Join Trans World Airlines and Ultra Swank for a flight to the city that never sleeps, New York city! We will depart from Los Angeles and set down at New York, Idlewild airport (soon to be known as JFK airport). Our flying time is estimated at around 8 hours. Fasten your seat belts and enjoy the scenery. If you have any questions, our delightful stewardess will take care of all your needs. Footage taken in 1954 and made available through the lovely people at The Travel Film Archive.

Since my previous post about the TV show Mad Men from AMC back in November I have now watched the entire first season (13 episodes) and thought I would share some thoughts about the show. Mad Men is a drama that revolves around the life of creative director Donald Draper who works at a prestigious ad agency in the beginning of the 1960s in midtown Manhattan, New York. Working with advertising in the 50s and 60s was one of the most glamorous jobs you could have along airline pilot and stewardess. And if you were working in Manhattan, you were pretty much the king of the mountain.

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Mad Men is a drama series from AMC about a swank ad agency in Manhattan, New York. It takes place in the early 1960s, when working with advertising was probably the most glamorous work you could have at that period as portrayed in many movies from that decade. For instance Lover Come Back starring Rock Hudson and Doris Day.

I watched the first episode from season 1 yesterday and I must say that it got me hooked (thank you for the tip janepeepshow). Not only because I my self have a background working with advertising but also because of the very accurately designed sets and period music. There will probably be a season 2 of the series but I am not sure when it will be aired. You can catch season 1 right now on AMC if you live in North America.

I have two favorite World’s Fair expositions. The first one being the 1962 held in Seattle, also known as Century 21, the second one is the fair that was held in Queens, New York in 1964. It was the largest World’s Fair ever hosted, and the theme for it was “Peace Through Understanding”. This was represented through a huge model of the Earth called the Unisphere which still stands there today. Like the fair in Seattle in 1962, this fair was mostly remembered for its mid-century American corporate culture, bright plans for the future and space age design. It was also the place where Walt Disney created and tested his system for audio-animatronics which was used for several rides on the fair, i.e. Ford’s Magic Skyway and General Electric’s Carousel of progress.

More than 50 million people from all over the world visited the fair, but the fair had proven to be too costly and was not able to repay its financial backers. The fair closed permanently in 1970, however some of the buildings and pavilions survived. The most famous one is the Unisphere which has become a symbol for Queens.

This is a continuation of my posts about my favourite architects from the golden days of architecture (this one is for you janepeepshow). Second up is Eero Saarinen, originally born in Finland in 1910. Relocated to the United States when his family emigrated there in 1923, where he began to study sculpture and furniture design. Saarinen however pursued his ambition to become an architect, his resume contains over 20 buildings.

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This is Macy’s in New York circa 1964. Here you’ll find everything a swinging bachelor needs, from swank furniture to the latest music. Just look at the crowd of people outside waiting to get in, or are they just trying to get a cab during rush hour?