MemoryLane.com a sneak peak into the past

MemoryLane.com is a website that I seen a commercial for on cable. Memory Lane is a resource of vintage photos and videos, retro magazines and articles, as well as information on events and activates that happened through out the 40′s thru the 90′s. United online Inc.  launched MemoryLane.com, which it calls “the largest archive of nostalgic content on the Internet.”

The website allows visitors to relive the past through 60 years of Americana with over 100 million pieces of content dating from 1940 through 1999. Visitors can search the site for a specific type of content or choose any year or decade from the 1940s through the 1990s to experience the sights, sounds and memories of that era. In connection with the launch, the name of United Online’s subsidiary Classmates Online Inc. has been changed to Memory Lane Inc.

MemoryLane.com’s growing collection includes vintage magazines, historic newsreels, classic sports highlights, movie trailers, song samples and cover art from memorable albums, timeless photos, and the most extensive catalog of digitized high school yearbooks online. Here is the commercial that was brought to my attention.

Classmates.com is in joint partnership and supplies memorylane,cm with yearbook photos and info from across the United States. The site is relatively new but managed to already have over one hundred million photographs in its data base and that is not counting the other files.

So whether you are looking for photos, music, magazines, and or other retro, vintage, passe’ information this website should give you what you are looking for. Retro and vintage is coming back. I still want to open a store that sells vintage retro new and old items for the retro and vintage enthusiast or “retro-ist” as I call them. I also have been thinking of a career change. I think I want to leave my bodywork, fabrication, and restoration skills  as a hobby and not as a career. I am looking into maybe going back to school and getting a degree in something or a certification of some sort.

One idea that I have is being a barber and opening a retro style barber shop. Hot towels, pomade, tunes coming from a jukebox, and the sharp sound of a straight razor shaving the five o’clock shadows from a gentleman face. Ithought it might be fun to create a barber shop where people can come in, hang out, get a haircut, get a clean shave, and a small shoulder massage as they used to include with the price of a haircut back in the day.

Who knows, I am not sure which path I want to go down, but I am sure once I know which one I want to go down it will be the best one. I do not need to be rich to be happy. I am just looking for a job that will allow me to pay my bills and have a little spending money each month to where I can live comfortable. But who knows, I may find another path along the way.  I am sure everything will work out in the end. If you want to see memorylane.com for yourself  just click on the link below:

www.memorylane.com

Thanks for reading,

Published in: on May 15, 2011 at 11:04 AM  Leave a Comment  
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Valentines Day weekender in Napa

We decided to take to Napa Valley Wine Train. Really neat experience. The hotel we are staying in reminds me of a 1950′s motor lodge. Small, quaint, and romantic. I have video, photos and tons of fun stories to share. I will write a detailed article once we get back. Have a great weekend everyone! Skrach and Vividly Vintage is in Napa!

Thanks for reading,

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We have hit the 150th post!

Today we have reached a milestone. Today’s post is officially the 150th entry that I have posted on Vividly Vintage. A lot has happened since I started this blog. I did not think that it would be this popular. I originally started this blog just to share my thoughts about all things retro and nostalgic. I have met so many great people who have visited my blog. I love the comments and feedback that I receive. And a special thank you to all of my subscribers.  Lets take a look back on the top 10 most popular articles made popular by you, the viewers.

1. To all who currently serve and or have served our country, this is for you. (click here to view this article)

In this article I just decided to write a thank you to all veterans world wide. It was chosen as the top freshly pressed on wordpress.com which ended up giving me huge amount of traffic that day. A total of 2196 visitors came to Vividly Vintage on November 11, 2010 with a total of 56 comments. It was fun watching the traffic stats rise so far from my normal amount of visitors. Thank you for all who came to my site that day, as it was special to me because it memorialized my family members (Both my grand fathers and my Uncle Larry). It was the memorial that they should of had when they were alive, although it was still great to see them memorialized in this way.

2. Norconian Resort Supreme, California’s most beautiful unused resort (Click here to read this article)

The article on the Norconian Resort Supreme was an instant hit with the viewers and it even allowed former employees of the resort that were at there when it was used as a military facility to get in touch with each other in the comments. It made me feel good as I was bringing old friends together again; one of the things that was unexpected that the blog provided for both myself and the readers.

3. Hat Works By Paul (Click here to read this article)

pauls_hats51

“In a time where traditions have disintegrated, where people avoid eye contact on the streets and where heads remain barren and cold, four women have set out on an adventure to revive tradition, to unify the people, and to “Bring the Hat Back.”

