I often wonder how many of our customers pick up and regularly use our Oswald’s calendar every year. Since the early 80’s I have ordered and given out at least 500 calendars every year! I know my Dad, Grandfather and even Great Grandfather Oswald all gave away pretty much the same calendar.

The calendar, as I recall from my childhood, was the Rexall Calendar. I believe it was first printed in the mid thirties. The earliest calendars not only advertised Rexall brand products (the original “generics”) but also predicted the weather and gave the phases of the moon.

As time passed, they added horoscopes and a daily fishing guide. I remember them hanging in my Grandmothers kitchen, with all her meetings and events penciled in.

After Rexall’s demise in the eighties, the calendar was picked up by an outfit in Arizona. Without Rexall products to fill the pages, they added fun facts about each month, recipes and the popular “Handy Hints,” which were contributed by loyal calendar fans throughout the states. For the last 20 years, Creative Publishing in South Dakota has been the publisher.

Why this nostalgia about the Rexall calendar? I received a letter in February from Creative Publishing stating that they were discontinuing publication of the calendar. Though we will find another calendar to give away, I am going to miss the one I have pretty much used my entire life.

Time marches on, but a Helpful Hints app on my cell phone just won’t be the same!

Bill