Passing Legends

Tony Curtis and his Rolls Royce. Ralph Crane. 1961. LIFE Magazine.

I'm world famous, everywhere I go there are people who love me because I've been able to bring them some joy from the movies I've made.
-Tony Curtis

On this day in history we lost two Hollywood Legends.

In case you've been living in a box, movie star Tony Curtis died today at age 85.

And up-and-coming young film actor James Dean tragically passed...in 1955.

Stop Making Sense

Stop Making Sense. No, seriously.

The title of the 1984 Talking Heads concert video which has been hailed as "one of the greatest rock movies ever made". I concur. Directed by Jonathan Demme, it was shot over the course of three nights at Hollywood's Pantages Theater in December of 1983.

I own it. Have seen it at least a dozen times. And it gets better and better the more I watch. After repeat viewings you begin to notice the subtle nuances that make it so great. The slow introductory roll into Pyscho Killer. David Byrne's quirky-jerky style as he shuffles around on stage in his oversize suit. His mannerisms are so well executed that they seem almost scripted (maybe they were). The wild excitement of the backing singers and the raw emotion of the band. It is pure performance art and everyone is having a blast.

I await a Talking Heads reunion with baited breath as individual egos continue to stifle communication. I suppose that (ultimately) a reunion would be too perfect.

Afterall, it wouldn't make sense.












Psycho Killer:



Life During Wartime:




Making Flippy Floppy:




Burning Down the House:




Girlfriend is Better. The title of the concert video comes from lyrics in this song:




Tom Tom Club's party hit, Genius of Love. A side project by the husband and wife team of Tina Weymouth and Chris Frantz:




And my all-time personal favorite, This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody):




Here's an encore in-studio version, because I love the song so much:

Home

LCD Soundsystem "Home"

A Work of Persol

"When I believe in something I fight like hell for it."

-Steve McQueen

I rarely spend more than $10 bucks on eyewear these days. The only specs I need have tinted lenses and I still find ways to chip, crack, break, lose (etc) them.

Today I tried on the Persol PO 714SM Steve McQueen Special Edition. I may have to ante up for a pair.

Get some.

"Live Today. Tomorrow Will Cost More."

The title of this post was the once famous slogan from the now defunct Pan American World Airways. Cultural icon of the 20th Century.

Pan Am existed at a time when air travel was new and cool, it was ok to hit on the "stewardessessessess", and it didn't take five hours to get through security. Because, well, there was no security.

When I was younger my family took our semi-annual trips from Houston to London on Pan Am. We flew steerage on the Jumbo Jet and back then it was okay to smoke and get sauced on flights. It looks glamorous in old movies right? Yeah, well, when you're stuck on a nine hour flight and everyone is smoking the entire trip it pretty much just sucks. Especially when you're squinting through the haze on the one screen to watch Corey Haim in Lucas.

Pan Am Clipper - 747 Jumbo Jet.

Anyway, the airline company may be dead but the brand continues to live on through a variety of goods; primarily these kickass bags:

Marc Jacobs approved.

I purchased mine (below) a few years ago and can testify to the fact that it makes a perfect carry-all for flights, weekend trips, whatever. I get stopped all of the time in airports by people asking me where I purchased it from. Plus, it looks dope.

Just Because

Denim Debate

The Fall season is upon us and we should all be spending more time outdoors enjoying what little sunshine we have left...until next Spring, that is. What that really means is that you should be wearing more denim; whether you're a naturalist, an urbanite, or a suburbanite.

Wearing pants, for some, may seem like a personal thing, but for the folks over at Denim Debate it's a quest for enlightenment.

Breaking in new selvedge denim may be a bitch, but at least now you're in good company. Share the angst. Get out. Explore.

Retro Obsession: Ford Bronco

Through five successive generations, Ford's Bronco provided a more brutish, yet fun, alternative to it's wildly successful line of rugged pickup trucks. That's a shit-ton of American steel (and jobs).

