Category Archives: Vintage Photos

Our Pretty Fairytale City :: Vintage San Francisco

Vintage Photos,


image: Keith Jackson

I love posting vintage photos for you guys, but this fine Monday I have something a little extra special. My parents are in town visiting and we spent the weekend driving around San Francisco and went to Golden Gate Park. I have to say I love seeing San Francisco through the eyes of visitors. Our city is like no other!

Greg showed me this a while ago, and I was completely entranced. Vintage footage of San Francisco, shot on Super 8, with a dreamy modern soundtrack by Air. Ahhhh! You’ll see it all, the iconic cable cars, Coit Tower, Chinatown, the Bay Bridge, Lombard Street and of course the lovely Golden Gate bridge. This is my city as it was in 1958. Happy Monday!

San Francisco 1958 from Jeff Altman on Vimeo.

Vintage Monday :: The Fine Fashions of Retro Disneyland

Disney, Vintage Photos, ,

My bio on Flickr has always said, “My name is Alexandra. Some people call me Alix. I’m addicted to thrifting. I love Disneyland and Christmas.” And really, I can’t think of two things that make me feel more nostalgic and happy than Christmas and Disneyland. I’m not a Disneyana lover—I don’t collect little pins or modern Mickey paraphernalia. But old school Disneyland? I die. It makes me so happy. Much like vintage airline stuff (which also gets me doing a happy dance), it was more of a special occasion back in the day. Less about flip flops and tank tops and more about dressing up and enjoying the magic of The Happiest Place on Earth. So when my friend Andrea‘s hubby Ward called my attention to Kevin Kidney’s blog, well, I just about died. You must swing and see what he has going. His friend Tim Haak discovered “a treasure trove of twelve original color negatives showcasing females in fabulous clothes against the fairy-tale backdrop of Disneyland.”  He’s not sure the history behind them, but he said they were taken for the April 9, 1961 issue of Midwest Magazine, a supplemental newspaper insert in the Chicago Sun-Times. High fashion AND vintage Disney?? I’m in heaven! Kevin is my new hero…..please visit his blog to see these photos in their full size glory, but for now enjoy this little peek:

Mad Hatter ain’t got nothin’ on that sassy dame. And look who we have here….casually chillin’ by the pirate ship. “Loving yer haaaarrrrrrrrrrr, lady!”

 

Let’s look closer….that HAT! Divine!!!

This one kills me….all lounging against the Pinocchio whale.

That tiny waist…..wowza! And the little girl in the background almost steals the show.

And finally, The Matterhorn Maddness:

Oh yes. Closer please:

I should have called this one the “Whatsa Matterhorn?” I love Mickey in his sassy little boots and hotpants!!! And those rosey cheeks? Makes me think Mickey’s been hitting the mai tai’s over in the Enchanted Tiki Room!!

Thank you so much Kevin for sharing this amazing AMAZING find with us! Like I said, please visit his blog….it is so full of fabulous stuff, including Kevin’s fantastic art work. I feel a special Vintage Disney Post in the works….stay tuned!

The Violet Eyes of Elizabeth Taylor. Now THAT’s a Dame.

Vintage Photos, Vintage Pop Culture,

I have always had a fascination with Elizabeth Taylor. I think part of it was that she was a feisty brunette—growing up all the fairytale princesses and 70s superstars had flowing blonde locks. She was beautiful but she was also strong. My mom is a big movie buff and always introduced us to classic films. I remember watching Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Giant. Taming of the Shrew. And Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf. I thought she was amazing. She passed away today at the age of 79. While she lived a full, rich life, she had her share of ups and downs. She was a perfume mogul and a two time Academy Award winner. She was a fiercely loyal friend, a huge AIDS activist and all around saucy dame! A few years ago I wrote this post on my other blog, Strawberry Lemonade. I still love these images. I hope you do too.

If I were to say to you “Quick! Word association—Elizabeth Taylor!” What would you say? Richard Burton? Jewelry obsession?  Friend of Michael Jackson? Cat on a Hot Tin Roof? White Diamonds?? I think one thing most will agree upon is that she is a very handsome woman. What many forget (blinded by the White Diamonds?) is that back in the day, Elizabeth Taylor was STUNNING. We’re talking jaw droppin’, make-Angelina-look-like-she -was-beat-with-the-ugly stick, stupifyingly beautiful.

