Pulp Jello

NICK'S FORTEAN PIC(S) OF THE DAY

2011-08-15T22:56:00.000-07:00

Fortean and prolific author Nick Redfern has a new blog (he has several devoted to UFOs, the paranormal, monster hunting, etc.) that is a neat idea: interesting images of a Fortean nature. Take a look! NICK'S FORTEAN PIC(S) OF THE DAY

On Monster Island News: The Official Bettie Page Tribute Video Featuring Music By Bonsai Kitten

2011-06-27T09:55:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite blogs, the excellent Monster Island News, has the following tribute to Bettie Page from Bonsai Kitten:
Monster Island News: The Official Bettie Page Tribute Video Featuring Music By Bonsai Kitten

New Blog From Lesley: The D Word: Satisfying the Sweet Tooth

2011-06-16T14:45:00.000-07:00

Lesley Gunter (The Debris Field, among many others) has a new blog, which I love already: The D Word: Satisfying the Sweet Tooth.
Check it out. I appreciate her post on finding low calorie yummy treats that aren't full of poison, like aspartame, etc.

Confessions of a red-top reporter - Press, Media - The Independent

2011-03-27T11:51:00.000-07:00

Love the writing style; his participation in the various ambushes are hard to take however. Still, very interesting! A look into the world of tabloid "news":

Confessions of a red-top reporter - Press, Media - The Independent

Westboro Baptist Church Plans To Picket Elizabeth Taylor's Funeral

2011-03-25T11:35:00.000-07:00

Some people are severely deranged; like these "Christians" protesting at Elizabeth Taylor's funeral, objecting to her humanitarian work with AIDS/HIV awareness, and her life overall:

"No RIP Elizabeth Taylor who spent her life in adultery and enabling proud fags. They cuss her in hell today. #Westboro will picket funeral!" one tweet read.

Westboro Baptist Church Plans To Picket Elizabeth Taylor's Funeral

From Monster Island News: TORCHWOOD: MIRACLE DAY To Premiere July 8th On Starz

2011-03-23T11:33:00.000-07:00

News from the excellent blog Monster Island News about Torchwood.

Torchwood is my favorite series of the outsider/insider-paranormal-Fortean-UFO-investigator genre. Fringe and X-Files right up there as well. I'm looking forward to this not quite new but new version of Torchwood, with new cast members but, as the producers promise, John Barrowman/Capt. Jack Harkness and Eve Myles/Gwen Cooper will be in the STARZ incarnation. I can't imagine Torchwood without Barrowman, or Myles. I'm also a little anxious over this, I'm not sure if I'm ready to let go of the old cast and style, but, the newest version retains the same producers and, as mentioned, promises to include Barrowman and Myles, so I'll just have to wait and see.

Torchwood's Children of Earth was the best sci-fi, UFO-alien series ever. If you haven't seen it, please be sure you do.

Details here:
Monster Island News: TORCHWOOD: MIRACLE DAY To Premiere July 8th On Starz

Elizabeth Taylor Passes

2011-03-23T10:11:00.000-07:00

Film legend Elizabeth Taylor dies at 79 in LA

I was sad to read that our last true STAR of the golden era has passed. Taylor appeared in so many great films; it's impossible to choose just one out of the many dozens she made. One of my favorite Taylor roles was Maggie in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof with Paul Newman. She was beautiful and strong in that movie. It's that combination of beauty and stubborn strength that I liked about Taylor. Rest in peace Ms. Taylor, you gave us so much much, thank you.

Fringe star says fans need to campaign NOW to save the show | Blastr

2011-02-21T11:23:00.000-08:00

Fringe, best show since X-Files and Torchwood, though not fair to compare. (Things don't always have to be contest.) So the ~~Faux~~ Fox network had possibly doomed Fringe.

Fringe star says fans need to campaign NOW to save the show | Blastr

Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Daddy-O!

2011-02-13T19:09:00.000-08:00

(saw this on Boing Boing...)

Odd Sign From Homeland Security

2011-01-21T14:09:00.000-08:00

Homeland Security Orders Americans Around In The Parking Lot

Crazed Mother Forces Daughter to get brows waxed. . .

