Back-of-the-Magazine Boys’ Life Ads
By Rocky Thompson on February 18th, 2013
Did you ever send in $2 to get the plans to build a hovercraft? Or perhaps the x-ray glasses “guaranteed to work or your money back” were your first lesson in the sleaze of marketers. The excellent blog Dinosaur Dracula takes a fond look back at the back-page ads run in 80s Boys’ Life magazines. My parents would never let me throw away my birthday money on these survival knives and switchblades, which is perhaps why I’d still like to buy about half of the things advertised here. Also, if you don’t have Dino Drac on your reader (and you’re a child of the late-70s early 80s) it’s worth following.
Actually, I did send off for the hovercraft plans. They were legit. Unfortunately the cost of parts was completely out of my budget as a kid. Called for a 5HP Briggs and Stratton engine along with a wooden prop. I remember calling around trying to figure out where to buy a propeller. Finally found a place and the very lowest end (which seems cheap now that I understand the cost of building aircraft) was $150. Still fun to dream. ;^)
Obviously these things are all connected. You get the Lennon Shades as well as the Fingerless Leather Gloves. You then get Muscles in only a few days and drive around in either your hover craft or go-kart and show everyone how awesome you are.