Atomic Holiday Splendor

My silver aluminum tree in all its glory. The stand rotates and plays music. I have a color wheel but didnt get it set up yet. This photo does not do the tree justice. It shines like crazy.

Recent finds

Estate sale this week:  One 1950s Xmas tablecloth that has a date with OxyClean later today, one box of unused 1960s greeting cards, 2 ceramic coconut tiki drink mugs with palm tree stirrers from Cabin John's in Chesapeake City Md., one silk scarf and 2 strands of vintage beads. Woo hoo!

My vintage kitschen

A few posts ago I displayed my 1963 chrome double oven. Here are a few more shots of my retro kitchen. The walls are mint green, the countertops are turquoise flecked with black and gold. (see previous post for close-up of countertop underneath BPM issue.) We painted the cabinets white and had the new flooring put down. When we bought the house and I saw this kitchen I nearly passed out. I thought I had died and gone to heaven. Plus there was a PINK dishwasher but we had to replace it, I am still bearing a heavy mental burden from that. The stove is a countertop model so I cant install a vintage freestanding one but I guess I cant complain given the rest of the room. The Saint has given me the go-ahead to paint the fridge some sort of insane color but i need to clear the decks of other projects before I can get to that. I made the curtains out of repro barkcloth. This is my favorite room in the house because I can go bananas in here with all of my retro stuff. I feel like its 1958 when I am in this room and I love it. Ive got tiki mugs on the stove and my percolator also.  I use it everyday.
 Framed LP covers all around the top of the walls. Pink Fuzzy dice on oven.

 I inherited this table and chairs and the set is literally my favorite possession since it belonged to my aunt whom I worshiped and adored. She had a 100 percent authentic 1950s apartment filled with all of the things I am trying to recreate/reclaim now since I spent some of the happiest hours of my life there.

Birthday Burlesque and Black Friday Score!

For my birthday a few weeks ago the Saint and I went to see a local burlesque troupe, the Peek a Boo Revue, who were performing with Satan's Angel, a performer from the heydey of burlesque, who is also known as the Queen of the Flaming Tassels. I had a blast! I enjoyed the show and the flaming tassels must be seen to be believed. Satan's Angel doesnt take it all off, she does a dance routine and  does a trick with her fabric cape, she spins it around so it looks like she is inside of a spinning cylinder, very cool.
All this talk of burlesque reminds me that the new issue of Bachelor Pad Magazine is out, feast your eyes below:

Now, onto Black Friday. I am not a Black Friday shopper but the Saint and I were out of town to visit relatives and we decided to head to the grocery store. There was a Goodwill across the street from the grocery store and the sign said "Black Friday Sale: Everything 50 off." I started campaigning to go to the shop. We were in foreign territory and who knows what kind of splendor could lurk inside this thrift shop? And at half off! Plus, when would I ever get to shop there again? We were 250 miles from home. The Saint was driving so  I had to do a little begging and he agreed that I could do a quick pop-in. So what did I find? This AWESOME vintage overcoat for, are you ready, $8!!!!!!!! That was the half off price. And, drumroll please,  I look terrific in this coat! It fits! Its black and royal blue wool. The faux fur collar is a bit much but it snaps off. I am so excited about this score. I doesnt have any tags inside so I dont know who made it. I havent found anything vintage in a thrift shop in ages so I am psyched.

Senior Prom 1958

I had a lousy day so the movie Senior Prom from 1958 was just what I needed. It has all of the idealized 1950s era things that I love. Ah, simpler times. Everyone is polite, has a cool car and no one curses. It's prom time at college and that means great party dresses with stilettos, and killer music from Les Elgart (his album Elgart Au Go Go is one of my all time faves), Jose Melin, and Louis Prima and Keeley Smith backed by Sam Butera and the Witnesses. No cheap cover bands for these kids, no way! Everyone is dressed up, drives Thunderbird convertibles or woody wagons and breaks into song at a moments notice. Alot of this was hokey but thats what makes it so fun today. For me, anyhow, The Saint says movies like this must have been made for children, old ladies and losers. Feast your eyes on the party scene below. You cannot see anyone's underwear and no one is in sweatpants.

Great femme fatale outfit below, I aspire to look this bad ass.

Here she is again with Mr. Preppy, who was the bad guy in the movie. Plaid bowtie and cummerbund, great!

 Crowd shot at the prom. All white tuxedos and flat tops, cheering for Louis Prima. I want to jump into this movie and steal all of the dresses.

