The Turtleneck | From Beatniks to Bullitt.

-

“The style horrifies restaurant headwaiters, who are still weathering the onslaught of women in pants suits.”

-

–TIME Magazine, 1967

~*~

-

Steve McQueen in Bullitt — sporting the turtleneck, ripe for a comeback.

-

-

Turtleneck sweaters have long been a staple for winter sportsmen, as well as an indispensable part of the beatnik uniform. The reasons for their popularity are obvious: they look trim and they eliminate the bother of a necktie. They are now being worn with blazers and sports coats to the office (among advertising art directors, the turtleneck has virtually become a uniform). At some small Manhattan parties, half the men now show up in turtlenecks.

-

Read Full Post »

The Handlebar Club, Founded 1947. | Heralded for their determined co-operative self-denial in the use of the razor.

*

“The object of the Handlebar Club was, and still is, to bring together moustache wearers (beards being strictly prohibited) socially for sport and general conviviality.”

*

~*~

*

Members of Handlebar Club posing for photograph, UK, July 1947.  — Nat Farbman

*

*

Members of Handlebar Club comparing ties, UK, July 1947.  — Nat Farbman

*

*

Member of Handlebar Club holding drink, UK, July 1947.  — Nat Farbman

*

*

Member of Handlebar Club kissing woman, UK, July 1947.  — Nat Farbman

*

Read Full Post »

Merry Christmas | A Holiday Hot Totty Retrospective

*

“A good conscience is a continual Christmas.”

*

–Benjamin Franklin

~*~

*

Circa 1955, New York, NY — The Ed Sullivan Show Dancers show their Christmas spirit. –Image by © Michael Ochs Archives/Corbis

*

Joan Crawford is coming down your chimney… and she’s gotta gun. –Photo by Clarence Sinclair Bull Via

*

Circa 1953, New York, NY — Audrey Hepburn, recently named the top movie star of 1953 by “Film Daily,” gets a kiss from Santa Claus during ceremonies at the “Heart Thrift House,” in New York Dec. 21.  Miss Hepburn also tied the bow on New York’s biggest Christmas package, “The Heart Thrift House,” a model home exhibited for the benefit of the New York Heart Association. — Image by © Bettmann/Corbis

*

Circa 1951– Marilyn Monroe poses while standing inside an oversized nylon Christmas stocking beside a fireplace. Monroe wears a two-piece bathing suit. –Image by © Hulton Archive/Getty Images

*

Read Full Post »

Life in Los Angeles, circa 1938 | It’s always been about the car…

*

“They say in L.A. there are only two methods of transportation-

car and ambulance.”

*

–Unknown

*

~*~

*

Auto traffic on Wilshire Boulevard during rush hour with sign for the WESTLAKE THEATRE looming in the background --ca. 1938.

*

*

Service attendant pumping gasoline into Ford sedan as woman watches at gas pumps covered by the wing of a large permanently parked airplane, on Wilshire Boulevard --circa 1938.

*

*

Motorist in his car making a transaction at the drive up window of a bank --ca. 1938.

*

*

Muller Brothers Service Station's white uniformed attendents pumping gas & inflating tires on a fancy convertible while their uniformed African-Amer. conterparts wield rags as they polish the windshield & chrome --ca. 1938.

*

Read Full Post »

No Rebellion Here | Vintage Triumph Ads

 

 

“The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.”

 

–Thomas Paine

 

~*~

 

1966 Triumph motorcycle ad

 

 

Vintage Triumph motorcycle ad

 

 

Vintage Triumph motorcycle ad

 

 

Vintage 1977 Triumph Bonneville motorcycle ad

 

Read Full Post »

L.A. Stories Told Through Vintage Pics | UCLA Archives

 

“Los Angeles is 72 suburbs in search of a city”

–Dorothy Parker

 

~*~

 

Ed Holovchik (aka Ed Fury), bodybuilder and Mr. Los Angeles contestant with model Jackie Coey --1953.

 

 

VISITING TRIO-- Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus clowns Coco and Bobby Kaye visiting a patient at Los Angeles Orthopaedic Hospital --1970.

 

 

FOOD'S FUN-- Nancy Kennedy, 20, downs diet cola and french fries, popular combination with the young set. The theory is that diet drink saves enough calories to allow for the fattening french fries. L.A. Times --1965.

 

 

Comedian Eddie Cantor with beauty contestants Lisa Davis, Barbara Drake and Phyllis Applegate, Los Angeles, CA --circa 1954.

 

 

Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell putting handprints in cement at Chinese Theater in Los Angeles, CA --circa 1953.

 

 

PERFECTION?-James L. Pyle and Nonna Walls examine "Miss Formula", a computer-created drawing resulting from a list of "perfect female" statistics, CA 1964.

 

 

Pat Hall, "Miss 7-Cent Cup of Coffee, 1950," serving William E. Kinman coffee while wearing a bikini, Los Angeles, CA --1950.

 

 

Man wearing gag thumb with three bathing beauties, Long Beach, CA --1949. Someone please explain...

 

 

PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE-Policeman Chuck Peyton checks to see if the old-fashioned bathing suit worn by actress Myrna Ross complies with 1933 Redondo Beach ordinance banning women's suits that are more than 3 in. above knee. The city attorney warned enforcement may be necessary if topless suits appear on beaches. Male swimmers would also be required to wear more discreet attire.

Read Full Post »

Natty & Trad | A Properly Plaid Party

*

“At a dinner party one should eat wisely but not too well, and talk well but not too wisely.” –William Somerset Maugham

*

~*~

*

*

*

Read Full Post »