June 2009

Can you prepare those favorite dishes for your husband, just like his mother used to make?

Submitted by Mary on Tue, 06/30/2009 - 9:58pm (143 reads)

Learn how to make a chocolate cake for your husband for dinner. Don't be a fool and use cream rather than creamed butter. Make your own frosting to go with it, knead bread, braise meat, make a white sauce for your scalloped cauliflowers, and more... before your husband comes home for lunch. Now hurry, put your aprons on and get to it!

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania nightly TV sign-off in the 80's

Submitted by Mary on Mon, 06/29/2009 - 8:28am (187 reads)

Remember when you stayed up late and TV stations would sign-off for the night? You would see TV station identification information, usually The Star Spangled Banner (or something patriotic), maybe some color bars, and then static or snow. In our retro tour of America, I wanted to choose something patriotic for Pennsylvania since the 4th of July is this week. This is what people in the Pittsburgh, PA area would see on television in the 1980's when they stayed up so late watching TV that they got to see the TV station sign off for the night. read more...

Laughing With Michael Jackson

Submitted by Mary on Sun, 06/28/2009 - 9:03pm (247 reads)

Everybody who has ever loved Michael Jackson can't stop writing about him, talking about him, or even hearing his songs in their head. I have felt stumped since he passed away on Thursday as to what to say about someone who has brought me so much joy through his music over the years. I have been watching video after video of him, and I finally found the one that showed me what I think people need to see most - Michael Jackson as a human being. Although the quality of the video is poor, it shows us that Michael is just as human as we all are. read more...

Oregon Country Fair - Drum Circles, Cooperation, Crafts and More - Since 1969

Submitted by Mary on Tue, 06/23/2009 - 7:45pm (211 reads)

In our retro tour of the US, our tribute to Oregon is the Oregon Country Fair in Veneta (15 miles west of Eugene). This July the fair celebrates it's 40th anniversary. The first fair was a barter and craft fair in the summer of 1969... yes, the same summer as Woodstock. Like Woodstock, you will find hippies, music, hand made crafts and more at the Oregon Country Fair. read more...

Ghost Mall - Rolling Acres Mall in Akron, Ohio

Submitted by Mary on Mon, 06/15/2009 - 2:35pm (686 reads)

This mall shows the food court of Rolling Acres Mall, which is now the mall equivalent of a ghost town. The video is by df559 who stated it was "taken on 10-31-08, which was supposed to be the day the lights were turned off due to non-payment." Sad that it got to that point, huh. read more...

25 Years Ago - Kids Incorporated

Submitted by Mary on Wed, 06/10/2009 - 11:03am (192 reads)

I woke up today with this song in my head. I don't know why. So, now it's time to put it in your head too! :-)

This music and dance show for kids was called "Kids Incorporated". Many kids got introduced to pop music this way, but I always found I preferred the actual, original pop songs. I always thought kids should sing their own kids songs. This 1984 intro (one and a half minutes long) is long for a TV show intro by today's standards. read more...

Organic Oklahoma - The Eugene Bavinger House designed by Bruce Goff

Submitted by Mary on Mon, 06/08/2009 - 3:35pm (870 reads)

The words "organic" and "organically" have become quite trendy in the 2000s and are perhaps overused or even misused at times, but when describing the Bavinger House in Oklahoma, the word organic must be used. On your retro tour of America, if you want to see mid-century modern homes, you can't miss the 1950's Bavinger House in Norman, Oklahoma. Goff was an architecture professor at the University of Oklahoma who clearly believed in being an individual. read more...

A Versatile Vintage 40's - 50's Hair Style for Women

Submitted by Mary on Sat, 06/06/2009 - 9:58pm (242 reads)

Iris (otherwise known as ilovegerardo) really knows how to recreate Hollywood hair glamour from the 1940's to 1950's. You can learn how to create this gorgeous vintage hairdo, plus she shows some beautiful variations. Perfect for rockabilly dancing, going out to dinner, or even to wear around the house while cleaning and being the perfect 50's housewife that you are. ;-) 

Canton, Ohio - Meyers Lake Amusement Park - R.I.P.

Submitted by Mary on Fri, 06/05/2009 - 8:29am (1604 reads)

Our retro tour of America has a special place in my heart with this stop in Canton, Ohio. I was born in Akron, Ohio, but we lived in North Canton. I have heard many stories about how great Meyers Lake used to be. When my mom was a little girl, her family used to go there every year because her dad worked for Goodyear and Goodyear would have their annual company picnic there. From what I have seen online, Meyers Lake was a popular site for other company picnic days too. read more...

Fargo, North Dakota - Home to Bobby Vee. Now check out all these kicking legs!

Submitted by Mary on Thu, 06/04/2009 - 10:34pm (160 reads)

Legs, legs, and more legs. Legs beneath plaid shorts, legs kicking by surfboard, legs kicking on... a moped? TWO legs kicking at once on a moped? You'll seeeee.

This is the 60's music video for the song "The Night Has a Thousand Eyes" by Bobby Vee. This is our retro tribute to North Dakota (Bobby Vee was born in Fargo in 1943). He was twenty years old when this song was a hit in 1963.