Merry Christmas | A Holiday Hot Totty Retrospective

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“A good conscience is a continual Christmas.”

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–Benjamin Franklin

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

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

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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

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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

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Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade | A Photo Archive

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“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”
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–John Fitzgerald Kennedy

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1948, Hyannisport, Massachusetts, USA — Kennedy family at Thanksgiving at Hyannisport, Massachusetts. From left: John F. Kennedy, Jean Ann Smith, Rose Kennedy, Joseph Kennedy Sr., Patricia Lawford, Robert F. Kennedy, Eunice Mary Shriver, Edward Kennedy (squatting). — Image by © CORBIS

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Enuff of the preachin’, go and enjoy the parade in vintage B & W–

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Circa 1940, Manhattan, NY:  This float, depicting a scene from the “Thief Of Bagdad,” was among those included in the annual Macy Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City.  — Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS

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Times Square, Manhattan, NY:  Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade at Times Square. Photograph, ca. 1930s. — Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS

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1956, Manhattan, NY: Photo taken at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City shows the crowd watching behind a police barricade and children watching in front of the barricade. — Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS

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Need for Speed | Bonneville Salt Flats Vintage Lithographs

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Original caption, ca. 1951, Utah, USA — On the Measured 13 Mile Straight-a-way Course, Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah. Roland R. Free, Making a New American Motor-Cycle Record. Roland R. Free, of Los Angeles, Calif., riding a British-Vincent Motor-Cycle in a prone position to cut down wind resistance approximately 2 miles, on Sept. 11, 1950, established a new American speed record for 1 mile @ 156.71 miles per hour. Mr. Free’s picture was taken from an automobile running parallel to the black line while traveling in excess of 100 M.P.H. just before the auto reached the measured 1 mile zone of the 13 mile straight-a-way course, Mr. Free caught up with the automobile and immediately after his picture was taken, he gave his Motor-Cycle the gun; the photographers say it seemed like they were still, the way he left them with his sudden burst of speed. — Image by © Lake County Museum

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Original caption, ca. 1951, Utah, USA — Mormon Meteor. The World’s Greatest Unlimited Speed Record Maker, Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah. The Days Run Completed. Holding All Speed Records from 10 Miles to 7,134 and from One Hour to 48 Hours. Mormon Meteor: David Abbott (Ab) Jenkins. Owner-Driver, and founder of the Salt Flats as a race course. Utah born and reared 1883. Religion, (Mormon). Holder of more world’s unlimited records than any man in history of sports. The only man who has ever driven an automobile continuously without relief for 24 hours, under supervision of contest board. Awarded champion of champions plaque and cup for the world’s safest driver. In 1950 at age 67, he made his fastest lap of 13 miles @ 199.19 M.P. H. Raced his last time in July, 1951. Now retired. He attributes his stamina to the fact, he never in his life, tasted liquor or tobacco. Average M.P.H, Distance: 199.19, 10 Miles — Image by © Lake County Museum

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1953’s “The Cool Hot Rod” | Cool Culture, Corny Flick

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1950s hot rod culture at it’s best.  Yes, there’s the prerequisite corny score and script… but more so, enjoy the glorious landscape of 1950’s fashion, pomade, and hot rod heaven.

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Well Said– Well Plaid Rocker | Vintage Bo Diddley

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“Don’t let your mouth write a check that your tail can’t cash.”

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–Bo Diddley

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Bo Diddley had an enormous impact on the development of popular music, largely due to his emphasis on rhythmic elements.

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“I opened the door for a whole lot of people– and they just ran through and left me holding the knob.”

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–Bo Diddley

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Bo Diddley in action on his signature Gretsch guitar --late 1950s.

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“I thank you in advance for the great round of applause I’m about to get.”

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–Bo Diddley

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Bo Diddley on guitar with Jerome Green on the left playing maracas --late 1950s.

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“I made Bo Diddley in ’55, and everybody freaked out.  Caucasian kids threw Beethoven in the garbage can.”

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–Bo Diddley

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Natty & Trad | A Properly Plaid Party

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

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Natty & Trad | A Formal Introduction to Plaid

 

“Morality is always the product of terror; its chains and strait-waistcoats are fashioned by those who dare not trust others, because they dare not trust themselves to walk in liberty.”  –Aldous Huxley

 

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Natty & Trad | A Vested Interest in Plaid

 

“He who observes etiquette but objects to lying is like someone who dresses fashionably but wears no vest.”   –Walter Benjamin 

 

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Natty & Trad | A 1950 Plaid Cap Adventure

 

“Once you accept the universe as being something expanding into an infinite nothing which is something, wearing stripes with plaid is easy.”          –Albert Einstein

 

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