As long as they have been in public life, the Kennedys have been associated with the press, making their first fan movie magazine appearance in the September 1927 issue of Photoplay. By the early 1960s, there were upwards of forty fan magazines, including Photoplay, Motion Picture, Modern Screen, and TV Radio Screen. The forerunners of the modern “celebrity magazines” such as Us Weekly and In Touch, the movie mags covered the misadventures, tribulations and lifestyles of television and film stars.
In the wake of the Red Scare and the advent of television, movie admissions and, thus, the movie magazines’ revenue from advertising had dramatically decreased. In response, tabloid editors used Jackie Kennedy’s image with unabashed frequency. Much as popcorn kept movie theaters afloat after the advent of television, so Jackie stories salvaged the movie magazines. Life in the White House had become the world’s most exciting movie and the movie magazines were committed to covering it.
By Oline Eaton
July 22nd, 2011
Have you ever experienced a time when you’re out with friends, enjoying the evening at the lounge bar, and suddenly, you want to take some photos of those good times? Of course, I’m sure everyone has. Well, like me, you probably pulled out your mobile phone to take a quick picture of your lovey-dovey as they sip that colorful cosmopolitan drink. Mobile phones have come a long way, yet, they still don’t seem to take great photos half the time. The photos come out too grainy, too blurry, or too dark.A mobile phone may never replace a camera, but there’s always an alternative…
There are great camera apps available from the Android App Store that can help liven up those photos you have taken and continue to take. There are three great camera apps that are easy to use, and best of all, are free.
By Steven Padal
July 15th, 2011
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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Lisa Predko, who we have mentioned before on Ultra Swank, is a talented photographer based in Chicago. Her love for everything vintage inspired her to start shooting retro inspired photographs about a decade ago. Since then she has created a impressive collection of really neat photos that look like they were freshly taken out from a time capsule in perfect condition.
Not too long ago, Polaroid held a competition where they asked photographers to recreate a photo from one of their old manuals or create your own. Naturally Lisa wanted to do the latter and the result can be seen above. The photo landed her first prize in the category which will not only give her fame and glory but also a brand new Elemental Model Land Camera named after it. Congratulations!
By Chris
July 14th, 2011
This short promotional film, produced in the early 1970s gives us a insight into how the classical compact Polaroid SX-70 camera functions.
The SX-70 included many sophisticated design elements. A collapsible SLR required a complex light path, with many mirrors (including one Fresnel reflector) of unusual, aspheric shapes and at odd angles. The film pack contained a flat, 6-volt “PolaPulse” battery to power the camera electronics, drive motor and flash. The original flash system, a disposable “Flash Bar” of 10 bulbs from General Electric, used logic circuits to detect and fire the next unused flash.
By Chris
February 10th, 2010
Here is something for all you office / gadget geeks. Corporate environments used to be stylish, fun and zany a couple of decades ago, pre cubicle-land, Lumberghs and Hawaiian shirt day. Look at those big machines and the women who knows how to operate them, pretty sassy huh? There are a bunch of more retro office porn photos here (Via) [Thanks Cam]
By Chris
January 19th, 2010
The latest haute couture from Paris, Milan, Rome, London and New York for the ladies out there. If you like the videos, be sure to stop by French sexy lounge girl thejackieo1966 on YouTube.
By Chris
January 14th, 2010
Lisa Predko, a professional photographer from Chicago and lover of all things vintage sends me these lovely 1960s inspired photos that instantly transports you back 50 years or so, to a more fun, colorful and playful time. I love the the attention to detail and color and if you are fascinated by the space age designed television seen above, you should definitively head over to Predicta, who manufactures them (in living color). Wouldn’t mind getting my hands on one of those sets my self, bet it would look snug in any Mid Century modern home! Continue reading for more of Lisa’s photos and a short biography about her.
By Chris
November 23rd, 2009
