Ultra Swank - Retro Adventures

1960s

Retro Slot Machines Used Today
Written by Featured Post in Kitsch

Retro Slot Machines Used Today

With advancements in technology come advancements in one of humanity’s greatest vices, gambling. Of course, slot machines are no exception, but some gambling fans prefer the old retro slot machines of yesteryear. In some parts of Las Vegas, the demand for retro slot machines hasn’t faltered but instead it has increased. For some people the new slot machines just take the fun out of it,...

Games and Gadgets of the ‘60s
Written by Guest Writer in Kitsch

Games and Gadgets of the ‘60s

The ‘60s is a decade known for Beatlemania, fallout shelters, go-go boots, tie-dye shirts and some of the most well-known games and gadgets ever made. If you were lucky enough to be a kid in the ‘60s, you were alive to witness the creation of brand names like G.I. Joe, Twister, Life and others that are still family favorites today. Die-Cast Army Men The 1960s...

Before There Were Video Games There Was the Wonderland Arcade

Nowadays we are used to having games available right in the palm of our hands at any given time. But before we had the smartphone – we ventured to the arcade – were the latest and greatest video games were on display like electromagnetic rainbows. But, what kind of fun was available for kids growing up in the 1950s and 1960s? Enter the Wonderland arcade....

Vintage Las Vegas – The Original Cloud Cuckoo Land

Elvis, showgirls, crooners and the Rat Pack may be a thing of Las Vegas history. But their memories live on. Come and take a trip with us as we explore some Vintage Las Vegas history. Famed neon signs from casinos such as Stardust, Caesars Palace and El Rancho, glittering and sparkling like stars in the Nevada desert, lured people from all over the continent. Las...

The American Luncheonette
Written by Jessie Desmond in Eatable

The American Luncheonette

“I’ll see you at the luncheonette” is not a phrase most people hear anymore in America and most people wouldn’t even recognize the term luncheonette. A luncheonette is similar to a diner, but is not a diner – the biggest differences being that a diner has a larger range of food and is a full restaurant. The main focus of a luncheonette was to serve...

Appreciating Exotica Jazz
Written by Jessie Desmond in Music

Appreciating Exotica Jazz

Exotica jazz is no longer well-known to the average joe. It’s a genre of jazz that is based on exotic locales and sounds that emerged after WWII, predominately within the span of the 1950s to mid-1960s. The music was influenced heavily by Asian, tropical islands, South American, and African sounds, whether native beats or sounds of nature. Many men and women musicians emerged after the...

Stylish Mid-Century Shopping Malls

I’ve always been a sucker for shopping malls, even as a kid I thoroughly enjoyed going to the mall with the folks. Nowadays most shoppings centers are just loud, generic and boring. Where’s that sense of soul and character? Well fear not, Ultra Swank takes you back to take a look at some of the mid-century gems. Every mid-century mall needs three things; a water...

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