2011-01-14T15:38:00.000-08:00

Over on The Totally Girlie Blog, I posted a YouTube clip of an obsessed mother forcing her five year old to get her brows waxed because, don't you know, "...they call it a beauty pageant for a reason."

The Totally Girlie Blog: Strange Obsessions: Mother Forces 5 yr old to get brows waxed

Anne Francis Passes, and a nice tribute from Monster Island News

2011-01-03T20:50:00.000-08:00

Sad news; Anne Francis has died at 80 years of age of pancreatic cancer. She was, of course, star of the Honey West TV show, and starred in the classic 1956 science fiction film Forbidden Planet, also Blackboard Jungle.

Even though Honey West aired for only one season, it had an impact. I loved that show, and watched it religiously. I was ten years old at the time! I thought then, how great it was a woman could be smart and brave and sexy all at once in a "man's world."

The excellent Monster Island News has a lovely tribute to her: Monster Island News: A Tribute To Anne Francis (1930 - 2011)

Opening and great '60s spy jazz theme to Honey West:

Rest in peace, Ms. Francis. You were a class act!

Vintage Recipe Site

2011-01-02T19:07:00.000-08:00

I found a beautiful site: Recipe Curio, which has vintage recipes, including ones for Jell-O.

Neat-o Find: Retrospace Blog

2010-12-31T18:33:00.000-08:00

Retrospace

Great blog! Love the way it's organized; lots of stuff.

Happy New Year!

Holiday Movie: Miracle on 34th St.

2010-12-24T19:55:00.000-08:00

This is in my top five list of favorite Christmas movies: the original Miracle on 34th St. with Natalie Wood:

Figgy Pudding

2010-12-23T10:37:00.000-08:00

From Boing Boing; links to making figgy pudding recipes:

How To: Make a Figgy Pudding - Boing Boing

Etsy Shop: Richard S. Prather's Dance With The Dead

2010-12-19T22:02:00.000-08:00

Politically incorrect, sexist, ... great pulp find. Gold Medal paperback, 1960. Details here.

Jewish groups slam violent 'blast-the-Nazis' Auschwitz uprising video game | Mail Online

2010-12-17T18:44:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure where to post this; on UFO Mary, Octopus Confessional, even Women Of Esoterica, but settled on this blog because it's a game and entertainment. I also don't know how to respond to this. Like the movie Inglorious Basterds -- which I loved in many ways, and I'm a big Tarintino fan -- there were parts that disturbed me, such as the burning of the movie house.

Jewish groups slam violent 'blast-the-Nazis' Auschwitz uprising video game | Mail Online

True Stories and Gothic Romance

2010-12-14T14:58:00.000-08:00

Recently I started collecting vintage "Flying Saucer" magazines, as I was going through them the other night they brought to mind the only magazine in the house when I was a child - True Story. Brought to mind because there was an ad that I remembered from those. My grandmother kept a pile of those in the back of her closet and as a child I loved to pull them out and read them. Not sure how old they were, but I think they were probably fairly recent to that time (1970s) because the women on them didn't look old fashioned, their hairstyles and clothing were pretty much of the time. There is one in particular that I still remember, the cover had a dark haired woman who looked terrified and that cover story was "I was raped by my husband!"

The funny thing was that at the time I was probably around 8-10 years old and I really couldn't figure out how someone could be raped by their husband. In my mind, if you married someone then you must be in love with them and want to have sex with them all of the time. LOL!

As I checked out info on True Story last night, I found that they aren't actually true. They were works of fiction by people that wrote for the magazine, but were put out as being true.

My grandmother was also a great lover of gothic romance novels. When I think of the difference in reading material of her and my mother, it kind of points to their different personalities and why they really never got along well.

My mother had shelves of books. Her books were the popular and acclaimed novels of the day, along with her civil war history book collection. My grandmother had no bookshelves. We would go to Don's paperback exchange and she would trade in all her romance novels she had read for ones that she hadn't read. I would bring in my comic books and trade them -- the ones I could bear to part with. :-)

As a child, I thought my grandmothers books were far more interesting than my mother's boring books. They had great covers, often with women in flowing gowns fleeing from a castle under a full moon.

