Retro, Vintage, Passe, Nostalgic, items living new lives

Copyright: http://www.nostalgic-designs.com

We have all seen the shows on TV such as American Pickers, Pawn Stars, Cash and Cari, and Antique Roadshow. All show Retro, Vintage, Passe, Nostalgic, items being bought and sold which I find very interesting.  I record all of these shows with my DVR. We all watch these shows and we find ourselves interested in the history of the items and enjoy learning about the life of the items. What we don’t think about is where it goes after the sale. In shows like American Pickers and Pawn Stars we can often spot items that they have purchased in previous shows in the background on their shelves and display cases. But that doesn’t mean that these items stay on those shelves and collect dust. At some point they will sell and be on their way to a new home. That is what I find interesting. I can spend hours and hours and hours in antique shops, thrift stores, flea markets, and yard sales looking for items that I wish to rescue. I really have a problem haha. I never have collected items to make money. Otherwise it would not be as fun. Most if the items I have were either from my family, or things that I purchased to use or display. Rarely to I buy an Item that I do not plan to use. For example I own a ton of old vinyl records and even though they are really old and fragile, I still play them as they were originally intended to be. I take care of each of my items and I would never compromise the condition, but I do use my items. I have old cameras and I do use them from time to time. I used most of them during my time in my photography class in High School. On these shows each one has a different items that they buy and sell, but they have one thing in common, they all save Retro, Vintage, Passe, Nostalgic items and allow them to live another life, instead of being thrown away after not being noticed at an estate sale, or someone not knowing the value of that item. Everything has a value to someone. I have seen collections that range from simple common PEZ Dispensers to Maytag washing machines. So before you throw out anything, please check ebay to see if they have the item listed so you can see the demand, and also the cost of the item. Although even though there is only one listed on ebay this may not mean that there is a demand for it. As well as if there is a few of the item listed and one is selling for $1000 and the others are selling for $20 this does not reflect a true value. Just like auto auctions that are televised their prices are inflated. For example, I have seen a 1976 Ford Pinto sell on the Barrett Jackson Auto Auction on the Speed Channel for a jaw dropping $12,650. Which is outrageous. Especially for a car that sold new for just under $2000 and was meant to be a fix to the gas crisis, just like Toyota Prius’s are today. You can view the Pinto here “The 12,000 Pinto”

If you don’t have cable or have not see either of these shows, I will explain what each show is about.

Photo Copyright: http://www.cdn.wg.uproxx.com

Pawn Stars: (synopsis from Wikipedia) An American reality television series on the History Channel, produced in Manhattan by Leftfield Pictures. The series is filmed in Las Vegas, Nevada, where it chronicles the daily activities at the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop, a 24-hour family business operated by patriarch Richard Harrison, his son Rick Harrison (who opened the shop with his father in 1988), and Rick’s son Corey, who has worked there since childhood, and who is being groomed to one day take over the shop. The show debuted on July 26, 2009, and it usually airs on Mondays at 10pm Eastern Time. Two new episodes usually premiere in an hour block on Mondays. Reruns can be seen on History as well as Lifetime, which added the show in December 2010.

The series depicts the staff’s interactions with customers, who bring in a variety of artifacts to sell or pawn and who are shown haggling over the price and discussing its historical background, with narration provided by Rick, Corey, and Richard, who is known as “The Old Man”. The series also follows the interpersonal conflicts between Richard, Rick, Corey, and Corey’s friend Austin “Chumlee” Russell, another employee of the shop. One reviewer referencing these conflicts described the show as a version of Antiques Roadshow “hijacked by American Chopper’s” Teutul family. TV Guide has offered a similar description, calling the show “one part Antiques Roadshow, a pinch of LA Ink and a dash of COPS“.