Hat works by Paul is a local business that makes hats in the old style and sells them. When I wrote about them, I had not started my “Retro Retailers List” at that time. Although it was articles like this that led me to the idea of the retro retailer concept. Which after I started my list, readers flocked in by the hundreds which inspired me to dedicate one whole week to just retro retailers.

4. Playland at the beach (Click here to read this article)

I have always been fascinated with Playland. I can and listen to stories of visits to playland all day that my Grand Father tells. I got so many comments on this article that are from people that have happy memories of the beach side park. It was especially nice to read a comment that was written by a lady named Gail, she wrote:

“Met up with some girl friends that I have known since I was in 2nd grade; I am now 61. Thought we’d all get together to cheer up one of us that was just diagnosed with cancer, and the Playland at the Beach was in our topic of conversation. We all grew up in South San Francisco, not too far from Playland, and spent a few birthday parties at the Fun House. We all sat around and laughed today about our experiences; the ride that really brings laughter to me was the record! Thanks for putting this on the net.”

Her comment was so touching it brought tears to my eyes. I really never thought an article that I would write would bring so much joy to one person. Just made me feel great. Made me thankful that I started this blog. If it can bring one person joy, it is worth it to me.

5. Rosie the Riveter (Click here to read this article)

My grandmother worked in the factories in Oakland helping build planes. I never got the chance to talk to her about it unfortunately. When I wrote this article I had found photos that were from the Library of Congress. Color photos of the factory workers during WWII. These photos are amazing.

6. “Aluminum Overcast” B-17G WWII Veteran (Click here to read this article)

Jeff and I had the chance to visit and tour a B17 named “Aluminum Overcast” It was so amazing to see. When we boarded the plane, we were instantly brought back into time. You could hear big band music being played in the cockpit, it was like I was back in 1942. This giant of a plane, looks so amazing when it is in the air. It makes you wonder how something that big can stay in the air.If you ever get the chance to view this great plane, you should for sure tour it. When we were aboard, we got to talk to the pilot, get into the nose, and see how cramped that it was for those brave souls that flew over the clouds during WWII.

7. Retro Retailer #2 (Click here to read this article)

Even though this is the second retro retailer, it became popular for some reason. I believe because of some of the retro items that I highlighted and showcased. Either way this was the first Retro Retailer article that became popular and it also was the one that inspired me to continue with more. Finding these retailers is not the easiest thing in the world though.

8. Bonnie and Clyde (Click here to read this article)

I originally wrote this article because I wanted to showcase and share the location of the Bonnie and Clyde Car. Which turned into a history lesson on who the couple was and how they became a part of history. For some reason, it is one of the most searched topics on my website. I am not sure why but it is. It is for sure an interesting part of history.

9. Tear Drop Trailers Rise in Popularity (Click here to read this article)

I wrote this article to learn more about the tear drop trailers and how to build one. I want to build one to go with my 55 Chrysler. I found so many different styles and vintages. They were so popular in the 30′s thru the early 60′s then it went somewhat silent. I noticed after writing this article that there is a rise in popularity. There are companies that are popping up that are making new versions of the old style tear drops. As well as there are clubs that are growing in size in camping out in these tear drops. Sounds like fun.

10. 1951 L.A. Architectual masterpiece “Shusett House” planned to be demolished (Click here to read this article)

It was a sad day for architecture enthusiasts of the modern style. This wonderful example of 1950′s Hollywood Style luxury was unfortunately torn down because “the owner decided the house did not suit his needs” It has since been completely removed. Sad.. it was a beautiful house and an awesome example of 1950′s architecture.

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So that concludes the top ten articles from the 150 that I have posted. Thank you all so much for visiting my website, commenting, and subscribing to the site. It is not easy to find material to write about but with readers like you, it makes it fun to find things to write about. I hope to make it to the next mile marker with even more interesting, intriguing, and captivating articles. I have a FLIP video camera and I have yet to use it. So that is one thing that is in the near future for future articles. Thank you so much for your loyalty as readers. If there is anything that you wish to share with me that you feel that I think I can write about, please email me at skrach@vividlyvintage.com

Thanks for reading,

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Retro, Vintage, Passe, Nostalgic, items living new lives

