Denny’s Adventures in Allee Willis’ “Willis Wonderland” (Part 108 – August 2010)

Submitted by denny March 1st, 2011
Certifikitsch Winner

I’ve been obsessing over this Seeburg – Wall-O-Matic that hangs in the kitchen at “Willis Wonderland”.

I love Allee’s fruit and veggie people.

Garlic with faces. Had to post these as I am a huge lover of all things garlic!

I felt like this yesterday.

Back of the nutcrackers.

13 Responses to “Denny’s Adventures in Allee Willis’ “Willis Wonderland” (Part 108 – August 2010)”

  1. Allee Willis

    The Seeburg Wall-O-Matic hangs on my kitschen wall but it used to go with a matching early 50’s jukebox downstairs. It’s not like me to give anything up but I did sell the jukebox as it was completely massive and blocked my back door. Every time I tried to move it it completely wrecked the floor. And when it comes to jukeboxes I really love more modern ones from the 60s and 70s, one of which I still have but have no room for in the house. So I sold it to someone who had begged me for it forever and gave it a very nice home. But I couldn’t bear to part with the wall unit so it still hangs.

    The apple person in the second photo is Alice Apple and she’s a bank. https://www.alleewillis.com/awmok/kitschenette/2009/10/02/alice-apple-savings-bank/

    I have quite a few garlic salt shakers. https://www.alleewillis.com/awmok/kitschenette/2010/05/11/garlic-salt-shaker/

    Same for the nutcrackers in the last photos: https://www.alleewillis.com/awmok/kitschenette/2009/10/28/allee-willis-kitsch-o-the-day-hms-nutcracker/

  2. Douglas Wood

    With all the whimsical/scary anthropomorphizing I feel like I’m in Pee Wee’s Playhouse. Love Alice Apple and the nutcrackers too (which are even more effective when displayed as a duo).

  3. denny

    What I love is being able to hold this kitsch in my hands.

    I am so jealous over the Seeburg Wall-o-Matic Jukebox. It’s one of my favorite items at Willis Wonderland.

  4. Karen

    Talk about a collection!

    Allee~with all you have in there is there ever a time that you walk past something and forget you had it or try to remember where you got it from?

    I am envious although we all have wonderful collections its just you always want what someone else has…like what Allee has. I want all that she has and probably stuff she hasn’t even acquired yet!!

    Is that a bad thing???

    • Allee Willis

      No, not a bad thing! I’ve been collecting since 1969. Things were so dirt cheap back then so I had an opportunity to acquire massive amounts of stuff while everything was still cheap. Things really changed when MTV launched as rock videos were so full of vintage artifacts and clothing. That’s when prices started to skyrocket and things became much more scarce because idiots who had no idea what this stuff really was and just wanted it because they saw in a video started snapping things off the shelves. Where you could really see this happening was in vintage clothing. Stores used to be stocked with incredible things for $10 and under and all of a sudden people who otherwise never would’ve worn anything like that were wearing it. They really didn’t know how to take care of it so a lot of the stuff literally disappeared.

      As for your question of if I ever walk past something in my house I forgot I had I don’t think that’s ever happened. However, whereas in the past I could always tell you where I got something from and how much it was, I’m appalled at how much I’ve forgotten in recent years. Then again, with a 40 year collection I guess that isn’t surprising. And it’s not just what’s in my house. I have a 2000 square-foot storage garage that’s packed to the brim as well!

  5. Karen

    I would love to wander thru that garage. You should sell tickets…as goofy as that sounds do you realize how many people would be in line for that….

    • Allee Willis

      Well, I desperately need to make some $$, so not a bad idea! Though I just rent the storage garage and I know the building owner would never allow that. But I’ve often thought of doing that here at Willis Wonderland. That’s the real tour…

  6. denny

    Karen, “Willis Wonderland” can literally knock the breath out of you. When I walked in there for the first time, I didn’t even say hello right away! Allee had to calm me down by feeding me one, very large pie.

  7. missmoppetkitty

    I have one of those nutcrackers, I thought he was just for making noise. Now, I know! The animate food is great, to.