Ms Liz was married 8 times to 7 husbands (twice to Richard Burton), she has one of the largest privately owned jewelry collections around, and was the co-founder of amfAR. I love that she looked so lady like, with a wide-eyed naivty, yet she was always extremely feisty, could swear a mean, blue streak. She was a woman who did her own thing.

Check her out in all her violet eyed glory.

First up, the young 1940s “national velvet” and “lassie come home” era Liz:

Honestly, how gorgeous is she?

A little older and hair a little shorter, but still so striking. This was the 1950s:

“I am a very committed wife. And I should be committed too —for being married so many times.” — Elizabeth Taylor


Hello bouffant! La Liz does the 60s in style:

“The problem with people who have no vices is that generally you can be pretty sure they’re going to have some pretty annoying virtues.” — Elizabeth Taylor

I love this one, I’d never seen it before. She looks so 70s casual. And THOSE EYES.

She looked pretty amazing as she made her way into the 80s and finally the 90s:

“Big girls need big diamonds!” — Elizabeth Taylor


Images: UltimateGraphics.

Rest in peace, glamorous lady.

Vivian Maier :: Nanny and Brilliant Photographer.

Vintage Photos, ,

Have you heard about Vivian Maier? I just recently read about this intriguing lady who worked as a nanny in Chicago in the 1950s until her retirement in the 1990s.

She loved taking pictures. And the art of photography. Yet she kept her passion hidden from the world.

A fellow named John Maloof, who worked in real estate, came across a large trunk of negatives at a furniture and antique auction. As he poured through the box, he knew there was something special about these negatives. Images such as these:

He started to show them to other people who recognized how special they were as well.

The photographer’s name was written on an envelope tucked away amidst the negatives— Vivian Maier.

Mr. Maloof did an online search only to find there was little-to-no information about her. Eventually he came across her obituary, which had run only a few days earlier.

Her short obituary that doesn’t sum up all of the 100,000 images this artistic nanny left behind.

Her photos were unique—sometimes quirky, sometimes artistic. She had an eye for light and for finding unique subjects. She was one of the original “Street Style” photographers (before the term was really coined), capturing candid images of many unsuspecting pedestrians. And then there were the children. Oh so many photos of children! Perhaps the children she took care of—which can’t help but make you smile.

Maloof talked to some of her former wards, who each described her as mysterious and utterly unique. The press began to describe her as the Mary Poppins of street photography.

John is helping bring Vivian’s world to others through a documentary he’s working on right now and a show at Chicago Cultural Center.

This is my favorite one (I photos of babies looking over the shoulder of their mama). It’s amazing that Vivian never showed her work to the public. And yet she lives on through these photos.

For more images, check out John Maloof’s blog with updated pictures almost every day.  You can also visit Artsy to see more of her phenomenal work. Gorgeous.

You never know where genius lies.

PS: Apologies for the smaller and inconsistent imagery size–but I didn’t want to distort the photography.

Vintage Kiddo: The Force is Strong With This One.

Best of Alix, Vintage Photos, Vintage Toys + Fun Stuff, , , , , ,

You may not know this about me. But I love Star Wars. The original 1977 film is one of my all time favorite movies and while many may quibble about the special effects not being up to parr and the acting a tad stilted I say, “When 900 years old you reach, look as good, you will not!”

So in honor of Dottie embarking on her COMIC CON Odessey this week, I thought it would be great to take a little trip down memory lane at the cultural phenomenon that was STAR WARS. I don’t care WHO you were, if you grew up in the 70s your life was touched by Star Wars. If you weren’t obsessed with it, then your brother or best friend was. It was a pretty magical time, my friends. Let us begin.

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away…….

