Category Archives: Throwback
The Other Pamela
I wasn’t named after Pam Ewing, although I might as well have been. My mother was obsessed with Dallas and we watched it together every Sunday night for the series’ entire 13-year run. Southfork’s goings-on saw me from footed cartoon PJ’s into early 90′s Pat Fields catsuits. From babbling toddler to sarcastic teenager. Although I watched the show religiously, I quietly resented the gorgeous, rich and stylish wife of Bobby Ewing, knowing I would never be a worthy namesake. Given our weekly ritual, I spent hours of my formative years wondering what it would be like to be the Neiman-Marcus-shopping, Norma-Kamali-clad Texan beauty with the perfect blowout.
I recently came across these TV stills of Pam looking the kind of perfect that used to make me feel hopeless. I give you Mrs. Ewing, looking fresh and current as ever.
Pretty Lady on I-80
Opened in 1921 by Helen and Ed Power, the Nut Tree was, according to the press, a “culinary and curio oasis in a desert of endless roadway.” With furniture commissioned from Charles Eames and artwork by Wayne Thiebaud the restaurant was light years ahead of its Pacific Standard Time – every detail from the furniture the the dishware to the way the food was presented was art-directed by Don Birrell, the Nut Tree’s head designer from 1953 to 1990. ”We had a master plan for everything, from the design of the billboards to landscape architecture, interior design to the way food was arranged on the plate,” Birrell says. “We wanted to create a certain feeling, make people remember us.” Get the whole story
Cuba, Pre Castr-o-ation
Unbelievable 1930′s footage of Havana, Cuba – birthplace of my DNA. It makes me cry black coffee tears to think I missed this era. A TOTAL TOTAL must see.
Bring on the Dancing Horses
As I mentally prepare for our annual family trip to Wildwood on the Jersey Shore, I’m remembering how much I really really like carousels. And how much I LOVE carousel horses. I’d have a whole menagerie bolted into the floor in the corner of our living room if my significant other would go for it.
A recent late-night internet rabbit hole took me into the depths of carousel history.
Apparently the first carousels date back to the Byzantine Empire and were used by Turkish and Arabian horsemen for cavalry training. The early carousels had no poles – the “horses” were chained to the ceiling and swung out to the side by the centrifual force of the spinning carousel… And they were powered by real horses! How awesome is that? Almost beats Morey’s Piers. Almost.
Vanity Case
The hard-sided train case wins first prize for “chicest-yet-most-idiotically-cumbersome-and-unnecessary-female-thing-to-carry”. Ahh… music to my ears… By the way, what ever happened to these?
My mom had the most fabulous chalky blue one that she got in the divorce in 1978. It still had my dad’s initials engraved on it (which were the same as mine) and I think that’s why she never gave it away. Needless to say I have soft spot in my heart for these.
I recently scooped up a baby pink polka dot one for our little girl at Claw Money‘s backyard garage sale in City Island (Thanks Claudia!). She keeps her miniature horses in it, which is the perfect use for it, really. Some great vintage ones here… Get the whole story
Fisher Men
Remember these? I had so much fun with Fisher-Price Little People. I’d love a massive clear fishbowl full of these on our coffee table. The new ones aren’t nearly as cool.
Interior Desecrations
James Lileks chronicles the hideous homes my generation grew up in with Interior Desecrations. I hate dating myself, but this may explain certain psychological issues children of the seventies are prone to. You just can’t have an accurate grip on reality when you’re surrounded by stuff like this. Lileks’ commentary that accompanies each shot is absolutely hilarious…
Note how the drapes coyly admit a view of the outside world, which is substantially less yellow than your room. You might be able to go outside some day and see this strange non-yellow world for yourself.
I actually dig the kitchen.
Get your own copy HERE.
Proper Peppermint
Run by two families since the early twentieth century, the Piedmont Candy Company still uses the original recipe for its pure sugar candy, producing over 2000 pounds per hour. These people know their peppermint sticks and puffs. The perfect packaging doesn’t hurt either. Get yours for Christmas at your local CVS, Eckerd/Rite-Aid, Walgreens, or Dollar General.
Meet The Flockers
I love love love little flocked animal figurines. Ever since I was three or four, I’ve secretly wanted to stockpile them. The best ones were made by Josef Originals and were designed by Muriel Joseph George in California and Japan from 1945 to 1962. She also made straight ceramic pieces but the furry ones were my favorites.
The company was sold to George Good in 1982 and he continued to make Josef Originals until 1985. Good sold the brand to a larger conglomerate which put and end to the fuzzy menagerie within a few years. You can still find the occasional great piece on ebay, usually around the holidays. Some faves below.