Numerous local experts in a variety of areas also regularly appear to appraise the items being sold or pawned, one of whom, Rick Dale of Rick’s Restorations, is the star of the series’ first spin-off, American Restoration, which premiered in October 2010

Photo Copyrigh: http://www.inherited-values.com

American Pickers: (synopsis from Wikipedia) The show follows Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz, who have known each other since junior high school as they travel around the greater Midwestern United States as well as the eastern and southern U.S. in a Mercedes Sprinter, buying antiques and collectibles. They work with Danielle Colby-Cushman, who runs the office of their business, Antique Archaeology, from their home base in Le Claire, Iowa and attempts to track down potential sellers.

Wolfe and Fritz explore people’s homes, barns, sheds, and other outbuildings, and other places where they have collected antiques and collectibles. They call upon casual collectors, hoarders and, occasionally, people who have inherited overwhelming collections of apparent junk. Wolfe, who has been “picking” since age four,  has a particular interest in antique motorcycles, old bicycles and penny-farthings, while Fritz has a fondness for antique toys, antique oil cans, and old Hondas. They have purchased old advertisements and commercial signage, film posters, a rare 15-gallon visible gasoline pump, and a Piaggio Ape (similar to a Vespa Motor Scooter) that one of their friends told them is probably the only one of its kind in North America.

Photo Copyright: http://www.TVguide.com

Cash and Cari: A new reality series Cash & Cari, featuring antiques and collectibles enthusiast Cari Cucksey. For those of you who love potentially valuable old things, Cash & Cari is probably the show for you. The series, which premiered on January 2nd on HGTV, follows Cari Cucksey as she digs through her client’s basements and attics in the hopes of finding items of value. The episodes will follow her search for treasure and her attempts to sell the things she does come across at estate sales.

There is so many shows that I really get into but these are the main shows that I watch regularly. Some of the items that drop into their hands are amazing. Items that range from a book from Sir Isaac newton’s personal library, rare toys, antique firearms, and vintage collectibles. I am very happy that they have shows like this that help engage the younger generations into items that are Retro, Vintage, Passe, and Nostalgic. Older items are now considered “cool” to the younger crowds to where typically these items would be considered old junk. Although on the flip side of that, just like the auto auctions, it drives the prices up as people think that because they have an item that is similar to an item shown on either one of these shows that its worth a million dollars. So it does make things a little harder to afford, although again on the flip side of that, it does make my items worth more too. So if you get the chance to see these shows you can catch these shows at the following times and channels:

(Click on a show below to view their website for more info)

American Pickers: History Channel – On Mondays @ 6:00 PM

Pawn Stars: History Channel – On Mondays @ 7:00 PM & 7:30PM

Cash andCari: HGTV (Home and Garden TV) – On Monday’s (check HGTV for times)

I hope you all enjoy these shows while they are on. As we all know that the interest with Retro, Vintage, Passe, and Nostalgic items does come and go just as these shows will eventually be out of the spotlight of the public’s interest.

Thanks for reading,

WWII Themed New Years Party upon the USS Hornet

Last year we went to a new years party upon the USS Hornet aircraft carrier located at the former Alameda Naval/Air base in Alameda, California.  You can view my recap of what happened that night here: New Years 2010 Recap. Here are a few photos from last year’s event:

If you are looking for a safe, fun, unique, jumpin thing to do on new years, this is the place to be. We will be there. Hope to see you there as well!!

Thanks for reading,

Craigslist Find: Playland ticket book

Credit:www.cliffhouseproject.com

Hey everyone! I am always looking for things to spend the money I don’t have. I love gadgets, disneyana, old cameras, ford pinto related items, wwii items, and much more. Well the other day when I was looking on craigslist, I decided to search for playland. This was my first time searching for anything playland related on craigslist. I have done a few searches on ebay but never on craigslist. Anyways I noticed a listing that said “VINTAGE 1967/68 – Playland At-The-Beach * Ticket Book (MINT) * Unused – $25 (novato)”

So I took a look. The ad read:

VINTAGE 1967/68 – Playland At-The-Beach * Ticket Book (MINT) * Unused

I have a full unused ticket book for Whitneys – Playland At-The-Beach, in San Francisco.
It is a MINT CONDITION, complete with all 20 tickets – each for a 10 cent ride.

