Thursday, December 30, 2010

Retro: Kimmer

Retro: Kimmer

Link to Retro: Kimmer

THE VENTURES: PURE AND POWERFUL

Posted: 30 Dec 2010 09:16 PM PST



In 1958, Bob Bogle and Don Wilson formed the nucleus of the original music group, The Ventures. The duo was joined a few years later by Nokie Edwards to record "Walk, Don't Run". The song hit Billboard's Singles Chart on July 18, 1960 and peaked at #2. The rest, as they say, is history. The band became one of the most popular and biggest selling acts of the 1960s, and was prolific during the 60's in terms of touring and recording, particularly albums.


The Ventures Website

* Don Wilson - Rhythm Guitar - (co-founder in 1958)
* Bob Bogle - Lead and Bass Guitar- (co-founder in 1958)
* Nokie Edwards - Lead and Bass Guitar- (joined in 1960)
* Gerry McGee - Lead and Bass Guitar- (joined in 1968)
* Bob Spalding - Lead and Bass Guitar- (joined in 1981)
* Mel Taylor - Percussion -

From the Rock Hall of Fame
:



The Ventures are the most successful instrumental combo in rock and roll history. They also rank among its most prolific bands, too. They're best remembered for a pair of Sixties smashes, "Walk – Don't Run" (My favorite) "The Lonely Bull" and "Hawaii Five-O."



Yet their most impressive feat was charting 38 albums from 1960 to 1972. The Ventures' "big guitar sound" made them the instrumental institution in the Sixties, Guitar Player magazine called them "the quintessential guitar combo of the pre-Beatles era, [who] influenced not only styles, but also a generation's choice of instruments." The Ventures' influenced all of the bands in Detroit. Even the Mighty MC5 played instrumentals in their early incarnations.



This was my Mom's lp that I grew up hearing and I love it to this day. Hey I think I'll go buy from I Tunes!



The Ventures Guitars:

During their first years (1958–1963), the Ventures played Fender guitars (typically a Jazzmaster, a Stratocaster, and a Precision Bass) for both their live performances and their recording sessions.



These instruments are prominently visible on the covers of three early albums: "The Ventures", "Bobby Vee Meets the Ventures", and "The Colorful Ventures."

Then, in the early 1960s, California guitar manufacturer Mosrite designed and marketed a uniquely styled, futuristic-looking electric guitar called "The Ventures Model." The band adopted these guitars (which included a bass model) and first used them on The Ventures in Space (1963), one of their most influential albums because of the unique, unworldly guitar sounds it contained.

From 1963 through 1968, a statement on their album covers announced that The Ventures used Mosrite guitars "exclusively" (The Ventures and designer Semie Moseley were partners in the distribution of these instruments). After the expiration of their contract with Moseley, the Ventures returned to playing mainly Fender guitars. Only rarely have they used Mosrite guitars since that contract ended.

In the mid-1990s, Fender issued a limited edition Ventures Signature Series of guitars consisting of a Jazzmaster, a Stratocaster, and a Jazz Bass, all with specifications determined by the band.

BOEING LAUNCHES THE 747: FEB 9, 1969

Posted: 30 Dec 2010 05:03 PM PST


Boeing 747

"You know, this is one of the great ones." That's what Charles Lindbergh once said to Joe Sutter. He was talking about the 747. He might just as well have said it about Sutter himself, the Boeing engineer who spearheaded the design and construction of the legendary airplane.



On February 9th, 1969, the first flight of the Boeing 747 took place, and this was called the -100 series. . The new versions have winglets, as well as an "all glass" cockpit, meaning computers and screens, eliminating the need for a flight engineer, with about a third of the instruments, indicators, dials etc.



Boeing flies its 747 model for the first time. The jumbo jet, christened the City of Everett, is the first new Boeing transport not painted in Boeing's traditional prototype colors of brownish-copper and yellow.



Crowds of people gathered at Paine Field in Everett that morning to witness the flight of the largest transport plane in the world. On board were pilot Jack Waddell, co-pilot Brien Wygle, and flight engineer Jess Wallick. The weather started off bad, but at 11:00 a.m. the clouds began to thin.



Waddell eased the throttles forward. The superjet accelerated down the runway, its nose lifting. Halfway down the field the giant plane took flight at 164 m.p.h.