Copyright: www.nostalgic-designs.com

We have all seen the shows on TV such as American Pickers, Pawn Stars, Cash and Cari, and Antique Roadshow. All show Retro, Vintage, Passe, Nostalgic, items being bought and sold which I find very interesting.  I record all of these shows with my DVR. We all watch these shows and we find ourselves interested in the history of the items and enjoy learning about the life of the items. What we don’t think about is where it goes after the sale. In shows like American Pickers and Pawn Stars we can often spot items that they have purchased in previous shows in the background on their shelves and display cases. But that doesn’t mean that these items stay on those shelves and collect dust. At some point they will sell and be on their way to a new home. That is what I find interesting. I can spend hours and hours and hours in antique shops, thrift stores, flea markets, and yard sales looking for items that I wish to rescue. I really have a problem haha. I never have collected items to make money. Otherwise it would not be as fun. Most if the items I have were either from my family, or things that I purchased to use or display. Rarely to I buy an Item that I do not plan to use. For example I own a ton of old vinyl records and even though they are really old and fragile, I still play them as they were originally intended to be. I take care of each of my items and I would never compromise the condition, but I do use my items. I have old cameras and I do use them from time to time. I used most of them during my time in my photography class in High School. On these shows each one has a different items that they buy and sell, but they have one thing in common, they all save Retro, Vintage, Passe, Nostalgic items and allow them to live another life, instead of being thrown away after not being noticed at an estate sale, or someone not knowing the value of that item. Everything has a value to someone. I have seen collections that range from simple common PEZ Dispensers to Maytag washing machines. So before you throw out anything, please check ebay to see if they have the item listed so you can see the demand, and also the cost of the item. Although even though there is only one listed on ebay this may not mean that there is a demand for it. As well as if there is a few of the item listed and one is selling for $1000 and the others are selling for $20 this does not reflect a true value. Just like auto auctions that are televised their prices are inflated. For example, I have seen a 1976 Ford Pinto sell on the Barrett Jackson Auto Auction on the Speed Channel for a jaw dropping $12,650. Which is outrageous. Especially for a car that sold new for just under $2000 and was meant to be a fix to the gas crisis, just like Toyota Prius’s are today. You can view the Pinto here “The 12,000 Pinto”

If you don’t have cable or have not see either of these shows, I will explain what each show is about.

Photo Copyright: www.cdn.wg.uproxx.com

Pawn Stars: (synopsis from Wikipedia) An American reality television series on the History Channel, produced in Manhattan by Leftfield Pictures. The series is filmed in Las Vegas, Nevada, where it chronicles the daily activities at the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop, a 24-hour family business operated by patriarch Richard Harrison, his son Rick Harrison (who opened the shop with his father in 1988), and Rick’s son Corey, who has worked there since childhood, and who is being groomed to one day take over the shop. The show debuted on July 26, 2009, and it usually airs on Mondays at 10pm Eastern Time. Two new episodes usually premiere in an hour block on Mondays. Reruns can be seen on History as well as Lifetime, which added the show in December 2010.

The series depicts the staff’s interactions with customers, who bring in a variety of artifacts to sell or pawn and who are shown haggling over the price and discussing its historical background, with narration provided by Rick, Corey, and Richard, who is known as “The Old Man”. The series also follows the interpersonal conflicts between Richard, Rick, Corey, and Corey’s friend Austin “Chumlee” Russell, another employee of the shop. One reviewer referencing these conflicts described the show as a version of Antiques Roadshow “hijacked by American Chopper’s” Teutul family. TV Guide has offered a similar description, calling the show “one part Antiques Roadshow, a pinch of LA Ink and a dash of COPS“.

Numerous local experts in a variety of areas also regularly appear to appraise the items being sold or pawned, one of whom, Rick Dale of Rick’s Restorations, is the star of the series’ first spin-off, American Restoration, which premiered in October 2010

Photo Copyrigh: www.inherited-values.com

American Pickers: (synopsis from Wikipedia) The show follows Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz, who have known each other since junior high school as they travel around the greater Midwestern United States as well as the eastern and southern U.S. in a Mercedes Sprinter, buying antiques and collectibles. They work with Danielle Colby-Cushman, who runs the office of their business, Antique Archaeology, from their home base in Le Claire, Iowa and attempts to track down potential sellers.

Wolfe and Fritz explore people’s homes, barns, sheds, and other outbuildings, and other places where they have collected antiques and collectibles. They call upon casual collectors, hoarders and, occasionally, people who have inherited overwhelming collections of apparent junk. Wolfe, who has been “picking” since age four,  has a particular interest in antique motorcycles, old bicycles and penny-farthings, while Fritz has a fondness for antique toys, antique oil cans, and old Hondas. They have purchased old advertisements and commercial signage, film posters, a rare 15-gallon visible gasoline pump, and a Piaggio Ape (similar to a Vespa Motor Scooter) that one of their friends told them is probably the only one of its kind in North America.

