http://www.ultraswank.net Retro Living and Design from the 50s, 60s and 70s Tue, 07 Feb 2012 06:56:26 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 http://www.ultraswank.net/cocktail-nation/episode-206/ http://www.ultraswank.net/cocktail-nation/episode-206/#comments Sun, 05 Feb 2012 12:59:39 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=3657 On the show this week, Koop Kooper broadcasts from the Viceroy hotel in Bali on a weeks vacation. In swank advice Koop talk about being a traveler rather than a tourist and he’ll introduce you to a new player in the Sydney lounge scene and details on a fantastic LA fashion show that you should [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/cocktail-nation/episode-206/feed/ 0 http://www.ultraswank.net/cocktail-nation/episode-205/ http://www.ultraswank.net/cocktail-nation/episode-205/#comments Sun, 29 Jan 2012 11:17:00 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=3649 On the show this week, Koop Kooper replay a 1994 interview with Etta James, swank advice on Bow Ties, news on a lost Ed Wood film that has been rediscovered and new music from Sydney vocalist Angie Hubbard from her brand new album Some Kind Of Daydream. Listen to the podcast Played songs Angie Hubbard [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/cocktail-nation/episode-205/feed/ 1 http://www.ultraswank.net/cocktail-nation/episode-204/ http://www.ultraswank.net/cocktail-nation/episode-204/#comments Sun, 22 Jan 2012 12:22:07 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=3638 On the show this week, Koop Kooper checks out the Ohana Luau at the lake, reviews OSS 117 and play some music from the film. Takes a look at the world of swank with some great gigs and parties to attend plus the usual swank advice. Back on the radio for another week as we [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/cocktail-nation/episode-204/feed/ 0 http://www.ultraswank.net/cocktail-nation/episode-203/ http://www.ultraswank.net/cocktail-nation/episode-203/#comments Sun, 15 Jan 2012 11:31:16 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=3628 On the show this week, Koop Kooper introduce you to a man who is going to join us once a month by the name of Kramer to talk about lounging movies. News from author Bill Raetz, swank advice on what to bring to a dinner party, a look at the world of swank with some [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/cocktail-nation/episode-203/feed/ 1 http://www.ultraswank.net/ultra-swank/the-cocktail-nation-podcast-joins-ultra-swank/ http://www.ultraswank.net/ultra-swank/the-cocktail-nation-podcast-joins-ultra-swank/#comments Fri, 06 Jan 2012 06:20:39 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=3621 We are starting the year off with a bang at Ultra Swank! Coming this weekend – famed and swingin’ radio show and podcast “The Cocktail Nation” will find a permanent home here at Ultra Swank. The Cocktail Nation is hosted by the silken-voiced Koop Kooper from Sydney, Australia. Each week Koop talks to the movers [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/ultra-swank/the-cocktail-nation-podcast-joins-ultra-swank/feed/ 2 http://www.ultraswank.net/music/an-audible-smorgasbord-of-luxuria-music/ http://www.ultraswank.net/music/an-audible-smorgasbord-of-luxuria-music/#comments Thu, 06 Oct 2011 11:33:44 +0000 Katharine Miller http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=3544 Tired of spinning the same old Esquivel and Les Baxter on the hi-fi? First, make sure you’ve given a listen to the fabulous Ultra Swank compilations curated by our own Chris. Then feast your ears on Luxuriamusic.com. And what a feast it is! Luxuria is an audible smorgasbord of tiki, exotica, and lounge music of [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/music/an-audible-smorgasbord-of-luxuria-music/feed/ 4 http://www.ultraswank.net/music/karminsky-experience-goes-retro-lounge/ http://www.ultraswank.net/music/karminsky-experience-goes-retro-lounge/#comments Thu, 21 Oct 2010 16:42:13 +0000 Steven Padal http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=2749 Karminsky Experience Inc. is best known for creating middle eastern influenced Electronica music. But his more recent album, Snapshot (2007), has a radical retro lounge theme. While listening to Snapshot, a mixture of library, beach, and jazz music transforms into wonderful melodies. The album begins with Summer Song, which is happy and inviting – it [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/music/karminsky-experience-goes-retro-lounge/feed/ 0 http://www.ultraswank.net/interior/playboy-inspired-home-lounge/ http://www.ultraswank.net/interior/playboy-inspired-home-lounge/#comments Mon, 28 Jun 2010 05:47:43 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=2570 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 [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/interior/playboy-inspired-home-lounge/feed/ 2 http://www.ultraswank.net/drinkable/retro-cocktails-for-your-pad/ http://www.ultraswank.net/drinkable/retro-cocktails-for-your-pad/#comments Wed, 23 Sep 2009 05:16:14 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=1331 Do you know who Tom Collins is? Ever tried a Old Fashioned? Here