Vintage Boys’ Life Magazine January 1958 – Winter Camping, Polar Bear Cover, Scout Gear Ads

Description

Add a classic piece of scouting history to your collection with this January 1958 issue of Boys’ Life. The cover showcases a beautiful illustration of a polar bear family, tying into the theme of winter camping—one of the featured articles. This issue is packed with stories and tips for young scouts, making it a perfect addition for vintage magazine enthusiasts and lovers of outdoor adventure. Measuring 10.5″ x 13″, it’s an ideal collectible for those interested in scouting, 1950s Americana, and vintage advertisements.

Pabst Cereal Scout Equipment Ad
The inside front cover highlights an exciting promotion for scout gear through Pabst Cereals. With the tagline “I got this charcoal grill FREE just for saving labels!,” the ad showcases a range of scout equipment, including flashlights, cooking gear, and tools, all available by collecting cereal labels. For those interested in the history of Pabst Cereals, the brand, once known for producing various products, is now part of historical food product collections.

Wallace Brown Greeting Cards Ad
The back cover features a colorful Wallace Brown Greeting Cards ad, encouraging boys to make extra money by selling greeting cards. The ad promises potential earnings of $50 to $250, appealing to the entrepreneurial spirit of young scouts. Wallace Brown was a popular company offering kids and teens a way to earn money through sales. The vintage design and layout make this a nostalgic piece for collectors of mid-century advertising.

Articles and Content
Inside this January 1958 issue, you’ll find scout-related content and outdoor adventure stories. The cover story on winter camping provides useful tips for scouts heading into the great outdoors during colder months, emphasizing safety and preparation. Additional features like the “Basketball Mystery at Central High” offer thrilling fiction for readers, while Marie Holesmead’s serial “Heritage of a Future Day” concludes in this issue.

Advertisements and Collectibles
Beyond the scout gear and greeting card ads, this issue also features a small Heathkit ad, promoting their easy-to-build electronics kits, including radios and amplifiers. Heathkit was a beloved brand for hobbyists and scouts interested in technology, and you can still find a modern version of the company offering DIY electronic kits at Heathkit’s website. Whether you’re a collector of vintage electronics or scouting gear, these ads capture the ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit of the time.