Photo Copyright: www.TVguide.com

Cash and Cari: A new reality series Cash & Cari, featuring antiques and collectibles enthusiast Cari Cucksey. For those of you who love potentially valuable old things, Cash & Cari is probably the show for you. The series, which premiered on January 2nd on HGTV, follows Cari Cucksey as she digs through her client’s basements and attics in the hopes of finding items of value. The episodes will follow her search for treasure and her attempts to sell the things she does come across at estate sales.

There is so many shows that I really get into but these are the main shows that I watch regularly. Some of the items that drop into their hands are amazing. Items that range from a book from Sir Isaac newton’s personal library, rare toys, antique firearms, and vintage collectibles. I am very happy that they have shows like this that help engage the younger generations into items that are Retro, Vintage, Passe, and Nostalgic. Older items are now considered “cool” to the younger crowds to where typically these items would be considered old junk. Although on the flip side of that, just like the auto auctions, it drives the prices up as people think that because they have an item that is similar to an item shown on either one of these shows that its worth a million dollars. So it does make things a little harder to afford, although again on the flip side of that, it does make my items worth more too. So if you get the chance to see these shows you can catch these shows at the following times and channels:

(Click on a show below to view their website for more info)

American Pickers: History Channel – On Mondays @ 6:00 PM

Pawn Stars: History Channel – On Mondays @ 7:00 PM & 7:30PM

Cash andCari: HGTV (Home and Garden TV) – On Monday’s (check HGTV for times)

I hope you all enjoy these shows while they are on. As we all know that the interest with Retro, Vintage, Passe, and Nostalgic items does come and go just as these shows will eventually be out of the spotlight of the public’s interest.

Thanks for reading,

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Published in: on February 1, 2011 at 12:59 AM  Comments (1)  
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Bring’n in the new year swing’n

Just a small bit of the fun. Aboard the USS Hornet. This was the last dance around 1:00am and I had the great idea of taking video of it. I have plenty of more videos I will try to get uploaded. I am now a new owner of a Flip video camera so lots of great footage to come. Here is just a taste of the new year festivaties. I hope you all had a safe, fun and joyful new years.

Thanks for reading,

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Published in: on January 1, 2011 at 9:01 PM  Comments (2)  
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Bon Voyage 2010

Anchors away my boys, anchors away! Yes it is true for this year’s new year’s eve, we are yet again going aboard the USS Hornet for a night of dancing, laughing, and all around fun wearing our vintage getup. With mine, being my grand father’s WWII uniform, and  Michell’s vintage era styled dress.

It will be a gas I am sure, as it was last year. If you would like to attend this event please go to New Year’s Aboard the Historic USS Hornet. Hope to see you there. If you happen to see us please come over and say hello. I would be delighted to meet you. I hope everyone has a safe, fun, and festive New year’s eve. Welcome 2011!

Thanks for reading,

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The date which will live in infamy

Today, December 7th, 2010 is declared Pearl Harbor Day. Pearl Harbor Day commemorates the unprovoked attack in 1941 of Pearl Harbor in Hawaii by Japanese forces. The attack marked the US entry into World War II. The attack took place on Sunday morning at 7:55 AM. It lasted just over an hour. The harbor was the homeport for the US Pacific fleet. Most of the ships in the harbor were damaged or destroyed. 2,400 Americans were killed and nearly 1,200 wounded. The greatest tragedy was the loss of the Battleship USS Arizona with its crew of nearly 1,200 men.

At the dawn on Sunday, December 7, 1941, the naval aviation forces of the Empire of Japan attacked the United States Pacific Fleet center at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii and other military targets. The goal of this attack was to sufficiently cripple the US Fleet so that Japan could then attack and capture the Phillipines and Indo-China and so secure access to the raw materials needed to maintain its position as a global military and economic power.

The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise attack on the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor on Oahu, Hawaii on the morning of Sunday, 7 December 1941, which brought the U.S. into World War II. Aircraft from the Imperial Japanese Navy destroyed five U.S. Navy battleships, along with 188 aircraft, one minelayer, and three destroyers and inflicting over 4,000 casualties. The Japanese losses were minimal at 29 aircraft and five midget submarines with 65 Japanese servicemen killed or wounded.

The 7 December 1941 Japanese raid on Pearl Harbor was one of the great defining moments in history. A single carefully-planned and well-executed stroke removed the United States Navy’s battleship force as a possible threat to the Japanese Empire’s southward expansion. America, unprepared and now considerably weakened, was abruptly brought into the Second World War as a full combatant. The intent of the pre-emptive strike was to protect Imperial Japan’s advance into Malaya and the Dutch East Indies — for their natural resources such as oil and rubber — by neutralizing the U.S. Pacific Fleet (in the fashion of War Plan Orange as practiced by both sides).

