Walk Like a Man, Dress Like a Monkee at Penney’s

In 1966 Davy Jones, Mickey Dolenz, Michael Nesmith, and Peter Tork (better known as The Monkees) had became pop music idols, television superstars, and international sensations. The boys were also becoming fashion icons with their English-Cowboy-Mod styles. Kids wanted to look their idols on TV and needed an outlet find these new fashions.

Monkees JCPenney Photo Shoot
The lads looking quite dapper in the JCPenney “Monkees Collection”.

Seeing the demand for this new fashion JCPenney teamed with Screen Gems to launch their new “Monkees Collection”. This new collection would feature double breasted vests with coordinating wool hats, tapered floral print shirts, buckled shoes, and of course super-tight trousers.

Monkees JCPenney Catalog
The Summer 1967 Penney’s catalog offered kids the chance to look like their favorite Monkee.

Also in 1966, producers were putting the finishing touches on the new Monkees album “More of The Monkees”. Penney’s thought that the release of the new album would be the perfect time to release their new clothing line. Hoping to cross-promote, Penney’s hired photographer Bernard Yeszin to do a photoshoot of the boys wearing clothes from the Monkees Collection.

The photos were supposed to be used exclusively for promotion of JCPenney however one of the pictures ended up being used for the cover of the new album. This was great for Penney’s, as kids could go to the store and get the exact clothes that their idols were wearing on the new album. The Monkees however weren’t very especially keen to the new album cover. They had hoped to use the album to help project their cool and eccentric look. Instead there they were, dressed in somewhat ordinary clothes from JCPenney.

More of the Monkees album cover
More of the Monkees would spend 18 weeks at number one.

Mickey and Davy were especially upset with the album cover. Davy later said in an interview that he had never seen the album until a young fan presented it to him asking him to autograph it. A confused Davy asked her what it was and she replied that it was his new album.

JCPenney Monkees newspaper ad

Either way it worked out for The Monkees and Penney’s. The album would spend 18 weeks at number one which would be the longest of any Monkees album. The clothing line enjoyed initial success and plans were made to develop a new section of the store known as Monkee Corner. This new section would see the addition of more Monkees styled clothing such as shoes and wallets. There was even plans for a girls line of Monkees clothing by legendary London designer Mary Quant.

But alas it wasn’t meant to be. By fall 1967 Monkees merchandise sales were plummeting and the plug was pulled on Monkee-Mania. There’s not even a mention of Monkee anything in Penney’s 1967 Christmas Catalog.

The monkees love Kellogg's
The Monkees shill for Kelloggs from the classic TV show.

Though the Monkees could be considered sellouts from the beginning, I still love them none the less. The music is great and just hearing the theme from the show instantly puts me in a good mood.

“Everything is as it is in this world and we either accept it or frustrate”
-Peter Tork

 

External Links

Monkees Live Almanac – Great Monkees fan site with lots of fun things Monkee related.

Monkees on YouTube – A playlist of all the classic episodes.

Advert Reactions: 10 Advertising Scans From a Dead Mall – Euclid Square

Here are 10 scans of retro advertisements from beyond the dead mall graveyard out of a 1987 issue of Euclid Square News.

 

Stride Rite

Mothers may trust Stride Rite but kids are certain to hate their mothers when they are forced to wear these ridiculous shoes.

Euclid Square Mall - Stride Rite

Flowerama

If a flower is worth a thousand words, you can say I love you four thousand times with a dozen roses for 18.95…What a great deal!

Euclid Square Mall - Flowerama

Docktor Pet Centers

“If you still have fleas you need to see us”…lol

Docktors Pet Center

Luv

Why did these ever go out of style? Seems like everybody’s grandad had one of these on the side of his Lay Z Boy recliner to keep all of the remotes in order.

Euclid Square Mall - Luv

Hough Bakeries

I felt somewhat uncultured when I had to Google “canapes”…after seeing what they are I don’t feel so bad, they look gross.

Euclid Square Mall - Hough Bakeries

My Fair Lady

Nothing screams high fashion like “Sweat Separates”.

Euclid Square Mall - My Fair Lady

The Gallery

Gift shopping would have definitely been an art at “The Gallery” if this Waterford crystal is the most exciting thing they have going for them. I really had to think about the SALE catch phrase on this ad for a while and I’m still not sure I get it.

Euclid Square Mall - The Gallery

Karmelkorn

This is actually a really good coupon, both the Karmelkorn and CheeseKorn were really good from what I can remember,  not sure I would pass out Popkorn balls at Halloween though. After a Google search I was pleasantly surprised to find Karmelkorn is still in business.

Euclid-Square-Mall-Karmelkorn

Taco Bell

A Mall food court staple even though Euclid Square Mall didn’t have a traditional food court. Taco Bell is actually pretty tasty in a pinch but I have to question the quality of the steak…But seriously, can you guys just bring back those Cinnamon Crispas already!

Euclid Square Mall - Taco Bell

CPI Photo Finish

The coolest thing I remember about the mall one hour photo places was that your photos would go by individually on a conveyer type machine as they were printed, and you could stand at the storefront window and watch. It was also nice that “Double Prints” were always included.

Euclid Square Mall CPI Photo

Be like yourself or be different with one of these Euclid Square Mall shirts from Untitled Colours.

Euclid Square Mall by turboglyde