Cookin' in the past

I procured some old cookbooks on my last trip to the flea market. Of course the covers fell off as soon as I got them home.  I got Baker's Famous Chocolate Recipes, from 1936. I've probably gained five pounds just from eyeing up all the fantastic desserts. Next is the Health for Victory Meal Planning Guide from 1944. The recipes tell you how to deal with food rationing during WWII.

 Below is The Lunch Box Cookbook from 1955. I also got a booklet called How to Do Your Wash Automatically , from 1940 by the Bendix Co. I didnt know they had automatic washers as early as 1940. They must have been quite an expensive luxury. Lots of photos of happy houswives, plus a discussion of typical varieties of dirt and how to remove stains.

The latest Bachelor Pad Magazine is here!

The latest issue of Bachelor Pad Magazine is here, featuring not only the best in pin-ups and burlesque, but a fine article by none other than moi. Check it out at http://www.bachelorpadmagazine.com/.

This past weekend The Saint and I went to the pre-WWII hot rod show at the Simeone Foundation auto museum in Philly. We were quite excited to see hot rods and I hauled a batch of  magazines with me so I could pass them out to people. Well, we got there and there  were only about 10 cars, 3 vendors and zero spectators. Tumbleweeds rolled by as we checked out the meager kustom kuture offerings. I only handed out 2 magazines. The museum is very nice for car buffs and I had a good time. Its really too bad that people dont support these events.

I'm flea market shoppin and I aint stoppin

This past weekend The Saint and I went to Adamstown PA, the self-proclaimed antiques capital of the world. We went to Shupp's Grove, a terrific outdoor antiques market in a tree lined grove, a very pleasant place. They play oldies music on a loudspeaker. The place also has decent bathrooms, always a plus in my book. Anyhow, alot of the vendors were having 50% off sales. I got this nice divided minty green bowl, on the bottom is says Marcrest, ovenproof.

I also got a pair of 1950s  asian figurines, which you may feast your eyes on, below. They were $2 for the pair! I must have sowed some good karma somewhere along the line because stuff like this is unsually priced much higher.

We then had lunch at Stoudt's Brewery, a brew pub with a flea market and an antique mall attached! YES!!!! There arent enough exclamation points in the world to add to that YES. This place is run by people of vision and foresight. Keep the men busy in the pub and the ladies can shop out in the back, unencumbered by typical complaints of "what do you want with that? Why are you buying that? Can we leave now?" Instead it's "Keep shopping, the game isnt over and I need to finish this beer."

So, given this excellent environment, so condusive to hunting for goodies, I came away with this vintage "Hukilau Wear" Made in Hawaii  thick cotton barkcloth shirt. I stole it at, are you ready, $6! WOWEE ZOWEE!

10 Followers! WOWEE ZOWEE and some new purses

I am so excited to learn that I have 10 followers! This is quite an event since I do not know 10 people in real life who share my retro interests. Actually I don't know any who share my retro interests so you can imagine how thrilled I am. However I am unable to see who my followers are, I can't see anyone else's followers on other blogs and I can't see the follow button on other blogs that I would like to follow. These functions just disappeared one day. Can anyone tell me what to do about this? I do not have any computer skills so I have no idea what to do.
I am the Doc Severinson of handbags and I found some new ones, below. The beaded one is in the original box, which says La Regale hand made. The bottom of the box says Made in Japan, so I know this is 1950s. The gold bag has a cute shell shaped clasp.

 Below is a gorgeous vintage Avon compact, lipstick case and mini perfume bottle set. All in a black velvet box. Such luxury! I really despise how everything today is cheap plastic. The compact has a mirror, an unused puff and a space for  powder. The lipstick has a used red in it, so I have to put one of my own in there. But since Im not going anywhere fancy there is no hurry.

Penguin Pool Murder

Last nite I watched a movie from 1932 called Penguin Pool Murder. Who killed the nasty Wall Street mogul and dumped his body in the penguin pool at the zoo? Plenty of suspects, plus plenty of great vintage style.

Below is the mogul's wife (a suspect, of course) in her fabulous bedroom. I love how people in these old movies wear gowns just to hang out at home. I guess they have maids to do all the dirty work. I really like the decor and the vanity table.

