Made of plastic, blow-mold yard decorations became popular during the post-World War II housing boom, when everyone was buying a tract home and adorning it for the holidays, both inside and out. Constructed of mold-injected plastic with a single light inside, these freestanding holiday statues took the form of Santas, snowmen, reindeer, carolers, the nativity, and pretty much every Christmas character imaginable (and many that were just familiar characters, like Snoopy or Winnie the Pooh). These plastic decorations were replaced in popularity during the 1990s by inflatables, which were bigger, didn't fade, and were easier to store in the garage or basement during off-season.

Still, many traditionalists and nostalgia buffs love the hard plastic blow molds, and some continue to be made. Consult this list of blow mold brands and manufacturers to help you identify a collectible character you might be searching for, or to locate blow molds that are still being made.

Where to buy new and old blow mold yard decorations.

•Artistic Latex Form Company

Where: New York
Products: Choir figures, nativity and cigar store Indians.

•Beco Products

Products: Angels, choir, ornaments, Christmas trees, gnomes, nativity, lamp posts, snowmen, policemen, candles, reindeer, Star of Bethlehem, churches, elves, sleighs, egrets,

•Bel Air Plastics

Products: Santas, carolers, noel candles,

•Borse Plastics Products

Where: Illinois
Products: Snowmen, Santas.

•Carolina Enterprises

Products: Animals, snowpeople, Santa and Mrs. Claus, toy soldiers,

•Dapol Industries

Products: Santas, oil lamps, holiday signs, reindeer, candles, snowmen, lamp posts, Halloween, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,

•Drainage Industries

Products: Geese, Santas, snowmen, candy canes, nativity.

•Empire Plastics

Where: North Carolina
Products: Santas, snowpeople, clown snowmen, derby hat snowmen, mod angels, nativity, Santa with sleigh and reindeer, candles, Star of Bethlehem, elf with mailbox, traditional carolers, camel, wreath with candle, elves, panda, Snoopy with Woodstock, candy canes, toy soldiers, Father Christmas, lamp posts..

•General Foam Plastics

Where: Norfolk, Virginia
Products: Snowmen, Santas, nativity, lamp posts, railroad cars, angels, candy canes, carolers, bear cubs, penguins, realistic white and brown reindeer with antlers, teddy bear, wisemen, donkeys, horses, elf holding candy cane, elf with presents, elf with mailbox, polar bear, Santa faces, gnomes, sheep, soldier.More »

•Grand Venture

Products: Nativity, stars, angles, snowmen, Santas, candles, Santa with reindeer and sleigh, Mr. Charcoal, Mr. Piggy, Mr. Rooster, drummer.