For years now I've flirted with the idea of purchasing one of these late-model squirrel killers. A ratted out, jacked up, rusty Bronco with a faux wood dash and cheap aftermarket seat covers. You can almost smell the burning oil.

More recently, however, I've been digging the late 60s/early 70s models. They are damn near works of art when restored correctly. And now I want one.

The Ford Bronco. Perfect for camping trips, mountaineering, towing shit, hauling dead animals, or outrunning the cops. Unleash your inner redneck.




1983 Ford Bronco ad. The red interior makes it easier for mountain patrol to spot your lifeless body amidst all of that snow.

1976 Bronco.

1979 Bronco.

1982 Ford Bronco ad.

Matt Houston's die-cast metal Bronco. Rad chest hair and mustache not included.

1973 Ford Bronco.

1980 Ford Bronco ad. The family wagon that gets such terrible mileage that you'll need to trade one of your kids for gas money.

1972 Bronco.

1966 Bronco.

1978 Ford Bronco ad. Riding shotgun with the Brawny Man and his dog Skip.

1977 Bronco.

1975 Bronco.

1975 Bronco interior.

Oh yeah, you've got this.

DC Big Flea Market: September 18-19

I've posted about this show once before, but haven't been back in months. Sometimes it's good to take a little break; especially since it's usually the same dealers hawking the same old tired junk. This weekend's show was limited to the one convention hall, but was packed to the rafters with people.

If you are going with the intent to buy, I have found that it is always good to have a plan. For example, today I knew I was going to be looking for vintage deskware for the new office. This greatly limited impulse spending.

Now, on to the goods...

This dealer had a pretty good selection of vintage movie posters.

This guy's booth always draws a crowd. Now you know why.

Dollhouse? Interesting.

These types of kits were popular throughout the 1960s. This particular one must have been a store display piece, and featured a real working engine and drifeshaft.

A small but amazing selection of mid-mod furniture and accessories.

Vintage military gear is always popular.

The formica dining table was unique in that the leaf was included. That's pretty rare.

What a great sign. Unfortunately the mercury was long gone.

"I Pity the Fool!"

Vintage Ray-Ban aviators and a can of Old Milwaukee suds? Sounds about right to me.

I've always been a Pac-Man junky, and I had that exact same lunchbox when I was a kid. Not a bad buy at $65 (I didn't get it) considering the thermos was included.

The Jimmy Carter Presidential Campaign coloring books were a warehouse find. Absolutely hilarious.

I'll be kicking myself later for not purchashing that vintage Georgetown pennant. They are impossible to find here in the DC area.

Some pretty decent furniture, but those two matching chairs in the front were going for $650. Rip. Off.


So what the hell did I buy? I actually made out pretty well. See for yourself:

I popped immediately on this vintage plant stand. I've wanted one for awhile, and at only $40 it was way cheaper than what I've been able to find on eBay. The fiberglass is a little scuffed and scratched, but I have a few project ideas in mind.

I saw this desk fan and knew that I wanted it for the office. It was only $18 and needs a little cleaning up, but it works great. I date it back to the 1940s.

Ural Factory Motorcycles

OK, so I mocked the Ural a bit in my last post. But, the manufacturer has a pretty neat little history. Check it out.

V Trip

Today was the day. I finally trailered up the Enfield for transport down to Velocity Motorcycles in Richmond, VA. I dropped it off for a full service and state inspection. At last.

I'm looking at a four week wait until they can get around to servicing the bike, but I'm cool with that. It's over to the experts now.




The showroom floor.

1973 Norton Commando 850.

1971 BSA Thunderbolt.

Royal Enfield Cafe Racer.

Ducati Cafe Racer. Not for Sale.









It's tough to look tough on a Ural. There's a Commie joke in here somewhere.

No trip to Richmond is complete without a visit to Buz and Ned's. Home of the Flay Slayer.