http://www.ultraswank.net Retro Living and Design from the 50s, 60s and 70s Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:59:46 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 http://www.ultraswank.net/roadtrip/classic-las-vegas-hotel-casinos-and-gambling/ http://www.ultraswank.net/roadtrip/classic-las-vegas-hotel-casinos-and-gambling/#comments Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:00:53 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=3637 Come fly with me… to fabulous and fantastic Las Vegas! Established in 1905, it was nowhere near the oasis of fun, sin and lost weekends as it is known for today. But when major developments and projectes surfaced in the 1940s, the city starting growing larger and larger. Shady organized crime personalties saw opportunities to [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/roadtrip/classic-las-vegas-hotel-casinos-and-gambling/feed/ 0 http://www.ultraswank.net/roadtrip/the-mini-cooper-and-the-monte-carlo-rally/ http://www.ultraswank.net/roadtrip/the-mini-cooper-and-the-monte-carlo-rally/#comments Sat, 22 Oct 2011 12:38:43 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=3565 The Monte Carlo Rally is a historical rally event that has been around since its inception in 1911. The Rally takes place in January at a designated route along the French Riviera. It is known for having one of the most famous special stages in the world from La Bollène-Vésubie to Sospel which consists moving [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/roadtrip/the-mini-cooper-and-the-monte-carlo-rally/feed/ 0 http://www.ultraswank.net/roadtrip/a-visit-to-london-in-1957/ http://www.ultraswank.net/roadtrip/a-visit-to-london-in-1957/#comments Wed, 30 Mar 2011 16:38:42 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=3185 A trip to yesteryear London in 1957, about a decade before the height of “Swinging London” with its youth oriented fashion, music, art and culture scenes. Places depicted are among others Cambridge Circus, Palace Pier and Trafalgar Square. What do you prefer, London in 1957 or 2011? Photos by Kai Krog Halse (Via)]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/roadtrip/a-visit-to-london-in-1957/feed/ 0 http://www.ultraswank.net/roadtrip/stockholm-street-scenes-then-and-now/ http://www.ultraswank.net/roadtrip/stockholm-street-scenes-then-and-now/#comments Thu, 18 Nov 2010 06:16:03 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=2818 Time for some more nostalgia, this time from Stockholm, Sweden. I always find it amazing how quickly things can change, usually it’s for the better – but anyone who reads this blog knows that’s not true at all. Depicted are a bunch of street scenes from the capital of Sweden, taken between 1945 and 1978. [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/roadtrip/stockholm-street-scenes-then-and-now/feed/ 7 http://www.ultraswank.net/roadtrip/swingin-london-street-scenes/ http://www.ultraswank.net/roadtrip/swingin-london-street-scenes/#comments Mon, 11 Oct 2010 05:42:34 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=2735 Various photos, scans and stills from London in the mid 1960s, when the term “Swingin’ London” was in full effect. Love how even the rainiest, gloomy day in London can look beautiful back then. Photos via SwingingLondon on Flickr.]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/roadtrip/swingin-london-street-scenes/feed/ 0 http://www.ultraswank.net/roadtrip/the-mad-men-version-of-new-york-city/ http://www.ultraswank.net/roadtrip/the-mad-men-version-of-new-york-city/#comments Wed, 18 Aug 2010 17:21:53 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=2657 Join Ella Morton from Rocketboom as she takes us on a tour of the 1960s version of New York City portrayed in television series Mad Men. Check out where the Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce office is located, where to buy the perfect hat and the best place to zip Martinis among many other things. (Via)]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/roadtrip/the-mad-men-version-of-new-york-city/feed/ 0 http://www.ultraswank.net/roadtrip/swinging-london-comes-alive/ http://www.ultraswank.net/roadtrip/swinging-london-comes-alive/#comments Tue, 16 Mar 2010 06:59:55 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=2009 London, England late 1960s. The height of the flower-power-free-love-lifestyle. Groovy colors, fashion, cars