This would enable Japan to further extend the empire to include Australia, New Zealand, and India (the ultimate boundaries planned for the so-called “Greater East Asia Co-prosperity Sphere”). The prevailing belief within the Japanese military and political establishment was that eventually, with the then expected German defeat of Great Britain and Soviet Russia, the United States’ non-involvement in the European war, and Japan’s control of the Pacific, that the world power structure would stabilize into three major spheres of influence:

1.) The Empire of Japan controlling East, Southeast, and South Asia and the entire Pacific Ocean.

2.) The combined powers of Germany and Italy controlling Great Britain, all of Europe, Western and central Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.

3.) The United States, controlling North and South America.

The Japanese high command was (mistakenly) certain any attack on Britain’s colonies would inevitably thrust the U.S. into the war. By contrast, President Franklin D. Roosevelt had moved the fleet to Hawaii, and ordered a buildup in the Philippines, to deter Japanese aggression against China, or European colonies in Asia.

The attack was one of the most important engagements of World War II. Occurring before a formal declaration of war, it spurred the U.S. into World War Two against Japan and then Germany which declared war on the U.S. a few days later, creating a conflict that encircled the world. Roosevelt called December 7, 1941 “a date which will live in infamy”. And that it has…

To all of you that have perished under this surprise attack, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your families. When I visited the memorial just the sight of seeing so many names on that wall, just is jaw dropping.  It is really amazing that you can hear the distant noises from shore during the boat ride over, but once you are upon the memorial, it is so soothingly quiet. It is deafening quiet. If you ever visit Hawaii, you must stop by and visit the memorial. It is so amazing. Thank you to all who have protected our freedom both past and present. It is because of you that I get the freedom to write this blog.

Thanks for reading,

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Published in: on December 7, 2010 at 1:57 PM  Comments (2)  
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Books I am currently reading

At the beginning of the month I bought a Kindle. A kindle is an E-book machine that allows you to read books that are in the file format of an Ebook. You can download books from amazon.com. All are priced at very reasonable prices. I have purchased a few books. Here are two books that I am currently reading.

As one of the first post-WWII Baby Boomers, the author’s childhood and early teenage years were in the 1950s, a remarkable decade for the United States that saw enormous political, technological, and cultural changes. Although many books have covered the headline-making events of the era in great detail, few of these books give the reader a real feel for what daily life was like for Americans living in that decade, especially for kids growing up then. The author remembers the little nuts and bolts things of daily life for families during the fascinating decade known as the Fabulous Fifties. “Recollections” perfectly blends paying homage to the little day-to-day rituals with a larger scale examination of social issues and mores of the times, and it’s equally entertaining on either level. “Recollections” is a warm, lovingly honest, and fascinating portrait of America in the mid-20th Century.

This is a chilling account of ground combat of a young company-grade officer who fought with the 9th Infantry Division in North Africa, Sicily, France, Belgium, and Germany. Scheffel vividly recalls the terror, mind-numbing fatigue, raw emotions, and horrific conditions fighting men endured to achieve victory in World War II.

If you have been thinking about buying a kindle, I strongly encourage yourself to do so. It is one of my favorite purchases.

Thanks for reading,

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Published in: on November 24, 2010 at 4:19 PM  Leave a Comment  

Random Photos from Yesterday #5

I have been collecting a bunch of photos from a forum that I frequent called H.A.M.B. (Hokey Ass Message Board) on a site called JalopyJournal.com. They have a thread of which members have submitted vintage photos. I have collected so many different photos that I am going to do a series of photos once a week until I run out of photos. There will be a set of 21 photos each post. I chose the odd number of 21 as there are 3 columns of photos so I wanted to make the photos stacked evenly. These photos will not be in chronological order.  All photos were taken during the early 1900′s to 1963.

This is the fifth submission of photos in the series so far.

click here to view the other entries of this series

(click on a picture to enlarge):

 

Thanks for reading,

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Special thanks and credit to lowkat, Dog427435, jalopy junkie, GuyW, Fool Injection, and Abomination for submitting photos on JalopyJournal.com

WWII Themed New Years Party upon the USS Hornet

Last year we went to a new years party upon the USS Hornet aircraft carrier located at the former Alameda Naval/Air base in Alameda, California.  You can view my recap of what happened that night here: New Years 2010 Recap. Here are a few photos from last year’s event:

If you are looking for a safe, fun, unique, jumpin thing to do on new years, this is the place to be. We will be there. Hope to see you there as well!!

Thanks for reading,

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