (TCO-1).

The Shadow "Blue Coal - Montgomery Bros." Matchbook (Blue Coal, 1945)

According to the Martin Grams blog, matchbooks were used to promote The Shadow radio show from the Summer of 1945. They were sold to Blue Coal dealers in multiples of 500 at $3.00 per thousand, personalized with the dealer's address and phone number. The matchbooks were then promoted in the radio show itself. In the blog you can find a great transcription of this early "product placement".

Captain Midnight 15th Anniversary Secret Squadron Emblem (1955-56)

Captain Midnight's Secret Squadron emblem, issued in the 1955-56 season to commemorate the 15th anniversary of Captain Midnight. Peel-off back, still intact.

Captain Midnight "Happy Landings" Promo Photo (Skelly Oil, 1938-39)

Superman Crusader Ring (Kellogg's, 1946)

"This ring was a promotion item put out by the Kelloggs company that was tied into the the radio serials/shows of the day. The crusader ring was often tied into the radio story’s plot in one form of another. Over the years these have become more and more scarce simply with the passing of time but a good number are still out on the market. The Superman Crusader ring was made of tin with a “silver” finish. Collectors should please note that the crusader ring was produced with a simple “silver” finish which over time faded to a copper like tone as the finish wore off and faded. Some sketchy sellers have tried to pass off higher quality crusader rings as being made of actual silver. This is a no no. These rings were made for kids in the 1940s as a cheap company promo and were never cast in genuine silver. This ring was square in shape and had the words Superman and Crusader stamped into the ring shanks. Most of these rings found today may be slightly warped in shape as they were made of thin tin."

-- from ComicBooked, "A Look at Superman's Rings"

The Superman Crusader ring was written into the Adventures of Superman radio show. In the episode Counterfeit Money that aired from 10-17-46 to 11-5-46, the Crusader ring is featured prominently in the episode. As a member of Superman's Crusader gang, the ring is a symbol of good citizenship, tolerance and good sportsmanship. The commercial for the Crusader ring offer premiered in episode eight of Counterfeit Money.

This is a "Superman Crusader" ring, still maintaining its silver coating and looks beautiful. It says "Superman" on one band and "Crusader" on the other, and it was a premium from Kellogg's in 1946.

See also: The Superman PEP pin also from Kellogg's, also in the collection.

The Shadow "Carey Salt Magic Shadow Ring" (1945)

"The weed of crime bears bitter fruit. Crime does not pay. The Shadow knows!"

Carey Salt, sponsors of The Shadow radio program, offered the "Magic Shadow Ring" for only 5c and proof of purchase of any Carey product. It was released in 1945 and again in 1947. The ring was promoted by Carey Salt in commercial breaks and during the Shadow radio show through both the 1945-46, and again in the 1946-47 seasons.

This ring was acquired through notable collector of The Shadow, Dwight Fuhro, who stated it is "A sharp example with a clean band formed as a pair of alligators with open jaws. Black stone on top is glossy and the white on the ring slows only very minimal yellowing. The ring itself is very clean...one of the nicest that I have seen. You will find only 1 of these rings for every 20 Blue Coal Rings."

Captain Video "Secret Seal" Ring (1951)

Captain Video and His Video Rangers was an American science fiction television series broadcast on the DuMont Television Network, and was the first series of its kind on American television. It aired between June 27, 1949 and April 1, 1955.

Set in the distant future, the series followed the adventures of a group of fighters for truth and justice, the Video Rangers, led by Captain Video. The Rangers operated from a secret base on a mountain top. Their uniforms resembled US Army surplus with lightning bolts sewn on.

The Captain had a teenage companion who was known only as the Video Ranger. Captain Video received his orders from the Commissioner of Public Safety, whose responsibilities took in the entire solar system as well as human colonies on planets around other stars. Captain Video was the first adventure hero explicitly designed (by DuMont's idea-man Larry Menkin) for early live television. "I TOBOR" the robot was an important, semi-regular character on the program, and represents the first appearance of a robot in live televised science fiction; the character's name was actually supposed to be "ROBOT I", but the stencil with its name was applied to its costume backwards.

This photograph shows Al Hodge (left), who played
the Captain, and Don Hastings (right),
as his Video Ranger.

The ring's top edge is in copper luster and has a tiny rocketship and four stars. At the center is brass plate with embossed initials "CV." The edge of this piece holds a tiny brass stem that joins it to the ring base. A piece of paper can be slipped between the elements and then the hinged cover is pressed down thus pressing the seal into the paper. Because the brass stem holding the top piece was so thin and fixed into position, most kids quickly broke off this covering and most examples of the ring, while they may look complete, are in fact without this upper slightly movable piece. A 2008 Hake's listing for a similar ring indicates that they had only seen six rings with the stem intact. The rings are numbered inside and this one is "69217" and is the scarcer version with copper top and gold base.