This is an “original” not a reproduction.
Tickets expire at the end of 1968 so figure these were issued somewhere around 1967/68.

Ticket booklet measures 2” tall x 5 ½” wide (approx)

There are (5) tickets per page – 4 pages = total of 20 tickets.

The ticket booklet is complete, very clean and MINT.
Slight discoloration on back cover (It looks like this might be the way it was printed – see pic)

$25 * Shipping is possible

He had similar photos like this of the ticket book

_____________________________________________

So I asked him if he would take $20 and he said “that’s a fair price” so we made the arrangements for me to go to Navato to pick them up (about and hour drive from my house)  When I got there and he showed me the tickets I was stunned on how nice condition they were. Not one bend in them! He even was nice enough to put them in a clear plastic cover then into a hard plastic protective sleeve! So I gave him the $20 and took them home. These are really a great piece of playland memorabilia. I am glad I was able to get them. Here are some photos of the actual tickets:

The only visual damage was this price marking that must of came from the garage sale he bought it from

$20 might be steep for a ticket book that originally cost $2.00 but where can you find these? So I really think that I found something fairly rare. When was the last time you seen tickets for playland? Most likely when you last went to playland. These will be in my collection of local americana for a long time. I have NO intention of selling these.  I can now say that I own a piece of Whitney’s Playland at the beach 🙂

For those of you who do not know what playland is please check out my blog entry about playland. Playland was a beach side amusement park located across from Ocean beach in San Francisco. Here are a few photos of Playland.  Playland unfortenatly closed in 1972 and was replaced by condos..

Thanks for reading,

Get In The Mood!

The World Famous

GLENN MILLER ORCHESTRA

onboard the

AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS HORNET

July 17, 2010

8:00pm – midnight
Doors open at 7:00pm

The Bay Area’s best place to dance!

Three Dance Floors on the Enclosed, Heated Hangar Deck!
Period Attire Welcome!

Cash Bars & Food Concessions Available!

FREE PARKING!

Free Dance Lessons by
Jim Truesdale, former Fred Astaire dance instructor
7:30pm – 7:55pm

GLENN MILLER OCHESTRA
8:00pm – midnight
Dancers and spectators alike can enjoy the many hits that made it to the Billboard chart including:
“American Patrol”
“In The Mood”
“Sing Sing Sing”
“Under The Apple Tree”

Singing Blue Stars of the USS HORNET
perform a “Tribute to the Andrews Sisters” during intermission

TICKETS:
Admirals’ Premium Reserved Seating – $98
Best View of Stage; Great Access to the Dance Floors

Captains’ Reserved Seating – $68
Limited View of Stage

General Admission – $45
($50 at the Door if Event is not sold out)
First-Come Seating Behind All Reserved Seating

View our Seating Chart

Group Rates Available
Museum Members receive $5 OFF Each Reserved or Cabaret Seat (limit 4)
Your ticket stub is good for free museum admission through September 30, 2009.

To Purchase Tickets Call:

510-521-8448 x282 (weekdays, 9am-4pm)
510-521-8448 x245 (weekends, 11am-3pm)

Or Online:
http://usshornet.stores.yahoo.net/eventtickets.html

Proceeds to benefit USS Hornet Museum, a 501(c)3 Nonprofit Organization

Food Concessions
Englund’s Café & Catering will have their famous
“Hot Sandwich Plates” available for purchase on the night of the dance.
Choice of: Barbecue Tri-Tip or Smoked Turkey, includes two side salads

Keepsake Photos
Doorstep Photography will be offering keepsake photos from your memorable night on the USS Hornet.
Photos are printed during the event so that you can take the photo home with you.