Accelerating the craft up to 184 m.p.h., Wadell ascended to 2,000 feet, circled the airport and began climbing to 15,500 feet. Following the 747 was a North American f-86 chase plane, its pilot acting as an observer.



The 747 model has a wing span of 195 feet, 8 inches and a length of 231 feet, 10 inches. This makes the plane 53 feet greater than the 707-300, and 79 feet longer. The 747, at 735,000 pounds, weighs almost twice as much as the 707.

With a cruising speed of over 600 m.p.h., the 747 has a service ceiling of 40,000 feet, and a range of about 6000 miles. The plane can carry up to 450 passengers, up to 270,000 pounds of cargo, or a mixture of both.

In order to build the 747, Boeing built a new facility in Everett. At 472 million cubic feet of space, it is the largest building in the world.



In the early 1960s, airlines started thinking about larger jetliners to accommodate the growing number of air passengers Boeing's market research showed that air-passenger growth would be dramatic and concluded that only a plane that could hold more than 300 passengers could manage this increase.

Pan American Airway's president Juan Trippe was especially interested in such a plane, first talking about it with Boeing's president William Allen in the fall of 1965 and pushing to make it a reality. The two signed a letter of intent in December to develop what would be the 747.

Trippe formally ordered 23 passenger and two freight versions in April 1966, an order totaling $550 million. And once non-U.S. airlines realized that Pan Am planned to dominate the international airline market with the 747, they also ordered some.

Nevertheless, building the plane was a highly risky undertaking for Boeing, both financially and technically. It stretched both airframe and engine technology. The company committed to an ambitious development schedule and also required Pratt & Whitney, the company that would be providing the engine, to quickly come up with a turbofan engine powerful and dependable enough.

The massive airplane required construction of a new plant. This 200-million-cubic-foot (5.7-million cubic meter) assembly plant—the world's largest enclosed space, large enough to hold 43 football fields—north of Seattle, cost $200 million and put the company in debt right from the start. From the time the company decided to proceed with the project, $2 billion were invested in the project. Daily expenditures in 1969 reached $6 million per day.



EVERETT, Wash., Nov. 15, 1999 -- The only airplane with a name that's a household word - the Boeing 747 - has added yet another award to an already crowded trophy case: its own postage stamp.

In an employee celebration in the Everett factory where the world's fastest subsonic jetliner is built, the U.S. Postal Service today unveiled the new 33-cent "Jumbo Jet" postage stamp, which goes on sale Thursday at post offices nationwide.

"Being honored with a stamp is especially meaningful because our 747 is included with two other very significant events in aviation history also receiving stamps - the Wright brothers first flight in 1903 and Charles Lindbergh's crossing of the Atlantic," said Phil Condit, Boeing chairman and chief executive officer. "I think that's pretty good company."


JACQUELINE KENNEDY MARRIES ONASSIS 1968

Posted: 30 Dec 2010 02:13 PM PST


Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis

As the most glamorous wife of an American President (John F Kennedy), Jacqueline Lee Bouvier remained one of America's most glamorous First Ladies. Having established herself as the style icon while in the White House, Jackie's, courage and dignity following the public assassination of her husband on November 22, 1963, won her admiration and respect across the world. Though some of her detractors thought her copying Abraham Lincoln's funeral ceremony was a bit over the top. The eternal flame was another of Jackie's dramatic ideas.

After moving with her children from the White House into an apartment on Fifth Avenue NYC, Jackie and her children kept a very low profile. Jackie was terrified that attempt on her life or her children might be in the works.


Jacqueline Kennedy marries Aristotle Onassis

During that time she was seen with a number of escorts.. Then the unthinkable happened... Bobby Kennedy was also assassinated. Now Jackie was totally in need of escape. Following the death of Robert F Kennedy in June 1968, Jackie, Edward Kennedy and her children were invited as guests on board the palatial yacht "Christina" by it's millionaire owner Aristotle Onassis...

It was a whirlwind engagement. The world was in shock! America's princess was marrying a much older man. Onassis wasn't handsome but he certainly was wealthy. Jackie would feel safe under his protection.



Onassis bought his bride-to-be an astonishing 40-carat Marquise Lesotho III diamond ring – sold at auction for $2.59 million in 1996.



On October 20, 1968, Jackie married 'Ari' in a small Greek Orthodox ceremony on Onassis' private island of Skorpios. Among the guests were the Jacqueline's mother and her step father, two of President Kennedy's sisters and her children.