and women. For those of us who were born a few decades too early or anyone who wants to take a stroll down memory lane here’s a sample of very neat color photographs of Swinging London from that period. Depicted are among [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/roadtrip/swinging-london-comes-alive/feed/ 3 http://www.ultraswank.net/roadtrip/san-francisco-in-1958/ http://www.ultraswank.net/roadtrip/san-francisco-in-1958/#comments Tue, 09 Mar 2010 06:34:03 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=1996 For those of you who saw the posts about the Disneyland home movies taken in 1956, only a year after the park opened will most likely appreciate that the author of those videos have found another treasure from his grandparents home movie archive, San Francisco in 1958. The movie guides us around a few urban [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/roadtrip/san-francisco-in-1958/feed/ 5 http://www.ultraswank.net/roadtrip/its-intermission-time-folks/ http://www.ultraswank.net/roadtrip/its-intermission-time-folks/#comments Tue, 16 Feb 2010 06:19:53 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=1943 Anyone who has ever enjoyed a movie at a drive-in theater in the US back in its heydays, knows that seeing the movie was just one part of the enjoyment. Families made the drive-in a weekend adventure, filled with food, laughter and goodies that dad picked up from the concession stand during the intermission. These [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/roadtrip/its-intermission-time-folks/feed/ 6 http://www.ultraswank.net/roadtrip/home-movie-from-disneyland-in-1956-%e2%80%93-part-2/ http://www.ultraswank.net/roadtrip/home-movie-from-disneyland-in-1956-%e2%80%93-part-2/#comments Tue, 05 Jan 2010 11:43:52 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=1773 Good news! The author of the home movie shot at Disneyland in 1956 decided to post some more retro video goodness for all of us! In this clip we see glimpses from Adventureland, which is a cowboy and Indians themed area of the park. I believe it has changed a lot of the years though. [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/roadtrip/home-movie-from-disneyland-in-1956-%e2%80%93-part-2/feed/ 5 http://www.ultraswank.net/roadtrip/home-movie-from-disneyland-in-1956/ http://www.ultraswank.net/roadtrip/home-movie-from-disneyland-in-1956/#comments Sat, 02 Jan 2010 06:09:27 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=1767 A digitally restored home movie shot at Disneyland, California in 1956. Not only was the park only a year old but Walt Disney him self can be seen in the beginning shaking hands with the author’s grand mother. I really love how vivid, colorful and happy everything looks like. The post war optimism and friendliness [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/roadtrip/home-movie-from-disneyland-in-1956/feed/ 7 http://www.ultraswank.net/roadtrip/swedens-oldest-amusement-park/ http://www.ultraswank.net/roadtrip/swedens-oldest-amusement-park/#comments Fri, 11 Dec 2009 06:04:31 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=1692 Gröna Lund in Stockholm is one of a handful amusement parks in Sweden. It might not be the biggest one, but it is certainly the oldest. Built in 1883, on the seashore overlooking the masses of water that divides Stockholm into something that sometimes is referred to as the Swedish version of Venice. Over exaggerated [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/roadtrip/swedens-oldest-amusement-park/feed/ 0 http://www.ultraswank.net/roadtrip/kitschy-swedish-postcards-from-the-1960s/ http://www.ultraswank.net/roadtrip/kitschy-swedish-postcards-from-the-1960s/#comments Mon, 02 Nov 2009 06:26:57 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=1554 Winter is almost upon us in northern Europe, but these newly found postcards of retro Sweden brings back kitschy summer vibes that are sure to warm anyone. Those of you with sharp eyes might spot that a few of the cards depict Sweden pre-1967, when we still had left-side traffic. Native Swedes might even recognize [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/roadtrip/kitschy-swedish-postcards-from-the-1960s/feed/ 2 http://www.ultraswank.net/roadtrip/the-disneyland-hotel-in-anaheim/ http://www.ultraswank.net/roadtrip/the-disneyland-hotel-in-anaheim/#comments Thu, 27 Aug 2009 05:55:15 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=1215 