Cinematic Happenings

A few nights ago I watched Lucille Ball in The Fuller Brush Girl. She plays a door to door cosmetics saleswoman who stumbles upon a murder. It was ok, not great, got too screwball comedy-like towards the end. Anyhow, the fashions were fantastic! Of course my photos don't show any of them. I was having trouble getting the movie to pause so I could take the pictures.

 Below, on the right, is basically what I wish I could look like on a daily basis. Love those star pins on the jacket. Love those sunglasses!!

I  also watched BEACH BLANKET BINGO, which I have decided is the best movie ever made. Not much of a plot, just killer surf guitar bands and light 60s pop while Frankie and Annette run around on the beach and wear super keen outfits. I want to live in this movie. Plus one of the guys wears an Ed Big Daddy Roth Rat Fink hat, so the film gets bonus points for obscure hot rod references.

 The gang has a killer beach house. No one appears to have a job however so I dont know who is affording said killer beach house.

 The gals sleep in an upstairs loft at the beach house.  No hanky panky allowed.
 Everyone hangs out at this super groovy beach bar  with awesome patio lights. Plus everyone is dressed up. I would hang out here every nite if I could.

 The Hondells play surf guitar while Linds Evans (who knew?) sings a great pop tune. I love bands that wear uniforms.

 I am loving Annette's dress.

Call me Clifton!

This past weekend The Saint and I went to the Hot Rod Hoedown and Rockabilly Rumble, which is exactly what it sounds like. We saw hot rods, customs, classics, and a few rockabilly bands. I passed out copies of Bachelor Pad Magazine and was careful to only hand them to people who looked (a) like they would understand the magazine and (b) would not punch me in the face. 
I also shopped! I bought an interesting mechanic's shirt that has been screen printed on the back. The name tag on the shirt is "Clifton." I washed it and once I iron it I will wear it to tonite's estate auction.

I also bought a tweedy wool cape-style 1950s coat, very Barbara Billingsley. No sleeves, just slits for your arms. Dig the detail around the buttons. As soon as I find a matching deerstalker cap I will be good to go, haha.

I also got this stunning black evening coat from the Paris shop in Wilkes Barre Pa. The Saint is from Wilkes Barre and I am from Scranton so I was psyched to find this. It is in excellent condition and the buttons have black rhinestones on them. The fabric is a soft twill and the coats is very dressy. My mom said the Paris shop was very expensive.  My poor photography does not bring out the garment's awesomeness. If  I am ever invited to attend an opera in a Rolls Royce I will be ready.

The optical illusions dress

This is my newest find, a vintage Hawaiian ankle-length cotton dress.Made in Hawaii by Hilo Hattie. It is in excellent condition, like new. I call it the optical illusions dress because it makes me look thin.It has a flattering hourglass shape to it when its on.  IT MAKES ME LOOK THIN! I cannot stop singing its praises since this is no small feat. Did I mention it makes me look thin? Plus, hold onto your hats, it was only $5. Yes, $5. And it makes me look thin!! An anvil should drop out of the sky and onto my head any minute now.....

Plus I am undergoing a Joan Crawford style initiative to replace all of my hangars with old wooden ones or pretty padded ones. I pick these up at the estate auction whenever I can outbid someone on a batch of them.

New Bijoux

Although August has been filled with rain and flea markets are being cancelled left right and center, I did manage to score some great vintage jewelry at reasonable prices. Below are 2 sweater clips, a necklace and a green rhinestone bracelet. My poor photography does not do these justice.

 Below is the greatest bracelet I have ever seen, along with 2 necklaces.

 Clip on earrings and a celluloid scottie pin, which I will wear with a vintage plaid jacket.
 More bracelets and a groovy cocktail ring that will awe and amaze all who see me quaff a martini.

More fabulous decor!

Here are a few more shots from the 1950s decorating book. Below is another view of the turquoise kitchen.

 Tremendous bedroom. Look closely at the hanging plant, it is held by a cherub that is suspended from the ceiling. It does not get any better! So Valley of the Dolls.

 Nice bathroom. I like the monogrammed towels.

 Politically incorrect boys bedroom, called the "Safari." Also, why publish a decorating book in black and white?

Festive patio straight out of a Doris Day movie!

 
 The table in this kitchen has built in tiles with great atomic designs. I love that stove as well.

 Notice the woodwork in this den is all pink.

 Another bedroom designed by a visionary who knew toile would go well with aqua. I agree! This bedroom reminds me of the one Joan Crawford had in the movie Straightjacket, which is one of my favorites.