…..there were movie theaters that only showed ONE film. Popcorn, coke and a box of milkduds cost less then $10 and movies often only played at two times. Scandal!


image: aroid

Every self respecting kiddo of the 70s had a Star Wars tee and wore it with PRIDE!

image: jessenoonan

This next little feller was heading off to his first day of kindergarten. Big Apple Name Tag, nap time mat, Super Friends Lunch Box…..and his best Star Wars Tee. I love this photo so much, it reminds me of my younger brother Karl—a die hard Star Wars fan.

image: benjamin oderwald

One of the best things about Star Wars toys is that there are soo many photos of a little boy just BUSTIN’ with pride over his latest score:


image: kid ampersand

Oooh this boy had THEE ULTIMATE. The coveted Boba Fett. Boba Fett wasn’t even really in the first movie, but if you collected enough UPC codes from the Star Wars action figures you could send away to the Kenner toy company to receive your FREE Boba Fett Bounty Hunter! No one really knew who the hell he was at that time, but we HAD TO HAVE HIM!! This is the biggun, the 12 incher….not the freebie. You can see how psyched this little guy is:

image: timothy smith

Please note the Incredible Hulk Latch Hook Rug dealie resting casually on the back of the couch of this next one. Grrrrrr!


image: jedi jaybird

It was CLEARLY an excellent holiday at this kid’s house. He got the AT-AT walker from Empire Strikes Back, and his sister scored the Barbie Townhouse. I sooo had that as a little girl—that damn thing wobbled like crazy but how sweet is the elevator?


image: wampa-one

Speaking of kid sisters, they always wanted to get in on the fun too:

image: tom simpson


Image: aaron_73


image: superbomba

How cute is little Leia?? I guess that makes a great segue to COSTUMES. Star Wars costumes became extremely popular—many of them homemade.


image: phil dillon

“Aren’t you a little short for a storm trooper??” hyuck hyuck.  I really love the Mod Lord Vader jumpsuit.

Awwww no wonder Patches is so sad. His buddies got Star Wars coolness while his parents dress him up as a psychotic clown. Wahh Waaaah. Although to be fair the little ewok looks like the love child of  Kenny Rogers and Big Foot…

image: corelliancaptain

STYLIN’!!!!! (and you *know* I’m not talking about that sassy little storm trooper…..hold up. Does Gladys have a SPINNING WHEEL in the left corner over there??? Oh Mah Gawd…..)

image: Two Twumbo Twetzels

The art of Star Wars (as seen through the eyes of a kiddo) was also amazing:

image: r a e d e k e

Now you *know* that awesome Old Spice guy modelled himself after Lando. “Well hello ladies….!”

image: scad92

While most fans were little boys, little girls definitely got in on the Star Wars action too:

image:_Marissa_

“Walk softly and carry a big laser blaster….”


image: Amy/Teruterubouzu


image: Lorena Haldeman

(yeah, the bike is rad. And don’t you fret….a banana seat bike post is totally in the hopper for Vintage Kiddo….)

I think it goes without saying that anybody who was anybody had a Star Wars themed birthday party.

We begin with the awesome Steven. I love that his parents made this sign! Although I gotta say, that little clown on the left is sort of ruinin’ Steven’s jedi mojo.

image: Sam Howzit His mom made extra rad R2D2 name tag for all the kids too. See ’em here.

Mmmmm. Chocolate Vader. Made with Extra Dark Side chocolate….

image: michael rose

Alas, I think Dan’s mom needs a few lessons from the lady up above. She gets an “A” for “artful fork display” and bonus points for two packs of Pop Rocks!

image: dishfunctional


image: igpago

Aaron has the best vintage Star Wars pictures on this Flickr Stream. This was apparently at McDonalds (note the soft serve sundaes). Boba Fett cake? Rockin’…..

image: aaron_73

Look how cute and happy this little guy is. And that cake looks might tasty too….

image: Trent Walton

Not sure what’s more impressive….the sculptural R2D2 or those snazzy Mork from Ork suspenders??

image: Cole Henley

This next one takes the, er, cake. Or rather his mom took the cake….to the damn photostudio. What what what?? Amazing.

image: chilly casey

The finally, the ultimate: having a tricked out Star Wars Bedroom. Many a child lulled themselves to sleep murmuring, “These are not the droids you are looking for…..” cuddled up under these amazing sheets:

image: jesse lockwood

This photo had the best caption. “Darth Vader’s light saber in my eye….but E.T. warming my heart.”

image: gthorn77

image: aaron_73

Sweet dreams little Jedi….

P.S. There is a really amazing Flickr group called Growing Up Star Wars: 1977-1985. You really should check it out—and add your own photos if you have any!

P.P.S  Dottie will be tweeting her way through Comic Con, so be sure to add her to your twitter feed! @missdottie! She’s going there for business, but it’s sure to be PURE GEEKTASTIC pleasure!