Friday, March 18, 2011

Retro: Kimmer

Retro: Kimmer

Link to Retro: Kimmer

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SUSIE FORKIN OF THE MOTOR CITY RAH RAHS

Posted: 18 Mar 2011 09:33 AM PDT


Happy Birthday Susie Forkin!

Happy birthday to my BFF girlfriend Susie Forkin! Let me say how much I love her! Met Susie and the Rah Rahs at The Helldriver's/Torpedos/Circus Boy Show 12-28-09 at Alvins in Detroit.

I was filming the show and these fantastic girls were popping on and off stage. They all dropped their pom poms in my arms as they passed by me! Too funny! It was like they already knew me. :) My friends and I had more fun with those girls! Susie and I connected from the gate!

Fast forward to Livonia at the Howling Diablos show... I was there with singer Mark Sisto, Cindy Hudson, and Ivan Kral. The show was great but it needed something.... Then out of the corner of my eye I saw a silver pom pom! YES! Susie and Vivian George came to dance!!!



Johnny Bee told me to stand next to his kit to film as there was this annoying fence around the stage! So I am up there standing 1 foot away from Bee and trying hard not to dance and shake that camera! Susie danced beside me as I was shooting. Finally I just shut that camera off and DANCED.... such fun! Susie gave Kimmer her own silver Pom Pom too! I love it!



Susie and I became friends and support each other completely in every way. I love her with my heart and soul. So on Susie's Birthday I am sharing with my readers the fun Susie Q and I had over the past 2 years..... We had a blast and plan on continuing that plan forever.

Thank you Girl for the Kimmer birthday party and all the love and kindness you possess everyday. xxooK (Hugs to Albert and the Rahs too)

Happy Birthday Doll I love you so much!

[New post] Shakedown- Return of the Sontarans

Shakedown- Return of the Sontarans

Written by Terrance Dicks
Another product of the 'Wilderness Years' (1989 - 2005), Shakedown is an ambitious production of Reeltime using two alien races created by Terrance Dicks and Robert Holmes, the Sontarans and Rutans. Holmes' initial script that introduced the Sontarans, Time Warrior, was a great hit with the production crew and fans, leading to several sequels, but to be fair they never really topped their first appearance. Even the BBC Wales Doctor Who have failed to provide an interesting Sontaran stories. A race that thrives on war and conflict, the Sontarans are a militaristic race without any individual identity. They live only for victory.

A Sontaran from the Time Warrior

I quite like the Sontarans, but as I noted, they became watered down in each appearance until Two Doctors where they had become parodies of their former selves.

The Rutans were invented as a monster of necessity, owing to a last minute revision to the series' run and very little budget to create a new creature. Inspired by script editor Holmes, Dicks met the challenge by creating the shape-changing malevolent monsters, the Rutans. Represented mainly by a green light or a balloon with fly paper attached, the Rutan was more of a conniving predator in contrast to the straight-forward military mind of the Sontarans.

Despite numerous allusions to a generations-long war between the two races, Shakedown- Return of the Sontarans is to date the only time that the Sontarans and Rutans are shown together on screen.

Shakedown
watch?v=0F5tGq058OY

Terrance Dicks has the longest relationship of any writer with Doctor Who, as script editor and writer. His hard work firmed up numerous scripts and crafted a universe of stories that made up the universe of Doctor Who. This is evident on Shakedown, a film that one may expect to cut corners or ignore continuity due to it being an independent production, however it fits perfectly into the mythology of the program.

The pleasure Yacht Tiger Moth is on a standard journey with a limited crew and four high society passengers who are looking for a unique experience in piloting the yacht via VR controls in a cosmic race. Suddenly they are boarded by a War-Wheel Sontaran spacecraft and involved in a long-running war with the Rutans.

The Sontarans recruit the humans in their war, figuring that they can have a strategic value in drawing out the Rutan hiding in the workings of the yacht. In the end, the Sontarns again misjudge the humans for being hampered by a lack of honor and tactical ingenuity.

