Trip to Hollywood, June 1963

A recent acquisition to my vintage collection was this set of June 1963 images which show tourist sites from Hollywood and Los Angeles. What I love about this set are the vintage handwritten notes on the back that describe little details that I would not have known otherwise. On June 12th, our vintage photographer visited Universal Studios. According to the note on the back, this one is a “Universal International Revue Studio,” and the second car from the right (a Rolls Royce) belongs to Jack Benny.



The image below features the Shanty boat used in “Tammy and the Bachelor,” the 1957 Debbie Reynolds movie.



Next up, they visited the Hollywood Bowl, using this escalator to get to the famed venue.



“Truck working on fountains;  had just turned them off” is the description for this one.



As if that wasn’t enough, they also trekked over to the Farmers Market off Fairfax:



I’d never noticed the weathervane on top before.



Nearby at the CBS Television studio, they got to see Red Skelton’s costumes…but apparently not Red Skelton.



How about this plate for the AMC Rambler; CBS 199. Coincidence? I wonder who it belonged to. Apparently this car was Motor Trends Car of the year!



One shot of the Capitol Records building was not enough. In case you were wondering, it was shot at 100 f/4.



Zooming in we can see the Cleopatra Parking Lot and Du-Par’s Restaurant:



This second shot, slightly blurrier, was shot at 100 f/8.



What trip to Hollywood would be complete without a trek to the famed Hollywood & Vine street corner? The Brown Derby restaurant is visible in the background.



The next day included a trip to Chinatown, where they saw this Wishing Well:



…and the Hong Building, which is still there today:



It would appear that the trip ended on June 15, at (not surprisingly) LAX:







See more Hollywood photos at my main website.

Still Here

There, there, Granny…Daveland is still here. Yes, I missed Temple Tuesday and I also missed posting on Monday. Sometimes you have to live life to be able to post about it! I promise good stuff soon! In the meantime, here’s a (gasp) “new” (to me) shot from “The Blue Bird.” It never ceases to amaze me that there might be a still out there from that flick that’s not in my collection yet.

While you wait for my next post, how about a clip of Yvonne DeCarlo singing “I’m Still Here” from the show “Follies.” Yes, there was more to her than just Lily Munster.



See more Shirley Temple “The Blue Bird” photos at my main website.

Frontierland Friday!

It’s 1956, and Black Bart is in Disneyland’s Frontierland hamming it up for the cameras. The lady on the left with her hand on the hip does not seem amused.



I am guessing Unamused Lady took this next image of her Honey, who was apparently more into being in front of the camera than she was. Note the storybook-style map in the background touting the new Rainbow Cavern Mine Train attraction.



While seeing a gun pointed at a guest these days can be jarring in light of recent circumstances, back in 1956 it was all safe fun and part of the show.



Even more jarring is this guy’s long hair. To think that Walt allowed it is incredible. Must be because Black Bart was supposed to be a bad guy.



This particular lady found him charming. Or maybe she thought a little luck from the Ace of Spades in his hat would rub off on her.

See more Disneyland Frontierland photos at my main website.

Safe Again!

Thanks to the annual goof of my hosting company screwing up my SSL Certificate renewal, my site was down for the last day or so. This also meant all the photos in my blog were inaccessible, too. Oh the joys of running a website. Today I celebrate one of my very favorite classic TV shows, “Lost in Space.” A friend tipped me off to the publication of a book by Angela Cartwright and Bill Mumy (aka Penny and Will Robinson) called Lost (and found) In Space 2: The Expanded Edition. I’m glad I missed the first edition, because this one is chock full of new photos and updated text. If you’re a fan of the show, do not miss ordering this from Angela’s website!

