Taking its inspiration from the original Playboy Club, located in downtown Chicago, this DIY built music wall is not only a homage to the electronic entertainment wall that was installed at the Chicago club in 1964 but also takes it one step further by enhancing it with modern technology. The designer was determined to have a room to call his own and used his carpentry skills to create something that would look like going back in time, but keeping all modern conveniences and high fidelity.

The original Playboy club featured bunnies serving cocktails and live performances by legendary names such as Sid Ceasar, Ray Charles, Count Basie, Bob Hope and Mel Tormé. This modern version sadly does not come with any bunnies or with crooners. (Via)

Ultra Swank – Your one stop blog for retro living, style and design

Ultra Swank takes you back in time into the kitsch, chic and swank living of the 50s, 60s and the 70s. We mainly focus on the design, architecture and the lifestyle of the happy-go-lucky and space-age-living mentality of that era – but also on the music and movies that takes you back to happier times. Ultra Swank is run by Chris, a Swede born in the wrong decade that currently resides in Barcelona. Read more

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If you are wondering why new posts have been a bit sparse lately it is simple because I have relocated to a new country. I was offered a job in fantastic Barcelona, Spain and had to relocate with short notice. I am now slowly adjusting to my new home and organizing my things, which eats up most of my free time. The normal rate of posts will resume very soon. Bare with me please. (Image)

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Need a compilation of some catchy tunes? Well, you've come to the right diner! I was hungry for more lounge music and found "Music for TV Dinners: The Sixties." For those that don't know many lounge artists, this is a great compilation with a tasty mix of library music. The album includes artists such as Syd Dale, Laurie Johnson, and of course the great Alan Hawkshaw. I never got full from listening to my favorite songs, Beauty Parade and Chase That Car.

Warning: The TV Dinner will be hot, but a swell meal! Click here to taste a sample of "Music for TV Dinners: The Sixties". Have a story of TV dinners or shopping malls as a kid? Share them in the comments!

The first memory I have of Jane Fonda is from watching my mother’s copy of Jane Fonda’s 1982 exercise video, aptly titled “Workout,” based on Fonda‘s even more aptly titled LP “Jane Fonda‘s Workout Record.“ Hot off the heels of early ‘80s HBO mainstays “Nine to Five” and “On Golden Pond,” Fonda appeared on the video box in leg warmers and promised music by REO Speedwagon, Billy Ocean, and Boz Scaggs. Based on her dowdy appearance in “Nine to Five” and her whiny semi-autobiographical role in “On Golden Pond,” I hadn’t realized Fonda had been a sex symbol until years later when I rented a copy of Barbarella on VHS.

It is the year 40,000 and Barbarella is hot on the trail of Durand Durand and his missing Positronic Ray. Follow along and I’ll answer such questions as: Can Barbarella rescue Durand Durand before the Black Queen destroys him? Will Barbarella out-pleasure the Excessive Machine? Have STDs been cured 38,000 years from now or does Barbarella just have really low self-esteem?

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If you have been craving a well-written period murder mystery, then look no further than Radley Metzger’s The Cat and the Canary. However, if your tastes tend toward lush murder mystery musicals, then take a look at 8 Women. 8 Women has plot twists galore, and since I’m not one to spoil, this review will be short.

Set in 1950s France, Suzon (Virgine Ledoyen - La Ceremonie, The Beach), returns home to her family’s countryside estate while on Christmas vacation from school. In short order, Suzon greets her mother, Gaby (Catharine Deneuve - Repulsion, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg), her Aunt Augustine (Isabelle Huppert - La Dentelliere, The Piano Teacher), sister Catherine (Ludivine Sagnier - Water Drops on Burning Rocks, Swimming Pool), housekeeper Louise (Emmanuelle Beart - The Story of Marie and Julien, Mission: Impossible), maid Chanel (Firmine Richard - Romuald et Juliette), and grandmother Mamy (Danielle Darrieux - The Earrings of Madame de…). Later in the film, we are treated to a guest appearance by Fanny Ardant (Vivement dimanche!) as Aunt Pierrette. Shortly after arriving, Suzon’s father, Marcel, is murdered. There are eight possible suspects in the house – all women. Eight women. The murderer could be any one of them, and paranoia quickly sets in as the women accuse each other of committing the murder.

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