The cast is made up of faces familiar to fans of both Blake's 7 and Doctor Who. Brian Croucher who played Travis in Blake's 7 is a superb tough guy, while Sophie Aldred makes a fine pretty but timid heiress. Jan Chappell, Cally from Blake's 7 makes a stellar performance as the tough-as-nails Captain Lisa Deranne. Carol Anne Ford has gotten a lot of stick from her portrayal of the Doctor's granddaughter Susan from 1963-64, but in Shakedown she is very charismatic and sparkles as the snobby socialite Zorelle. I quite like the cast of characters being upper class lay-abouts with more interest in catty behavior than self-preservation. Michael Wisher, the first actor to play Dalek creator Davros, is given the colorful role of engineer Robar.

It's also lovely to see a Sontaran have a 'face-palm' moment as he realizes that his underlings are useless.

I had heard of Shakedown- Return of the Sontarans from ads in the back of fanzines during the 1990's, but due to compatibility problems in the video standards, was unable to view it. That of course changed in the Internet age when anyone can upload a program to a streaming site. Upon finally viewing Shakedown, I'm very impressed. Granted, one has to be in the right frame of mind to really get into it (as you can tell, I have been in a Doctor Who mood of late), but it is very entertaining and well written. Filmed entirely on the HMS Belfast, Shakedown makes great use of the sets and surroundings. The entire affair feels like an inspired traditional Doctor Who production from 'back in the day.'

For its time, Shakedown has amazing production values and even uses familiar musical cues from Doctor Who for anyone interested in such things. The legal limitations of Reeltime prevented the programs from using the Doctor as a character, even naming the Time Lord was taboo. The production crew found a work-around by referring to 'someone who called himself phycisian, or the dentist or something' as a source on how to kill a Sontaran.

Making of Shakedown
watch?v=keNiW4zskpE

Shakedown was also released as a New Adventures novel in which the Doctor and his companions were included and Terrance Dicks elaborated on the film into a full story.

Shakedown (Doctor Who: The New Adventures)

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Latest articles from Retro To Go

Latest articles from Retro To Go


eBay watch: Verner Panton Peacock Chair - Habitat limited reissue

Posted: 17 Mar 2011 11:19 AM PDT

Panton

Yes, I know we've featured this before, but the Habitat reissue of the Verner Panton Peacock Chair rarely comes up, so if well worth another mention.

If you missed it last time we featured it, the Peacock Chair dates back to 1969, with a design inspired by a peacock's tail. It's a stunning, attention-grabbing design, even as a reissue.

This reissue dates from 1999, when it was reissued in limited numbers and discontinued in less than a year. 12 years on and it has become a collector's piece in its own right. Condition is described as 'good' and has been 'carefully looked after'. Want it? Bidding is currently at £150.

Find out more at the eBay website

Cath Kidston floor tiles by Harvey Maria

Posted: 17 Mar 2011 10:45 AM PDT

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Just when you thought the vintage-style designs of Cath Kidston couldn't get anywhere else, along come the Cath Kidston floor tiles by Harvey Maria.

Two styles are available, indeed it's two colour combinations of the same design - that being the floral Rose Sprig. The vinyl tiles are apparently durable and easy to clean, as well as being easy to pattern match.

See over the page for close-ups of both designs, with prices around £39.95 per square metre.

Find out more at the Harvey Maria website

Update: there are actually two more designs, which you can see at the website.

Kidston2

Church's Patent Burwood Wingtip Brogues

Posted: 17 Mar 2011 10:33 AM PDT

Church

Not the cheapest shoes on the market, but if you want classic and long-lasting, these Church's Patent Burwood Wingtip Brogues are hard to beat.

That rich chocolate brown colour for the patent leather is certainly an eye-catcher, with the shoe finished with the decorative brogue perforations and topped off with a leather sole.

£355 is the hefty asking price, but look after them and these timeless gems should serve you well for many years.

Find out more at the Mr Porter website

Via His Knibs

Marbel Victorian Dolls House

Posted: 17 Mar 2011 10:09 AM PDT

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No matter how old you are, this Marbel traditional victorian dolls house will remind you of your childhood and send you running for your favourite keepsakes.