On her Instagram, Cartwright also announced that Heritage auctions is selling a number of the original costumes from the show, including this one worn by Guy Williams in one of my favorite episodes, “The Anti-Matter Man” from Season 3. By this time, most of the episodes focused on Dr. Smith and Will, with a lot of silly and campy situations. This one departed from that, and returned to the original balanced core of the series which was the Robinson family and dramatic situations. The art direction (Frank O. Barnette and Jack Martin Smith) and cinematography (Frank Carson) on “The Anti-Matter Man” is amazing, too. From the auction site description:



Guy Williams "John Robinson," "Anti-Matter Man" Costume from Season 3 of Lost in Space (CBS TV, 1965-1968). Vintage original 1-piece character jumpsuit constructed of black and ivory color-blocked sparkle fabric with standing short ring collar, split snap-wrist cuffs, and zipper front closure from neck to fly. Signed on the interior collar, "Guy, Sept 67" and retaining the studio cleaning tag. Highly visible worn in the fan favorite Season 3, Episode 15: "The Anti-Matter Man." Exhibiting minor age and production wear with some small breaches to legs. In vintage Fine condition. Accompanied by a LOA from renowned collector James Comisar. Comes with a COA from Heritage Auctions.



At an opening bid of $7,000, I might have to miss this one! Even at $5,000, Williams’ groovy Season 3 tunic is out of my range.



Christmas is around the corner; any generous readers out there?

See more “Lost in Space” photos at my main website.

Temple Tuesday: At The Ballet

“The Little Princess” gave Shirley the chance to briefly play a ballerina during the dream sequence. Surrounded by a number of lovely ladies with far more training than her, our gal Shirley still did an admirable job.



In her autobiography, Shirley recalled training with dance instructor Ernest Belcher for the film:

Unfolding a portable dance floor in our living room, [Belcher] played “Nutcracker” music and demonstrated, flexing up on tiptoe, leaping and twirling off the dance floor and among our chairs and tables. Several athletic weeks later I still was no ballerina, with little to show beyond tender arches and aching ankles. Rather than scrub the whole number, however, studio dance directors [Nick] Castle and [Geneva] Sawyer dressed me in tutu and ballet slippers, with thin pink ribbons laced around the ankles, and choreographed me in swoop, pivot, and twirl strongly backed up by a chorus of accomplished dancers. Everyone balanced on tiptoe except me. It was one of those discouraging moments, posing beyond my real competence.



Despite her recollection of feeling inadequate, Shirley still managed to save the costume she wore back in 1939.



Want to see the back?



Even the shoes survived!



Shirley also managed to approve a porcelain doll by the Danbury Mint which faithfully recreated her ballet debut outfit:





While her career as a ballerina was short-lived, we can still appreciate the work and training that Shirley put into it!

See more Shirley Temple photos at my main website.

Matchbook Monday

I came from a family of collectors, and one of the easiest things to collect as a kid was matchbooks. That’s right; those little cardboard things that help people light up cancer sticks. Every restaurant worth its salt had a jar of matches at the host/hostess stand where patrons could grab a pack on the way in/out. They have become a historical document, with the logos and contact information of establishments now long gone. The first one shown here from my collection is for Bar Marmont, the former next door neighbor of my beloved hotel, the Chateau Marmont. Bar on the front; Marmont on the back. Get it?



The inside of the matchbook shows the butterfly motif that patrons would see once inside the Bar.



For as long as I've been staying there, the ashtrays in the Chateau’s rooms still carry matchbooks. One of the many little reasons I enjoy going there. And no, I don’t smoke,  so just pack up your little judgments.



What a clever little piece of advertising. Phone number, location, and intelligent design.



I don’t know what the correlation between the naked girl and the Chateau is, but that’s what you find on the inside.



eBay once listed a previous incarnation of the hotel’s matches; much simpler in design.



…but much louder in touting their claim to fame. I wonder if these were produced before or after Belushi?



When traveling, just in case you get lost, always carry your matches with you!



A recent acquisition to my collection were these matches for the Garden of Allah hotel, once located semi-across the street from the Chateau on Sunset Boulevard.





Another eBay listing that I failed to bid on.



I do love the paper towel background, though.



The phone number stayed the same; although the ones I own omit the “9;” that’s one way to keep the switchboard clear.



Makes me wish I could have stayed there.



What matchbooks have you collected?

See more Daveland photos at my main website.