As a result of the marriage, the former First Lady lost the Secret Service protection entitled to her as a widow of an American president. She was also given a new name in the media – one by which she is arguably now best known – Jackie O The marriage was difficult as the media revealed every sordid detail daily. Rumors of Onassis cheating with his old flame Maria Callas and rumors of Jackie having other escorts as well filled the tabloids.



Jacqueline divided her time between NYC, The Island of Skorpios and her husband's home in Paris with her children until Aristotle's death on March 15, 1975. The constant topic back then was rumors of an iron clad prenuptial agreement being in place. But we all knew our Jackie would win out in the end.

Though Onassis' daughter Christina despised Jackie she reached an amicable agreement with her step mother and Jackie was free to follow her own personal dreams.

Now just 46 years old and a widow for the second time, she returned to New York where she began to work as a book editor.



Jacqueline Kennedy-Onassis Timeline

FRAMED FOR CHRISTMAS!

Posted: 30 Dec 2010 10:55 AM PST



This is Veronica Lake by Niagara Detroit. A lovely gift from my friend Heather Harris in Los Angeles. Veronica is mesmerizing and such vibrant color. See more giclee prints in Niagara's Gallery Thank You Heather!



Heather also sent me this fabulous print by Marijke Koger-Dunham of the Fool Design Group. My daughter Lesley really wanted to abscond with this print! It is wonderful and now framed on my wall. Thank You Heather and Marijke!



Lovely Marijke signed it for me...



Finally got my autographed Question Mark and the Mysterians poster framed too! Fantastic gift from Bass phenom Skid Marx. Skid got the band to sign it for me in silver marker which doesn't show up too well in the digital photo. Thanks Skid and Carrie!!


Oh I just love this poster! It is really rare and a gift from Dennis Thompson. It is made on really heavy paper and the colors are so vibrant. In the frame store I saw this frame and just knew it would fit this poster. It did! Thanks so much MGT!


Artist: The Firehouse Edition: 1st printing, silkscreen Size: 20.75 x 33 MC5 / DKT
7/29/05 Northsix Brooklyn, N.Y.

Bought this FANTASTIC poster on Ebay! Dennis signed it for me and it is huge! Thanks MGT!



This Arminski poster is from the screening of the MC5 movie in Detroit 2003. I attended the film premiere with my old friend Dan Hyatt and he really pushed me into to taking these items to a frame shop the next day. Otherwise I might stash them in the closet and never frame them. It cost 218.00 to matte and frame the three items but I am so happy Dan talked me into doing this! Thanks Danny! I also have a signed handbill too, you can get one HERE



Autographed card and two ticket stubs framed with the poster. So my happiest moments this holiday season were spent with drummer Al King hanging out at Michael's Craft Store buying frames. Thanks ALEX!

FT MCCLELLAN ALABAMA AND FT BENNING GEORGIA 1968-1970

Posted: 18 Dec 2010 10:03 AM PST


Our home/quarters on Church St looked like this

Our house in Ft. McClellan Alabama looked like the above duplex. Our house was much nicer and was red brick with white. We lived in the unit like the one on the far right. Good sized houses. Our Army homes were larger than my house in Michigan so we liked living in them.



My civilian friends thought we lived in barracks and ate in mess halls!

LOL too funny. No we didn't wear uniforms or salute our parents either! Army teens we just the same as civilian teens. We loved rock n roll and shooting pool. Army kids loved pool. Shooting pool and swimming in pools were all I ever did for fun.


1969-71

Our home on Gibson Drive which was located in Custer Terrace. Custer Terrace was just outside the main gate off to itself. We had our own Officer's Club, shopping center, and pool too! It was a lovely area. It was our first time having a stand alone house which we loved.

Tons of hills, copperhead snakes hiding under the leaves and they sprayed for mosquitos at night. That was really great... wish they did that in Michigan. No mosquitos!



Latest articles from Retro To Go

Latest articles from Retro To Go


For sale: Grade II listed 1950s modernist apartment in Langham House Close, Ham, Surrey

Posted: 30 Dec 2010 10:00 AM PST

Ham1

If you're after a retro pad with heritage, you might want to check out this Grade II listed 1950s modernist apartment in Langham House Close, Ham, Surrey.

It's a first floor two double bedroom apartment to the side of Ham Common, designed in the late 1950s by Sir James Stirling and James Gowan. It's been updated since then, but not hugely - so you can turn this into your very own modernist pad with just a few tweaks and well chosen pieces of furniture.