SPONSORS

NEXT DANCE:
Monster Bash featuring The Cocktail Monkeys — Saturday, October 30, 2010
New Years’ Eve Ball — Friday, December 31, 2010

See our Events Calendar for upcoming entertainment aboard the Hornet

Information and Reservations: (510) 521-8448 x 282.

_____________________________________________

We had a blast at the new years party they held. It was a top notch event. The only gripe that I had was the food. But they have hired a new caterer. We had so much fun, and it was an amazing feeling being dressed in period attire and dancing the night away on a ship that survived during the period these styles of clothing and music were at their peak.

I really got to thinking that if a ghost was to materialize no one would ever know..  lol.  If you enjoy old music, great dancing, and a great atmosphere you have to make it to this event! I am going for sure!!! I will dress in my grandfather’s WWII Army uniform again. I often wonder how many times he danced in his uniform. I have a photo of him from when he was at  a club near by Fort Bragg in North Carolina wearing the uniform.

My Grampa Johnson

Unfortunately I didn’t get the honor to meet him before he passed. When I wear his uniform I feel so proud. It is an honor to wear his uniform. Its the only thing that I really have from him. So this is my way of paying tribute to him and remembering him. I never met him but I am damn proud to be his grandson.

If you are interested in going to the event you must purchase tickets via their website: USS Hornet Big Band Dance

Hope to see you there!

Thanks for reading,

Trees of Mystery

My third post about the road trip that my family and I took last weekend. The furthest North we went in California was to Klamath California. This town has the best of every aspect of California. They have access to the wonderful national redwood forest, and also access to the pacific coast. The beach that we stopped by was so perfect in so many ways (other than being cold). When we were there it had just rained a few hours before arrived at the beach, it was a clearing before the next storm. Beach is completely vacant. You can see the thunderhead clouds rolling in and shadows along the waves and little sunlight rays peeking through the holes in the clouds and touching the wave tips.  Here are a few shots of what I could capture, although the photos do not do it justice.

Along our journey we stopped at the Trees of Mystery. Trees of Mystery is a roadside attraction in Klamath, California. It is alongside US Highway 101 in the Redwood National and State Parks. The property contains a number of unique tree formations, hence its name. It includes a 15 meter tall statue of Paul Bunyan and a 10 meter Babe the Blue Ox. In 2001 an aerial tramway was installed called the Sky Trail. It takes visitors to an observation deck where they can enjoy a view of the Pacific Ocean and surrounding forest.

Here are a few examples of the odd trees we seen:

There are more photos of these odd trees and more in the gallery below. Click on one to view:

The trees of mystery tour is awesome. You must stop by and take the tour. It is a little bit of a hike but nothing that you can’t handle..  Take the drive, see the trees and then go chill at the beach.

Thanks for reading,

Nature’s Drive Thru

Sorry for not writing a blog as religiously as I have been, I am wrapping up the final days of this school year, and a lot has been going on that is really kind of interesting. coworkers are retiring who I thought that they would outlast me at the ROP center. Some of the greatest teachers are not given contracts for various reasons. It just has been really crazy. I hope all the best to all of them as they find a better place in this economy. Any who, as I mentioned on Monday, my family and I went to the California Redwood forest of which I decided not to do a typical blog about the trip, I decided to do it in segments and individual posts. Today’s post is about Natures Drive Thru. What is that? In northern California they had a total of four redwood trees that you can drive your vehicle through I have been through three due to the fact that the Wawona tree fell due to its slight lean to the side and a load of snow on it’s crown. People have been driving through trees since 1887 starting with the Wawona Tree in Yosemite National Park. Here are some vintage photos that have been take through out the years of people and their vehicle driving through the trees.

This video was from South40db’s youtube. Clark and Erna Rogers, Dennis and Aggie Bayer took a 702 mile 3 day trip in their 1952 and 1953 Citroen Traction Avant cars. they went from Sausalito, CA to Grass Valley-Auburn-Fort Bragg-Leggett and back down the coast to Sausalito. In Leggett we drove our tractions through the Chandelier Tree.

