1960s Fred Kail “Joe Jolter” Stadium Ashtray Figures (8)

Presented is a stunning array of the iconic Fred Kail Joe Jolter Stadium Ashtray figures, easily the most unusual subset of the famous “Joe Jolter” creations that featured a cartoonish interpretation with exaggerated facial features and shoulder pads adorning an ill-fitting but endearing uniform. Typically offered as individual pieces, the offered group presents a rare opportunity to pick up a large number of the campy, charming “ashtrays” that feature the Small Standing Lineman 5 ½-inch pieces neatly perched at one end of an elegant 8 ½-by-6-inch generic football stadium. The Maryland native Kail launched his unlikely vocation with pieces dressed as his hometown Baltimore Colts, with legend coyly suggesting that Hall of Fame lineman Art Donovan and his decidedly unathletic appearing physique might be the inspiration for the design. Kail started selling the pieces at Memorial Stadium, eventually becoming so popular that the line was expanded to include other NFL teams and he signed an agreement to have the ceramic figures produced in Japan. Ultimately, the Kail figures would lay claim to being the first officially licensed NFL product in 1961. The roster of figures included the 10-inch “Joe Jolter” Large Standing Lineman, a 5 ½-inch Small Standing Lineman, Large Down Lineman “Bruce Bruiser” (6 inches wide and tall), a 3 ½-inch Small Down Lineman and the Large Stadium Ashtray. The group presents in outstanding fashion, typically Ex-Mt or better, with some qualifiers noted in the listing, most significantly chronicling the handiwork of some unspeakable Neanderthal who actually used this treasured piece as an ashtray. Here’s the breakdown Small Standing Lineman Stadium Ashtrays (8): 1) Rams – superb piece without issues; 2) Colts – superb piece without issues; 3) Bears – tiny scratch to the Stadium section; 4) Browns – outstanding example with only tiny nicks to the Stadium section and miniscule nicks to the decal Nos.; 5) Cardinals – nick to the Stadium section and to the Cardinals decal on the Stadium end; 6) Packers – Small Lineman figure has left foot repaired, with nicks to jersey and shoulder decal Nos.; 7) Steelers – tiny nicks to jersey and decal numbers, plus some discoloration to Stadium exterior; and 8) Pro and College Schedules – with significant chips to Stadium, lesser ones to the jersey and shoulder numbers. This is the artifact where some unthinking beast snuffed out his cigarette on the playing field. Tsk, tsk.