are a couple of ideas for drinks that will make sure that your next retro themed Mad Men cocktail party is one for the books. Which is your favorite retro cocktail? Bottoms up from Ultra Swank. Martini 2 oz. Gin or Vodka [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/drinkable/retro-cocktails-for-your-pad/feed/ 7 http://www.ultraswank.net/music/mr-lucky-television-series/ http://www.ultraswank.net/music/mr-lucky-television-series/#comments Mon, 21 Sep 2009 05:12:49 +0000 Guest http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=1304 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 [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/music/mr-lucky-television-series/feed/ 4 http://www.ultraswank.net/music/dutch-exotica-music/ http://www.ultraswank.net/music/dutch-exotica-music/#comments Wed, 12 Aug 2009 05:38:24 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=1171 Exotica music was made popular in the early 1950s and took its name from the Martin Denny album with the same title. The inspiration for the genre came from exotic locations and instruments from places such as Polynesia, Melanesia, Micronesia, Southeast Asia, and Hawaii. The genre was mostly popular in suburban USA with legends such [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/music/dutch-exotica-music/feed/ 5 http://www.ultraswank.net/music/shaynee-rainbolt-leads-a-charmed-life/ http://www.ultraswank.net/music/shaynee-rainbolt-leads-a-charmed-life/#comments Wed, 17 Jun 2009 05:01:47 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=953 American jazz vocalist Shaynee Rainbolt contacted me a while back having seen one of my compilations which features songs by legendary musician and composer Russell Garcia. It turns out that she is not only a fellow fan of his but also worked with him on her latest album entitled Charmed Life: Shaynee Rainbolt Sings Russell [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/music/shaynee-rainbolt-leads-a-charmed-life/feed/ 2 http://www.ultraswank.net/design/atomic-age-wallpaper/ http://www.ultraswank.net/design/atomic-age-wallpaper/#comments Wed, 10 Jun 2009 12:04:52 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=934 Whether you are redecorating your living room, planing on buying a mid-century modern flavored house or want to make your kitchen look more groovy, Bradbury & Bradbury Art Wallpaper has what you need. Their series of Atomic Age and Mod Generation wallpaper range from 1950s styled Googie patterns to exotic tropical Tiki to the revolutionary [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/design/atomic-age-wallpaper/feed/ 8 http://www.ultraswank.net/inspiration/cocktail-hour/ http://www.ultraswank.net/inspiration/cocktail-hour/#comments Sat, 13 Dec 2008 10:42:00 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/uncategorized/cocktail-hour/ This photo by famed photographer Julius Shulman looks absolutely lovely. I wish I had a cocktail lounge like that in my penthouse apartment. The Mid-Century Modernist has a bunch of more photos and information. (Via)]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/inspiration/cocktail-hour/feed/ 4 http://www.ultraswank.net/compilation/midnight-martinis/ http://www.ultraswank.net/compilation/midnight-martinis/#comments Sun, 12 Aug 2007 10:54:00 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/uncategorized/midnight-martinis/ It is still summer, and still warm so why not cool off with some refreshing Martinis with your loved one? This compilation is the perfect mood setter for anyone enjoying a Martini late at night, gazing out on the quiet streets from your penthouse apartment while a soft breeze blows through the open window. If [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/compilation/midnight-martinis/feed/ 37 http://www.ultraswank.net/compilation/space-age-lounge-volume-1-ultra-swank-living/ http://www.ultraswank.net/compilation/space-age-lounge-volume-1-ultra-swank-living/#comments Thu, 15 Feb 2007 16:51:00 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/uncategorized/space-age-lounge-volume-1-ultra-swank-living/ Here is the compilation that started everything. It was actually compiled a few months before I started this website back in September 2005 and I decided to keep the name Ultra Swank seeing it has a nice ring to it. “Space Age Lounge Volume 1″ was first compilation I had done in many years, so [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/compilation/space-age-lounge-volume-1-ultra-swank-living/feed/ 34 http://www.ultraswank.net/compilation/space-age-lounge-volume-2-red-carpet-ride/ http://www.ultraswank.net/compilation/space-age-lounge-volume-2-red-carpet-ride/#comments Mon, 15 Jan 2007 15:18:00 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/uncategorized/space-age-lounge-volume-2-red-carpet-ride/ Since many of you have requested my previous two volumes of “Space Age Lounge”, I have decided to share them with you here. First off is volume 2, which is called Red Carpet Ride. It is a tribute to the swank Hollywood premieres and jet set lifestyle of the 1960s. The music is mostly soft [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/compilation/space-age-lounge-volume-2-red-carpet-ride/feed/ 23