I am not sure who most of the authors were, but I do remember Victoria Holt being one of them.

I still love those covers, although, I will admit that the only gothic type romance books I have ever read were the first couple Diane Gabaldon "Outlander" books. Some day though, I would like to kick back and spend a week (or more) reading some Victoria Holt and others with those great covers that I remember from childhood.

Jack Sparrow Faces New Dangers in the Trailer for 'On Stranger Tides' - MOVIE TALK on Yahoo! Movies

2010-12-13T20:25:00.000-08:00

Johnny Depp is back as Jack Sparrow, with Penelope Cruz as a co-star. Zombies and "mermaid waters," among other new elements. Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley are not in the new film, tilted Pirates of the Carribean: On Stranger Tides.

"Jack Sparrow Faces New Dangers in the Trailer for 'On Stranger Tides' - MOVIE TALK on Yahoo! Movies"

Ray's X-Blog

2010-12-11T18:51:00.000-08:00

Ray of Ray's X-Blog puts out a fan zine, the snail mail way, and he comments on what some have said to him about his material being "too short."

Ray's X-Blog

Turkey-shaped Jell-O� Mold: 2010 Competition - Boing Boing

2010-11-29T18:07:00.000-08:00

Turkey-shaped Jell-O� Mold: 2010 Competition - Boing Boing

Vintage U.F.O.: Lesley Gunter's Newest Blog: Vintage Flying Saucers

2010-11-29T17:27:00.000-08:00

If you like images of classic flying saucer stuff, check out Lesley Gunter's newest blog:
Vintage U.F.O.: Lesley Gunter's Newest Blog: Vintage Flying Saucers

Cover Art: "Bad Mags"

2010-11-07T18:35:00.000-08:00

Tim Beckley, "Mr. UFO" and mega-publisher of UFO and high strangeness stuff, (like his Saucer Blast! blog, among many other projects) sent me this link to Bad Mags. Be warned if you're prudish or take offense at things.

Tom Brinkmann, the creator of Bad Mags, explains what the site is about in his intro on the site:

The main reason I wrote Bad Mags was because I wished I had had something comparable when I started looking for and collecting these magazines--a guide if you will. Because Bad Mags attempts to cover such a large selection of subject matter any chapter included in it could have been its own book. Bad Mags is not a complete listing of the magazines and tabloids covering these particular subjects (if such a thing were possible), but is an attempt to give a more complete picture of what was published concerning them at the time.

Beyond that Bad Mags is a book devoted to strange, bizarre and peripheral magazines because the back alleys of the publishing industry have been little explored in print. In most cases there isn't any information readily available, limited only to the information given in the periodical itself.

There's more, visit the site for the rest. As Brinkmann says, the site is "a carnival of covers." Not only covers, but Brinkmann gives a lot of good background on each category. You'll spend a lot of time over there; a lot to look at!

Historical Romance/Bodice Ripper: Bride of the MacHugh

2010-11-07T16:31:00.000-08:00

I admit to having a secret and guilty pleasure of reading historical romance novels. They're chessy, sexist, politically incorrect and I like them. One of my favorites is Jan Cox Speas Bride of the MacHugh, written in 1978. There's a good review of the book here on the All About Romance website, a site that reviews romance novels.

I have a mercenary reason for mentioning this; I'm selling this book on my Etsy shop Jellyfish Sky. I have a lot of vintage books of all genres, so check it out, you might find something you like!

Lost Dr. Seuss Book Sells For Over $34,000.00

2010-10-22T20:16:00.000-07:00

Lost Dr. Seuss book 'All Sorts of Sports' is sold for more than $34,000

2010-10-20T18:42:00.000-07:00

I love these earrings! Purple skull Day of the Dead type earrings by Women Of Esoterica contributor Lesley Gunter, on Etsy.