Ham2

This distinctive design offers a lounge/dining room set round a central brick chimney breast with an open fireplace, while the windows of the living room offer up views across the surrounding grounds.

Other features include a gas central heating system with radiators plus underfloor heating to the lounge, dining and kitchen areas. There's also a bathroom with white suite and a Kitchen with integral hob and oven alongside those two double bedrooms.

If you want it, offers of around £259,950 are invited.

Find out more at the Mervyn Smith website

eBay watch: Low mileage 1970s Rover 2000TC

Posted: 30 Dec 2010 09:25 AM PST

Rover

A really distinctive car - and this Rover 2000TC has done little over 10,000 miles since it was produced back in 1973.

Indeed, it has had just one owner for the last 33 years, that owner doing just 440 miles since 1994. You can safely say it's in great condition. It's also got some added authenticity, sold with the maker's literature pack, two sets of keys and sales brochure. There's even an 'as new' original spare wheel and tyre.

It's the classic car that needs no work at all to get on the road - and it can be yours for £4,995. Lots more photos on the listing page.

Find out more at the eBay website

Karen Hilton Design Crowning Glory Cushion

Posted: 30 Dec 2010 06:55 AM PST

300_black_pattern_crown 
We have previously featured her Queen and Target cushions, and the Crowning Glory Cushion by Karen Hilton Design is another design from her Pop Britannia range.

The cushion is available in numerous colourways, many using two contrasting bright colours, but my favourites are ones where the crown is made from vintage fabric, set against the felt cushion. Pictured here is the black version, with a simply black & white fabric, but there is a white cushion with pink roses crown, bright pink with green paisley crown or green with a red pattern crown.

The Crowning Glory cushion costs £39 from All Things Original.

Giant Cassette Coaster

Posted: 30 Dec 2010 06:40 AM PST

Il_570xN_191162657 
Etsy seller BlueOrder has created this Giant Cassette Coaster/Table Mat.

It features a photograph of a cassette tape, encased with plastic to make it usable as a table mat or giant coaster. It can also be hung on the wall too, should you wish to use it as artwork instead. Similar products are also available with vinyl on a record player.

The coaster costs just under £16 from Etsy.

Lamp 'Shade' by Garudio Studiage

Posted: 30 Dec 2010 02:43 AM PST

Light shade
We've featured countless pairs of retro sunglasses over the years. For sunglasses enthusiasts, here's another way to express your enthusiasm - the wittily titled Lamp 'Shade' by Garudio Studiage.

Garudio Studiage is a Peckham based design studio. This particular piece is the work of Veronica Danielson whose illustration features fourteen different iconic sunglasses designs - bringing a touch of the sunshine indoors. The designs are hand-screen printed onto either a pendant or table light shade. 

Both type of light shades are available for £60 each. 

Buy it online

Black Cabs cushion by Lizzie Allen

Posted: 30 Dec 2010 02:42 AM PST

Lizzie allen cushion
We've written about Lizzie Allen's beautiful wallpapers many times before. For a more affordable way to buy a piece of her style, you may be interested in this Black Cabs cushion

Like her wallpaper, the cushion textile is decorated with a 1950s-style illustration of a traditional British scene. In this case we are taken to the streets of a rainy London and, as well as the black cab of the title, there's a red number 8 Routemaster going by. 

Made from 100% cotton, though it's more affordable than her wallpaper it's still not cheap at £79. 

Buy it from Liberty

Puma G Vilas 2 trainers reissued in two new colourways

Posted: 30 Dec 2010 02:40 AM PST

Vilas2

We saw a pair in all-white earlier this year, but now there's a reissue of the Puma G Vilas 2 trainers with some added colour.

We do like the G Vilas 2, a section shoe designed for Argentinian tennis ace Guillermo Vilas in the early 80s, it was instantly a terrace classic and still catches the eye today.

The latest reissue is in white with either green (above) or navy blue detailing, throwing in some G Vilas 2 and Puma branding, a perforated toe and tongue, as well as a leather upper with nubuck toe and rubber outsole. £55 is the price.

Find out more at the Menswear Site website

Don't Be So Quick to Overlook the Maserati Grecale Folgore

If the GranTurismo Folgore is a guide, this Grecale Folgore could be surprisingly competitive. The EV GT was one of the year's best surp...