[Text based on Wikipedia and Hake's]

"Operator 5" Premium Ring (Argosy, 1996)

The pulp magazine, not in the collection.

"His name was Jimmy Christopher, and he was America's Undercover Ace, fighting spies and foreign agents from 1934 until the beginning of World War II. He was known as Operator #5 and was read by many each month in the pulp magazine of the same name. Written by Frank Davis, his mission was to save the United States of America from harm and destruction.

Jimmy Christopher emerged in 1934 in the inaugural issue of Operator #5 published by Popular Publications Inc. The same publisher also published the pulp magazine The Spider which offered it readership a costumed vigilante hero.

As Operator #5, Jimmy Christopher not only fought to save the United States from numerous threats, but he also worn an intriguing ring. The ring featured the image of a skull which bore the number 5. 

Order yours now!

His ring was offered as a premium to readers of the pulp magazine who could sign up and join the Secret Sentinels of America. The club, like many of the day, was created to support the patriotic interests of many citizens of the era. The magazine also featured letters from the various members of the Secret Sentinels of America.

The Operator #5 premium ring is considered one of the top rarities in premium rings. One of the main reasons for its rarity might be the staggering original cost of 25 cents in either currency or stamps that had to be submitted for the ring. A copy of a pulp magazine or comic book at the time was only a dime and the publishers were asking for two and half times the cover price of a magazine to obtain an Operator #5 ring.

The ring in near mint condition is worth $16,000 today with only twelve reported examples known and only one in mint condition. Unlike many other premium rings, the Operator #5 ring was offered as a non-adjustable sized ring. The ring was produced in sizes 6 to 11 with the issue of the rings non-adjustable size also being a factor in its scarcity. The ring was sent in a small red ring box that is also considered rare."

-- from "Scoop" website

This is a 1996 reissue of the ring, produced by Argosy, in a limited edition of 250, of which this is #93, individually numbered engraved inside the ring. This time it has an adjustable band. It's the next best thing to owning one of the most sought after premiums!

"Rocky Jones, Space Ranger" Pin (repro 1970's)

This is a 1970's (I believe) reproduction the Rocky Jones's "Space Ranger" pin. This reproduction does not have any writing on the back, nor the gold tone on the wings and planet. I still hope to find an original pin, some day!

This is the original pin on a single card
[not in the collection]

A card with several pins [not in the collection]

You can find all you ever wanted to know about Rocky Jones here.

"Tom Corbett, Space Cadet" Face Ring (1952)

Tom Corbett was the star of Tom Corbett — Space Cadet in television, radio, books, comic books, comic strips, coloring books, punch-out books and View-Master reels in the 1950s. The stories followed the adventures of Tom Corbett, Astro, and Roger Manning, cadets at the Space Academy as they train to become members of the elite Solar Guard. The action takes place at the Academy in classrooms and bunkrooms, aboard their training ship the rocket cruiser Polaris, and on alien worlds, both within our solar system and in orbit around nearby stars.

I could find no information on the ring -- who made it? It was not a premium of Kellogs cereals, as they offered the plastic rings. Any info would be most welcome!

Called the "Face Ring", sadly it is not in the best condition.
Still, a prized item for me.

The standard view into the Rocket Cruiser Polaris control deck,
through the circular viewport (designed by Chesley Bonestell).
From left to right, Roger Manning, Tom Corbett and Astro.

"Captain Midnight's Trick and Riddle Book" (Skelly Oil, 1939)

A 1939 Skelly Oil premium for Flight Patrol members, which also re-uses an earlier promotional shot of original Captain Midnight actor Bill Bouchey with helmet and goggles. The pocket size book has 30 pages of magic tricks and 300 riddles with their answers.

"Superman-Tim Club" Button (1940's)

"In 1942 Tim Publications created an official Superman fan club for younger boys (older boys got a Gene Autry club) which featured a 6″ x 9″ sized now hard to find monthly comic book. The books were mainly produced to sell the Tim clothing line, but they also had the second benefit of teaching character building lessons while entertaining the kids. Club membership also included a (you guessed it) membership card and a pin. Since the club existed during part the World war II era Tim would also give kids useful tips on war related things like killing your enemy. Sadly the club only lasted for about eight years, so today anything associated with the club is very rare and hard to find."

From "Fanboy.com"

"Tom Corbett, Space Cadet" Wrist Watch (Ingraham, early 1950's)

Original strap.

"The Shadow Club" Complete Membership Kit (1994)

The Shadow Club membership kit includes an illustrated mailing envelope, a pinback button with "The Shadow Club" in green over black, a membership certificate, issue #1 of the newsletter "The Shadow News", a secret code card, an "autographed" movie still of The Shadow, a gold metal Premium Ring embossed with the 1994 movie logo and club name and a Special Agent card, individually numbered on the back. I own two complete kits, the one in the photo is #01138.

You can find more information on "The Shadow Sanctum" website.