25 holiday gifts from 1958 that you just don't see these days

Lobsters were rockin' around the Christmas tree!

It was a very good Christmas in 1958. You had hot new noels like Brenda Lee's "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree," Chuck Berry's "Run Rudolph Run" and, um, the Chipmunks' "The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)." There were loads of great new gifts to put under the tree — which was likely made out of aluminum or some other man-made material.

The Tannenbaum may have been synthetic, but the sentiments were not. Let's look back at some popular gifts from that year, as seen in the Sears Wish Book catalogs of 1958!

Nylon Christmas Tree

Image: Sears / Wishbook Web

Women wore far more nylons in the 1950s. Nylons were everywhere. In fact, manufacturers had so much nylon sitting around they churned out nylon Christmas trees.

Perry Como Underwear with 45 Single

Image: Sears / Wishbook Web

You could get her some new underwear. You could get her the latest Perry Como single. Or you could get her both in the same package. [Also available with Eddie Fisher and Elvis Presley 45s.]

"Bedtime Boots"

Image: Sears / Wishbook Web

Every kid dreamed of being a cowboy — so much so that they even went to bed in Roy Rogers "bedtime boots."

Autograph Hounds

Image: Sears / Wishbook Web

These punny stuffed animals were meant for collectors. It was the social media of the day, but also a dachshund.

10 Lobsters in a Barrel and Sad Clown Cheese

Image: Sears / Wishbook Web

Ten live Maine lobsters! For just a hair under $100. For a more frugal foodie gift, there was a box of cheese packaged under a crying circus performer.

Transistor Radios

Image: Sears / Wish Book Web

You could stream music in your pocket back in '58, too.

Hey! Mom! Robot Hands

Image: Sears / Wishbook Web

This kid looks ready to handle some toxic waste.

Wagons out the wazoo

Image: Sears / Wishbook Web

The red Radio Flyer was the most coveted ride, but you could also trick it out with a covered Conestoga look — or get that awesome wagon roller coaster.

A very expensive typewriter

Image: Sears / Wishbook Web

In today's money, that's more than $800. No wonder people had such nice handwriting.

Ventriloquist dolls of your favorite TV dummies

Image: Sears / Wishbook Web

Who says being a "dummy" was a bad thing? Jerry Mahoney was a "famous TV funster." And you could have a replica of him on your knee!

Arcane exercise equipment

Those steam cabinets and vibrating belts always seemed to turn up in cartoons.

"Geriatric" pills for those over 35

Image: Sears / Wishbook Web

People sure live longer these days. Need proof? "Geriatric" pills were for anyone over 35. Hear that, Millennials? You're about to turn geriatric!

So many saddle shoes

If you weren't wearing black or white All-Stars, you were wearing black-and-white saddles.

Toys of your favorite Westerns

Image: Sears / Wishbook Web

Westerns dominated television — and all of pop culture. Kids could dress up just like Paladin or Matt Dillon.

Roy Rogers everything

Image: Sears / Wishbook Web

Back to Roy Rogers for a minute. There were pages of merchandise devoted to the crooning cowboy and his partner Dale Evans.

Extravagant robes and other formal loungewear

Image: Sears / Wish Book Web

Back then, people looked fancy when sitting around the house. Today, people look like they're sitting around the house when they're at the office.

Pink appliances

Just once we want to watch House Hunters and hear a couple say, "What we're really looking for are pink appliances." They were the marble countertops of '58!

Electric monorail

Image: Sears / Wishbook Web

There were pages of electric train sets. But what made our eyes light up was the optimistic futurism of this monorail today. We all thought this would be public transportation in the 21st century.

Designer bench car seat covers

Colorful upholstery seemed more important than seat belts at the time.

Home movie equipment

Image: Sears / Wishbook Web

Now all this gear — the camera, the lights, the projector — is in your phone and it's about the size of a dime.

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17 Comments

idkwut2use 39 months ago
Loved my saddle shoes. I very much want a colorful retro-style kitchen. And maybe some similarly cool car seat covers...
One of my brothers had an autograph hound for graduation within the past decade or so. One of them also insists on tons of top-notch home movie equipment, and every other sort of electronic.
Russ 52 months ago
I would have loved to have gotten the robot hands and mask for Christmas
bellawillson94 61 months ago
Agreed that old things we can see in the exhibition and I remember in the past day there is one exhibition and it is expensive and buy the Coupons Code
and see that and that one of the amazing experience and epic memories
Lucyneenah19701 64 months ago
I love the pink washing machine and dryer! I've always wanted a 1950's pink refrigerator! I like the saddle shoes, too.
Douglas 64 months ago
I had to laugh at the Lobsters delivered east of the Mississippi River statement. I grew up on the east side bank of the Mississippi River. I could taken my boat (or skated over in the winter) and yelled to the homes of the west side bank "No Lobsters for YOU'
NoahBody 64 months ago
Sad Clown Cheese ????
ImdaPrincesse NoahBody 63 months ago
Emmett Kelly.. He was the original Sad-Faced Clown. His son lived in Tombstone Arizona until he died.. They used to have a large celebration there every year in his honor..

TheKodakKid 64 months ago
The Autograph Hounds are still around. They usually show up in stores in April-May, and are marketed to those about to graduate from school.

The clown on the “Sad Clown Cheese”. Looks like Emmet Kelly. This was 10 years before I was born, and it wasn’t around by the time I remember it being a thing by the time I was checking out the wish books.
ImdaPrincesse TheKodakKid 63 months ago
It is him.. His son took over after he passed away.
jholton30062 64 months ago
And those radios had little Civil Defense marks at 640 and 1240 for CONELRAD. Notice how the radios appear to be endorsed by Civil Defense?

I wonder how Perry Como, a very modest Catholic, felt about having his record included in a deal for ladies' underwear...
DawnGraham 64 months ago
Some of this stuff was still around years later. I had an autograph dog in 1978
SkippyDevereaux 64 months ago
I would have LOVED to have received most of those items. Can you imagine how much the western toys, watches and shoes would be worth now if they were in mint condition?
Lantern 64 months ago
My folks got a great Christmas gift that year - me! I'm going to be 60 next month!
DawnGraham Lantern 64 months ago
Happy Early Birthday
MrsPhilHarris Lantern 64 months ago
Happy birthday Lantern.
Were you born on Christmas? My sister. {r.i.p.} and brother-in-law got a Christmas present in 1996. My nephew Jameson. He was their, {nearly} water baby. Becky had gone to the doctor for her regular check up and was informed that it would be a while before she would give birth. So, she went home and went upstairs to use the bathroom. While she was sitting on the throne, her water broke. If I'm remembering correctly, I think she stood up, and could see a little bit of him starting to emerge. So the ambulance was called, and Jameson came into this world exactly one week before Christmas, December 18, 1996. {My other nephew, and two nieces were born in a place where not many babies are born {Ha-ha!} the hospital! Happy Birthday to all of you born in December!
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