Friday, March 12, 2010

Souvenir Friday- Alumination

When Tomorrowland first opened, there were many exhibits sponsored by various companies. The companies used the exhibits to promote themselves and their products. One of the larger sponsors was Kaiser who was promoting the new wonder material aluminum. The Tomorrowland aspect of the exhibit was a giant telescope. Of course, Kaiser wanted to promote itself and the method was to try to gain names and addresses of those people who were interested in aluminum. Kaiser made these large cards available for interested parties to complete the back and then leave at the exhibit. A salesman (at that time, most sales was done by men) would then contact the person. (Sorry for the scans as the blue is metallic and did not scan very well.)

The marketing gurus at Kaiser also remembered that kids wanted free stuff as well. So the Alumination card was created, just like a secret society. The kid felt special because of the unique knowledge of aluminum they now possessed.

9 comments:

Vintage Disneyland Tickets said...

Wow these are super! I like how you put "Matterhorn" in for the name on the kids cards! You have been ALUMINATED!!!!

Connie Moreno said...

Wow, you just did what Walt would have done - you educated me while I was enjoying myself! I never heard about these things nor have I ever seen then. Thanks for a great post!

Major Pepperidge said...

Amazing, what a great piece of early Disneyland ephemera!

Katella Gate said...

The only way the Kids' card could have been better is if it were made of stamped aluminum. Or aluminium if you are from out of town.

Major Pepperidge said...

Matterhorn, I might have been high on crack (again), but I think I may have seen a photo of a Kaiser Aluminum card that WAS made of aluminum. Do you know if such a thing ever existed?

jedblau said...

I've got the kiddie version, but I've never seen the adult card. Nice!

Matterhorn1959 said...

The Alumination card is very shiny, but I have never seen one made out of Aluminum.

Anonymous said...

Those are so cool! Interesting how the address for tech info was in the Palmolive Building - never knew there was any kind of tie in (maybe just shared office space...?)
I remember many more things made of aluminum in the past - especially drinking cups at grandma's house, put into the fridge ahead of time, to be cooled and ready.

Anonymous said...

Also, they remind me of the metallic parking stickers for Disneyland cast members in the early eighties. I loved those and found one at a convention for one of the years that I worked there.