So now that you have seen the many people and various vehicles that have passed through the drive thru trees, here are the photos we took of us and our red ford focus going through the 3 trees that are located in northern California.

So this concludes the post of the Nature’s Drive Thru. If you have the chance to visit these trees please do so.. It is an experience of a lifetime and it’s really a beautiful drive.

Thanks for reading,

Weekend Trip to the Redwoods Recap #1

Last weekend (May 21st – 23rd) My family and I took a trip to the northern California Redwoods National park. Instead of doing a recap of all the events and highlights that we experienced in chronological order, I decided to do posts of points of interest and their history. During our trip we went to Garberville California which is located on the “Avenue of the Giants” which is also known as CA-101. On the Avenue of the Giants route there are so many places to stop with really awesome roadside attractions including 3 giant redwoods that you can drive you vehicles through. One of the attractions that we ran across during our adventure was the “One-Log House”. When we think of a one log house you most likely think of a singular log cabin like the one Abe Lincoln lived in. Well  when they use the term “One log house” They literally mean one log. Not possible you say? Check this out:

Historical Photos from digthatcrazyfarout.com

Crafted in 1946 from a 2100 year old redwood, this section of the tree weighed 42 tons and took 8 months of labor to hollow out a room 7 feet hight and 32 feet long. With wheels attached it toured the United States in its early years, then settled in redwood country, arriving at its current location  (Garberville, California) in 1999. Just like home: the inside is furnished with living, dining, and bedroom areas.

This famous Northern California attraction was the result of a three month search for the perfect specimen Sequoia Sempervirens, which was finally located near the town of Orick, in Humboldt County, California.  After felling this 13 foot diameter forest giant, Art Schmock and a helper needed 8 months of hard labor to hollow out the log into a room 7 ft. high and 32 ft. long, weighing about 42 tons.  His plan was to take it on a cross country tour to promote the redwoods. However its excess size caused highway problems. Its first permanent home was at Hurrin’s Shell Shop at Clam Beach, in Northern Humboldt County.  It then became a redwood knick knack shop at  Leggett, Mendocino County, just off of the Redwood Highway. During a sojourn in Phillipsville, it slid into decay until the current owners bought and lovingly restored it to a new life along the Redwood Highway.

This was a really awesome sight to see and experience. I was surprised because what you see on the outside makes the inside seem small but once you walk inside it really is pretty spacious. I was most surprised when I was able to walk inside and not hit my head on anything. I could totally see myself living in something like this. It was about 50 degrees F’ outside. Inside the temperature was more like 65F or so.  It was a great thing to see. I highly recommend it if you are up that way. Below are some historical photos along with some more photos of the exterior and interior with wonderful girlfriend posing pretending to be a tenant. Click on the photo to enlarge:

If you have the chance you must go take a trip to the redwoods and see all the breath taking views and magnificent trees. It is for sure something you should put on your bucket list. Here is the location of the One Log House:

705 US Highway 101
Garberville, CA 95542-8701
(707) 247-3717

Through the week or so I will be posting more of what we went and seen during our trip to the redwoods.

Thanks for reading,

Holy one legged ant farm Batman!, it’s retro prints

Sorry for not posting as religously as I have. I have been under the weather this week.  I was looking on ebay and found these prints. All of the prints that I am showcasing are being sold to help support a non profit organization: Cat Adoption and Rescue Efforts, Inc. (C.A.R.E.) is an organization dedicated to the rehabilitation, care, and adoption of cats and kittens rescued from euthanizing shelters in the Richmond, VA metropolitan area. Our main goals are to provide animals with safety and comfort, to place them into home(s) in which they will receive a quality lifetime commitment, and to establish a mutually beneficial relationship with the community. We are committed to the highest principles of humane care for all animals.

