Ultra Swank - Retro Adventures
Thoughts on Ski Party
Written by Jesse Kowalski in Film

Thoughts on Ski Party

The opening begins with an ominous scene. In succession, skiers descend a snowy mountainside under moonlight in what surely represents the director’s vision of the Archangel Lucifer descending into hell. Then the credits announce “Starring Frankie Avalon” as Avalon sings the theme song. Thus begins another entry in American International Pictures’ series of Beach movies. The film proper leads off with an unbilled Annette Funicello...

Awesome Alan – The King of Library Music

Alan Hawkshaw has been known for composing music for many movies and television shows in the 1960s and ’70s. Listening to an organ sometimes gives people the feeling they’re in a funeral or church – not when you listen to Hawkshaw! Hawkshaw’s Mo’Hawk album has the right grooves that offers a spectacular mix of organ, flute and brass instruments. Emotions emerge when you feel like...

The Uniforms of Braniff Airlines – Designed by legendary Emilio Pucci

Remember when flying was fun? Living in the post-September 11th world not everyone does. Security measures have changed the way we fly. With tedious carry-on and travel restrictions as well as economic hardship, airlines have cut travel benefits like in-flight meals and free baggage check-in. But at the height of the aviation world, flying was a special occasion that called for you to dress to...

Welcome Aboard on the World’s First Jumbo Jet Hostel

Have you always wanted to jet around the world in a Boeing 747 jumbo jet but don’t want to waste hours at check-in, security and to top of it off, lose all your bags? Now you don’t have to! Entrepreneur Oscar Diös solved the problem by taking a old jumbo jet, stripping it out and placing it on a strip of land next to the...

Swingin’ Basie Beats
Written by Steven Padal in Music

Swingin’ Basie Beats

Count Basie had been performing different jazz styles from the early 30’s to the late 70’s. There were many performances that included vocalists during the early 60’s to gain more attraction. But it was in the late 60’s when Basie returned to a more standard jazz format. After 30 years, he created two great recording sessions that were at the top of the charts –...

Video
Written by Christopher in Daydreaming

Jet Set Getaway ’68

Lets go back 40 years or so to the late 1960s and when traveling in style was possible with airlines such as British state owned airline BOAC – which had its heydays in the 1960s and early 1970s. Jack Parnell and his Orchestra sets the mood. Our destination? Around the world and back again. What do you daydream about today?...

The Man from Organ
Written by James Vaughan in Music

The Man from Organ

Originally developed in the 1930’s as a cheap alternative for small churches that could not afford a pipe organ, the electric organ became a fixture in millions of suburban homes during the 1950’s and 60’s. Along the way this all purpose instrument produced the melancholy soundtrack for countless soap operas, kept the beat at roller rinks and eventually was dipped in ‘acid’ and mutated into...

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