The Lineup

Last night I went to the theater to see my favorite 1950s sci fi, Invasion of the Body Snatchers. I own this movie, but I had never seen it on the screen. As usual, it was a double feature. The companion movie was The Lineup. I had never heard of this film, let alone seen it. I didn't know what I was in for.

I was in for a treat. Shot exclusively in San Francisco, it was released in 1958. It is a gritty tale of the drug trafficking trade. One of the sociopath gangsters is played by Eli Wallach. The film was directed by Don Siegel who also directed Invasion. It is more intense and violet than the noirs I am used to watching, but still innocent by today's standards.

If you are a fan of these kinds of movies, I highly recommend watching this film.

Losing a blues legend

In my opinion singers now days cannot come close to the soul that singers of the past possessed. One of those signers just passed away, Etta James. Here is a little tribute to Etta and one of my favorite song sung by her.

The Shady Dell

A couple years ago I crossed off something on my bucket list that I thought I'd never get to do. That was visiting the Shady Dell in Bisbee, AZ.  What I didn't know when I first heard about this place, was that my grandmother would later move 20 minutes away from Bisbee. I took the opportunity to spend a little time with her, and spend a little time in heaven.  When I arrived, I felt like a dream had come true. It was everything I had imagined it would be. I had slipped back in time, and felt at home.

There are nine restored trailers that can be rented by the night (a boat and a bus too). Each trailer is decorated in the mid-century style. In my particular trailer, there was a t.v. hooked up to a hidden dvd player. They provided a couple of movies, including a film noir set that made me squeal with joy. They have their own "radio" station playing classic jazz music, and a record player with various records to choose from. In the kitchen there was an original working stove and refrigerator.  There is also a diner in the court, but sadly it wasn't opened when I was there. Outside the trailer, there was astroturf with two metal lawn chairs, which I spent the morning in my pjs listening to the birds (until my grandma told me to get back inside and take the scarf and curlers off of my head because I looked crazy). The managers were nice, and also dressed in vintage clothing. I even took home a tshirt as a souvenir.

I have not stopped thinking about the Shady Dell since I left. Someday, I'd like to go back and spend more than just a night there. If you ever find yourself in the area, or want to take a trip back in time, head on over to the Shady Dell.

Vintage Cosmetic Colors

We all have our favorite red lipstick. My favorite is Lancome's Rouge Radiance. It is a very vivid red with a hint of metallic sheen. Of course, though, this color isn't very authentic. So, I've been on a quest to find a suitable vintage color.

One of the companies that has been around for the last 60 + years is Revelon. And, they do still make a few of their vintage colors. Two of the colors that I tried a while back (but sadly threw them away. Had I known that they would one day be a blog post, I would have kept them), were Cherries in the Snow and Fire and Ice. These are very bright colors, and on me look very pink; Barbie pink. I started to give up. But, then I came across this picture on a blog:

Armed with this list, I headed off to the drugstore. I had to go to three stores before I could find Certainly Red. I also bought Luminous Pink. The other colors scared me. They looked like they would be a little too pink, and Hot Coral looked very orange. I compared Love That Red to Certainly Red, and decided that Love That Red still had too much pink in it. I took my two lipsticks, and the two nail polishes, and went home. Here are the results.

Luminous Pink and Certainly Red

Top: Lancome Rouge Radiance

Middle: Certainly Red

Bottom: Luminous Pink

Raven Red and Cherries in the Snow

Cherries in the Snow and Raven Red

I don't know how to paint my nails very well. So, just ignore the bad job. I think that I can make the Certainly Red work with a little bit of lip pencil, but I don't know if this defeats the purpose of buying the color. Also, I think Cherries in the Snow makes a better nail color than lip color. Overall I'm happy with this round of authentic vintage colors.

What do you think? What are your favorite vintage colors? Is there another brand that has been making the same color over the years? Let me know.

It happened one afternoon

While on a crowded bus today, a gentleman reached his hand out to me to guide me through the sea of people to an empty seat. I had been told that chivalry was dead, but I am happy that there is still some life in it. It always feels nice when someone makes a kind gesture. I don't think it should just be a guy girl thing either (Though to be honest, I do expect this more from men). I think that these types of gestures are nice for anyone, but especially for older ones. There used to be an unwritten code that an older person or lady was let off the elevator before a gentleman. But, sadly, those that do these things are a rare breed. Very often I see perfectly healthy young people take up the front seats on a bus, which isn't bad in itself. But, when a disabled or older person gets on, rarely do these people get up. Yet, that is what those seats are reserved for. There have been countless book written on the topic of etiquette. Most of which is outdated, but it's these little acts of kindnesses that never go out of style. These things take only a second, but have a lasting impact on the person's day.