They have only a few prints but they are really neat. These are signed limited edition art pieces. Each one has a number and is signed. Here are some examples:

Here is an example of what it could look like in your house:

These would look great in any house decor. Please check out the artists Ebay store for more details. Puppetoon’s online store

Thanks for reading,

A dream that will never fade

If you are a regular visitor to my blog, you will know that I absolutly LOVE Disneyland. I love the history, nostalgia, technology, and the way that all of your worries and troubles disappear once you step foot onto Main Street. If you have been living under a rock for the last 60 decades, Disneyland was designed from a dream of cartoonist, and movie producer/maker Walter Elias Disney. Walt Disney had this dream of creating an amusement park that both children and adults could enjoy. He had so many ideas that he used to make you feel certain ways through out the park. For example Walt once said “I don’t want the public to see the world they live in while they’re in the Park (Disneyland). I want to feel they’re in another world.”.  He captured and perfected that effect , by visually over stimulating your eyes with so many visual details that it is impossible to take it all in.  By over stimulating your brain with all these details it forces out whatever is on your mind.

My first time that I visited the park was in 1998. Since my first visit I have been hooked. I have read books, got involved in websites and forums, raid ebay on rare odd Disneyland items, and find dvd’s and home movies from either film footage from the Disney company or personal family films. I browse youtube and oftern find a bunch of neat videos of rare footage such as walkthroughs to emergency exits due to a ride breaking down and  little secrets (like areas that people don’t know exist.)

Today I have a few videos and photos that I ran across through out my search of nostalgic Disneyland and or rare footage of the park.

So without any further adieu lets start with some photos. All of these photos belong to a blog that I follow called Gorrilas Don’t Blog

These are photos of Disneyland in its younger years somewhere near its opening year 1955.

Now for the videos. All videos can be found on theeditor84’s Youtube site

This is archival footage of the park’s birth. Using time-lapse and traditional eye-in-the-sky photography, this is a dazzling piece of history, presenting how the fearless construction crews had Disneyland up and running in just under a year. Again: just under a year. commentary by Tony Baxter, Ed Hobleman, and Walter Magnuson, who discuss the frantic construction of the park. Courtesy of Walt’s persnickety insistence to document everything.

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

Walt was a very imaginative man. His mind was always working.  He constantly thought about how he could do things better even when things were at their best. Unfortunately Walt was a chain smoker and as a result of that he died of lung cancer. Although since his death, over 4 decades later his dream is still putting smiles on children’s faces, and putting adults instantly back into their childhood. My dream job would be to be the care taker of Disneyland, to help preserve Walt’s dream and visions. I am planning to go to Devry University for engineering classes, and for my senior project (graduation year end project) I plan to make it something that Disneyland could use or add to the park. Walt made an apartment above the fire station on Main Street. When he was in the park he would turn on the lamp that is located in the center window on the second floor of the fire house. when the lamp was seen on, everyone new that “the boss” was in. Since his death they leave the lamp on to pay tribute to the man responcible for the creation of Disneyland. Everytime I visit Disneyland, I always walk by the fire house on the way in and say “good morning Walt” and on the way out at closing, I always say “Good night Walt”. Why do I call him Walt instead of “Mr.Disney”? Walt never liked being called Mr. Disney. This is why all name tags on all cast members say their first name and not their last name. Disneyland is my place of serenity. I wish I was there now..

Thanks for reading,

____________________________________________

Roger that, prepare for music

Check out these new retro styled headphones from a partnership between Roc Nation & Skullcandy.  The Aviator headphones are the first audio creation from the joint venture and are available in black, white and brown.

The headphones cups can be folded into the headband saving a little space when travelling and they come with their own carry case. The brown version comes with semi translucent covers over the speaker cups allowing you to see the mechanics and speakers inside.

Roc Nation & Skullcandy Retro Aviator Headphones will be available during June 2010. Unfortunately there no indication of price at the moment.

These are replicating the head sets that WWII pilots wore while in flight. Here are a few photos of what the originals looked like. Also a few examples of what kind of planes these were used in.

You can find more information on Skull Candy’s website: Skull Candy – Roc Nation

Thanks for reading,