I am strangely fascinated by the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim, California. Built in 1955 along with the park it was actually not operated by the Walt Disney Company until 1988 due to the building of the park had tapped Walt Disney for most of his financial resources. The Hotel has obviously been rebuilt, added to [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/roadtrip/the-disneyland-hotel-in-anaheim/feed/ 12 http://www.ultraswank.net/roadtrip/a-swingin-london-tower/ http://www.ultraswank.net/roadtrip/a-swingin-london-tower/#comments Thu, 06 Aug 2009 10:21:07 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=1162 The Post Office Tower (later British Telecom Tower) was built in the early 1960s on commission by the General Post Office to be used to carry groovy signals across London. It raises almost 180 meters over the ground and once had both a observation deck, cocktail bar and a restaurant at the top. Sadly, the [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/roadtrip/a-swingin-london-tower/feed/ 2 http://www.ultraswank.net/roadtrip/postcards-of-googie-architecture-in-california/ http://www.ultraswank.net/roadtrip/postcards-of-googie-architecture-in-california/#comments Tue, 07 Jul 2009 05:59:58 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=1043 Since we all love kitschy postcards, I thought this would be a great way to start off the week. Below are a small sample of postcards from Synthetrix postcard collection of yesteryear California. Including motels, restaurants, diners, bowling alleys and everything between that all shares the Googie styled design and architecture that became popular on [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/roadtrip/postcards-of-googie-architecture-in-california/feed/ 5 http://www.ultraswank.net/roadtrip/swinging-london-1960s-fashion/ http://www.ultraswank.net/roadtrip/swinging-london-1960s-fashion/#comments Mon, 04 May 2009 06:37:36 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=793 For many of us the 1960s was the fashion decade of the 20th century. Especially if you lived in London at the time, which was known as “Swinging London” – a definition made in April 1966 by British magazine Time. Most of us can only daydream what it was like during that era from what [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/roadtrip/swinging-london-1960s-fashion/feed/ 5 http://www.ultraswank.net/roadtrip/london-coffee-bars-in-the-50s-and-60s/ http://www.ultraswank.net/roadtrip/london-coffee-bars-in-the-50s-and-60s/#comments Thu, 30 Apr 2009 12:34:21 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=790 Before Starbucks, Espresso House, Nero and other major coffeehouse chains invaded every city on the western hemisphere there were thousands of smaller coffee houses or coffee bars as they were referred to back then. London, England saw a major expansion of these quaint places in the early 1950s, right about the same time as the [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/roadtrip/london-coffee-bars-in-the-50s-and-60s/feed/ 8 http://www.ultraswank.net/roadtrip/more-swedish-postcards/ http://www.ultraswank.net/roadtrip/more-swedish-postcards/#comments Tue, 30 Sep 2008 20:49:00 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/uncategorized/more-swedish-postcards/ More retro Swedish postcard goodness for all of you to enjoy. There were a large number of postcards produced from the late 1940s to early 1980s here in Sweden. The future looked optimistic, new buildings were popping all around the country and of course it had to be depicted on a postcard to that you [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/roadtrip/more-swedish-postcards/feed/ 7 http://www.ultraswank.net/roadtrip/swedish-street-scenes-in-the-60s/ http://www.ultraswank.net/roadtrip/swedish-street-scenes-in-the-60s/#comments Tue, 26 Aug 2008 20:12:00 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/uncategorized/swedish-street-scenes-in-the-60s/ Here are a bunch of old postcards depicting normal everyday life street scenes in Sweden in the 1960s. Progress has taken its toll on all of these places and I very much doubt they look like this today. Although, I do love the colors and how everything looked so casually organized and clean back then.]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/roadtrip/swedish-street-scenes-in-the-60s/feed/ 13