Pad – The Guide to Ultra Living

Thanks to a post-World War II economic and technological boom, the 1950s and early 60s was the golden age for the bachelor lifestyle. With the advent of Playboy magazine, the quintessential guide to urban living, it reached critical mass. Armed with affluence, abundant leisure time, and the sagacity of Saint Hefner, bachelors found themselves with two things: freedom and optimism.

The ultimate expression of this was the bachelor pad. More than just a place to dwell, the bachelor pad was a place to work, play, and truly live. It was a micro-world outfitted and dressed in whatever manner Playboy and one’s wallet decided.

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Jazz for the Jet Set

Dave Pike has created this swell recording for all those swingin’ bachelors. Herbie Hancock plays the keyboard along side Dave Pike’s vibraphone. Bobby Hebb had wrote “Sunny” and introduced it in this album, which was later released for hundreds of additional recordings. This album reminds me a little of Cal Tjader, who was the creator of Acid Jazz. Some of my favorite recordings are “Blind Man, Blind Man,” “Jet Set”, and “Devilette.” Jazz for the Jet Set is really boss! I highly recommend it for your next cocktail party!

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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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Case Study House #22

Wednesday inspiration. The Stahl House, also known as Case Study House #22 was finished in 1959 and is most likely the most famous house from the CSH program with help from famed photographer Julius Schulman. (Via)

Mr. Lucky Television Series

Mr. Lucky was a relatively short-lived (34 episodes) 1959-1960 television series. It starred actors John Vivyan as the suave professional gambler, “Mr. Lucky”, and Ross Martin as his sidekick, Andamo. Most of the action in this crime drama took place on or around Mr. Lucky’s floating casino/pad called “The Fortuna”. Possibly the most memorable thing about the show was the cool, jazzy theme and background music which was composed and conducted by Henry Mancini. The original LP cover looks great framed and hanging in any swank bachelor’s (or bachelorette’s) pad.

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