From WhatsBuzzin.com, comes a handful of original, well designed retro Holiday Cards that trend with the popularity of 1950s and 1960s themes as seen in the television shows “Mad Men“, “Pan Am” and 2011 film “The Help“. Featuring fun, nostalgic images of 1950′s and ’60′s Retro American Christmas.
Set up the aluminum tree, plug in the color wheel, and put Bing on the on the hi fi – now you’re ready to write out and send your fabulous retro Christmas cards. The cards are designed, illustrated and printed in the USA by WhatsBuzzin.com, a small business located in Clearwater, Florida. Specializing in retro styled Christmas cards with light-hearted messages and sometimes kitschy, but always cool, visuals of vintage ornaments and bubble lights, retro toys, model trains, and other classic Christmas memorabilia that take their cues from the colorful vintage vibes of the 1950s and 1960s.
A set of 8 cards and envelopes retails for $12.00
By Chris
December 22nd, 2011
Christmas is around the corner and to make the wait for Santa’s arrival less excruciating, here are three classic movies from bygone years that are sure to get you into that special holiday spirit and festive mood. Which are your favorite Christmas movies from the past?
December 8th, 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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From all of us, to all of you. Merry Christmas, happy holidays and have a great new year! Ultra Swank will resume our normal posting soon. Meanwhile, check out the Ultra Swank photo group on Flickr. There are close to 5,000 images in our archive now, amazing! What was your favorite moments of 2010? (Image source)
By Chris
December 24th, 2010
When snow covers the ground and the days get shorter, you know it’s time to celebrate the winter holidays and spread cheer and good will. Even celebrities can’t resist the action, lending their talent and likeness to all manners of Christmas merriment. Popular personalities of stage, screen and song deliver messages of joy in the form of holiday specials (dramatic retellings of Dicken’s A Christmas Carol and hokey musicals), specially-themed television episodes, festive Christmas albums.
Sometimes celebrities assist retailers in promoting their products with the spirit of the season in mind. From luxury items like hi-fi stereos and liquor to the seemingly banal cellophane tape and fizzy antacid. Any commonly used product can be deemed gift-worthy when you put a celebrity in a Santa hat!
December 20th, 2010
Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (1964) begins with a hastily prepared animation sequence set to the sonic stylings of children singing “Hooray for Santa Claus.” Once the songs ends, we are told by the newscaster for KID-TV that they have sent a news crew to the North Pole to interview Santa Claus. I got excited upon hearing this news, only to find out in the end credits that the role of Santa was played by someone named John Call, which incidentally was my stage name for a brief while in college. Andy Henderson, on location from KID-TV provides a tour of Santa’s Workshop (though really just a set built for the film) and a quick run-through of some hard-working bearded elves led by Winky. Santa appears to enjoy his pipe more than the Standards and Practices people may have liked, but he enjoyed it in spite of them.
December 18th, 2010
As we see more and more public spaces become smoke-free, it’s easy to forget that smoking wasn’t always considered hazardous. In the days when it was socially acceptable to smoke, cigarettes were advertised on television and endorsed by popular celebrities and cartoon characters. A carton of cigarettes was considered an appropriate gift for children to give their fathers. In the Mad Men universe, where smoking is the norm and SCDP’s biggest client is a cigarette company, the oddest thing about Roger Sterling distributing cartons of Lucky Strike to his employees is that he’s wearing the Santa suit while doing so.
December 14th, 2010
Electrify your Christmas music mix with some Hammond organ sounds! Jimmy Smith originally was a pianist and later became an organist in the early 50’s. Smith signed on with Verve Records in the 60’s and had the opportunity to collaborate with the great Lalo Schifrin and Wes Montgomery. Don’t be mistaken; Jimmy Smith’s style is not your typical funeral or church organ music. His jazz tempo is much more lively on the electric organ, which later became more popular due to his new style – fast paced and be-boppin’.
Jimmy Smith’s album, Christmas 64, has recognizable Christmas songs with a Hammond organ twist. Smith’s fast fingers rip through the organ – adding spice to songs like Jingle Bells, We Three Kings and The Christmas Song. One of my favorite songs is White Christmas. It slowly begins with some brass instrument and transitions into percussions. As you patiently listen, you’ll soon recognize the Hammond organ sneak into the rhythm of the song.
Turn up Christmas 64 as you mingle with friends and family this holiday season, sipping that delicious glass of eggnog (spiked with rum perhaps?).
By Steven Padal
December 6th, 2010