This is the ideal present for any young girl and even if you've grown up, it's still a fun thing to have around the house. It opens on three levels with double doors that open fully and even has an attic with a total of five rooms. It's also got delicate sash windows and winding steps that lead into the attic.

Watch out, you could get lost in this tiny world for hours. You can buy your own from Heal's for £140 and then just think how much fun you'll have filling it.

Horse print tunic from ASOS

Posted: 17 Mar 2011 10:00 AM PDT

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With 1970s floaty chiffon and a retro print, this horse print tunic from ASOS is a top with a difference.

The black horse pattern is eye catching and stylish and with a elegant pussybow tie, it's the perfect outfit to be worn over leggins (as shown) or with black shorts or under a tunic dress. The colour is everywhere this season and light enough to be worn through the summer.

The billowy chiffon sleeves are flattering and fetching and you can get your own from ASOS for £35.

Fearne Cotton 1960-style Vintage Silk Dress at Very

Posted: 17 Mar 2011 09:52 AM PDT

Fearne_cotton

I think it's fair to say that Fearne Cotton is a love/hate kind of person. Loved by the media, PRs and fashion labels, she's perhaps not so popular with the wider public. Anyway, she's certainly loved by Very, fronted its ad campaign and now designed a vintage-inspired collection for the company, which includes this Vintage Silk Dress at Very.

As you might have guessed, this is inspired by the 1960s, a Peter Pan collar dress in a dip-dye fabric that produces a contrasting pink and white finish, completed with a silk lining for the inside.

Available online, you can grab one in most sizes for £55.

Find out more at the Very website

Higgins for Jonathan Adler

Posted: 17 Mar 2011 06:23 AM PDT

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Just when you think he couldn't get more colourful or more retro, Jonathan Adler takes it up a notch. His new product range Higgins for Jonathan Adler features eye-catching mobiles made by Higgins Studio - a mid-century glass studio. 

Higgins Studio was founded in 1948 in the suburbs of Chicago and became renowned for their innovative techniques. These glass mobiles have been especially created for Adler and reflect his love of colour and fun, as well as having a distinctive period look. 

The craftsmanship behind the mobiles means that they don't come cheap. The pink mobile pictured costs $895, or you can get a blue model for $495.

See them online

Deco-style dressing table from Alexander and Pearl

Posted: 17 Mar 2011 06:09 AM PDT

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This dressing table from Alexander and Pearl isn't the first we've featured that takes inspiration from the Art Deco style and I'm sure it won't be the last. The period works really well for a piece of furniture that's meant to evoke glamour. 

This piece certainly is glamorous, with its mirrored finish and curved shape. The mirror folds down flat, giving it a practical use as a table too when not required for make-up touch-ups. There are two concealed drawers too, perfect for stashing away beauty secrets. 

The table costs £625 with the matching stool costing an additional £275. 

Buy it online

Antique Style Wooden Hat Stand

Posted: 17 Mar 2011 04:02 AM PDT

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I suspect that most of our readers are more casual in their attire, but if you are the sort of city gent who still wears a bowler hat then you may want to buy this Antique Style Wooden Hat Stand.

The wooden stand will keep your hat in perfect condition and display it in its full glory, when you aren't wearing it. It would probably work just as well for ladies' hats, either wide brimmed summer hats or sophisticated cloches.

It costs a reasonable £22, so you could buy a few if you are a real hat lover. Buy it online at Rockett St George

1970s Apple Tree Moneybox

Posted: 17 Mar 2011 03:10 AM PDT

Green-apple-tree-moneybox 
Having previously featured the owl and elephant designs, it seems only right that we also mention the Apple Tree Moneybox, another reproduction of a 1970s Danish design.

The tree looks like a typical piece of Scandinavian folk art design and has a hole in the back so you can hang it on the wall should you wish. There are two options available, either a green tree with red apples or a red tree with yellow apples.

The moneybox costs £8.95 from Hus and Hem.

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

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