So, gentleman, open a door for a lady. Let the older person (or lady) off the elevator first. Help someone struggling with their heavy packages. Don't worry. Most of us won't get offended, and won't think you're flirting. But, you just may help us end our bad day with a smile.

Dos and Don'ts still applicable today:

* Gentlemen should open doors for ladies.   Please actually hold the door for the lady, instead of merely flinging it open and running through, leaving her to sprint through before it slams. Open the door and step to the side while the lady passes through (perhaps saying, "After you," if she hesitates). At this point, the lady should politely thank the gentleman. He then says, "You're welcome," and, when she is through the door, goes through it himself. (10 Rules of Chivalry Every Guy Should Know)

 

* Ladies precede gentlemen through every door except revolving doors.    Gentlemen , if you encounter a revolving door when you are walking with a lady , you should enter it first so that you may push the door. (Of course, you should not push it too fast, so that the lady has to leap like a gazelle to enter the revolving door you've set spinning out of control.)

 

* It is very nice for a gentleman to help a lady into her coat.   Just stand behind her and hold the coat by the shoulders while she puts her arms into it. There is no need, however, for you to button it up for her, or help her on with her mittens.

 

* In a bar, if there is no table service, it's nice for the gentleman to fetch the drinks.

 

*  When you are taking seats at a theater, concert hall, movie theater, church, lecture hall, etc., the lady precedes the gentleman into the row of seats.   In a restaurant, when the maitre d' is leading you to your table, the lady precedes the gentleman.

* Offer her your hand.    It is a gentlemanly gesture to help your lady make it successfully through rough terrain, or up and down steps or hills, especially if you notice her wearing stilettos. (How to Treat a Lady)

* Show her that you care.    Ask how she is doing, how work went, how she feels and what she is thinking about. Take her feelings into consideration. If she had a hard day at work, suggesting to go to the ice hockey game may not be in your best interest. Instead, offer to bring in take-out and watch a movie at home together.

*  Carry her bags.    At the airport, don't let her struggle with luggage that is twice her size. Instead, lend a helping hand and see her to her car or to the airport bag check area. Or, if you see a lady struggling with grocery bags in the parking lot, offer to carry them for her.

* Never expect anything in return for being chivalrous.    A true gentleman treats a lady properly out of his own generosity.

* A self-sufficient woman may offer to pay for you when you go out.    While some men find this startling, the modern day woman enjoys being able to treat guys from time to time. Accept her offer to pay once in a while if she insists.

Note of caution:   Some women might find it offensive for men to constantly display acts of chivalry, such as holding doors open. After a while, a woman may feel inclined to tell the man that she is perfectly capable of holding her own doors. Be careful that you do not overdo your social etiquette and border on the line of insulting. Gauge your gestures. If a women seems to appreciate your efforts, continue doing them. If she starts to appear impatient with them, hold back on opening the door for her every time.

Falling in love...

It was love at first sight. Well, love at first sight of photo. I knew once I saw the photo that I'd never love another as much. This was the one for me. If only the love was mutual.

No, I'm not talking about a person (those of you who know me knew better). I'm talking about a car. A 1954 (or 53) Buick Skylark to be exact. This is one sexy car. Just look at that tail!  I have fantasies of me driving down the road with the top down in a black model with red interior. And of course, nothing beats the the thrill of driving a classic V8. I finally got to see one in person in Reno, NV (and Sparks) a couple years ago at Hot August Nights. It is one event I look forward to each year, though I don't get to go as much as I'd like. The Skylark sitting in the row of cars that year, of course, caught my eye. I practically ran to it, knocking people out of my way, while an orchestra played Tchaikovsky's Fantasy Overture in the background. Once there, I had to wipe the drool from my mouth. The owner had completely restored it from the chassis up. They had photos showing each step that was made in restoring this car. I waited around not wanting to leave my love. But, sadly the time came when we had to part. Fortunately,  I was able to talk someone into taking a photo of us together so that I could always remember the good times we had.

Vintage party of one

In all my efforts to try to get someone to be as passionate about vintage as I am, I have not yet found that person. So, I continue to live this life solo. Most of my friends are used to me dressing up, and have accepted it. Though, some wish that I didn't. It can be hard to have this obsession without any one to share it with. Almost always I am the only one dressed vintage in a group of "normal" looking people. I don't get too many stares, but I think that goes along with living in a city full of people who accept nuances. I feel more myself when I am dressed up, and feel more self conscious when I am not. I sometimes wish I could wear a badge that says Yes! I am vintage, or something to that effect, so that everyone knows who I truly am. I love to share my vintage knowledge. If given the chance, I can talk an ear off. I try to control myself the best I can, but when you have such a passion for something, it isn't easy. Maybe someday I will find that vintage partner in crime.