Barbie Theme: "The Birds"

2010-10-16T19:16:00.000-07:00

Somehow I missed this, but Martel came out with a "The Birds" themed Barbie doll in 2008. The Birds, Hitchcock's classic with Tipi Hendren. The doll is going for anywhere from around $22.00 to about $50.00 on Ebay.

Here's a clip of co-author Evan Hunter talking about Hitchcock's ending of the movie, which was very different from what we see today in the classic film.

You Have To See These To Believe It . . .

2010-09-13T20:54:00.000-07:00

Truly, the ugliest shoes ever, in a it's a crime where are the fashion police kind of way. Lesley has picture and comments on her blog The Totally Girlie Blog. I mean, I'm afraid. Truly afraid.

Vintage Halloween!

2010-09-12T18:12:00.000-07:00

Not actually vintage I bought them today at the local Albertsons grocery store. The large popcorn/candy bowl also contains the swamp thing and attack from outer space panels. I actually think they are the coolest things I have ever found at the grocery. Apparently I am not the only one, they told me they just got them in yesterday and they are selling like hotcakes and already near gone. I bought two bowls and two cups. I won't drink from plastic cups, but they will make great pen holders or something and I can always find a use for big bowls too (though probably not for food, other than wrapped candy).

Sharktopus on SyFy!

2010-09-07T17:26:00.000-07:00

Finally; Sharktopus! Roger Corman's campy (from the trailers) and glorious big silly sea monster for silly sea monster's sake Sharktpous airs September 25th on the SyFy channel. You can buy and download the theme song on the promo site.

My 'Esoterica Claims to Fame, Or: My Cousin Was a MIB'

2010-09-07T17:19:00.000-07:00

My new column for Tim Binnall's Binnall of America is up: 'Esoterica Claims to Fame, Or: My Cousin Was a MIB' about character Akim Tarmioff, Boris and Natasha, and Elvis.

Remember 'Art School Girls of Doom?"

2010-09-04T23:06:00.000-07:00

I do. Loved it. In this clip, they go to the beach:

Steam Punk Ray Guns -- and "Carnal Curiosities"

2010-08-30T10:23:00.000-07:00

Lady Clankington's Cabinet of Carnal Curiosities, what promised to be a very excellent place to visit. Who can resist ray guns and erotic steam punk all in one place? [Sigh; warning for the prudish kind: it's an adult site. Don't go there if that kind of thing bothers you.]

Lady Clankington, heiress and adventuress, is quite well-known for her appetite for the new and unique. Indeed, she was once the subject of quite a stir, for gentlemen known to be in her employ had been disappearing without a trace and horrors of the most frightening sort were left to the imagination. Upon later investigation, it was discovered that these individuals weren't even men at all!

And. . .

Lady Clankington is a woman of many varied proclivities. Her lust for life is so insatiable, in fact, that mere mortals can never hope to keep up with it. In order to avoid injuring her traveling companions, Lady C commissions the mad Dr. Visbaun to construct infernal devices to appease her appetite...for adventure.

Unfortunately, Lady Clankington exhausts each of his inventions at an alarming rate and must commission from him a new product every now and again, in order to remain satisfied.

Thanks to Boing Boing for the link.

Offensive Ads Department: "Want a Raise? Wash Your Vagina"

2010-08-27T09:42:00.000-07:00

Words fail me. But they don't fail the copywriters at Summer's Eve. Advice on how to get that raise.

Today's Best Line in a TV Series

2010-08-23T00:35:00.000-07:00

"I'm a faery?! How fucking lame!" ~ Sookie Stackhouse, True Blood

A Man Called Spade

2010-08-06T17:31:00.000-07:00

Listed on my etsy shop, vintage paperback, Dashiell Hammett's A Man Called Spade, 1944, map back.

Bodice Rippers, Art Cards and Esoterica on Etsy

2010-08-05T10:42:00.000-07:00

I'm still setting up my Etsy shop "Jellyfish Sky" but there are about fifteen books listed so far, as well as a few art cards. If you're a fan of gothic, pulp detective fiction, bodice rippers, vintage books including vintage books on metaphysics, UFOs and esoterica, visit my shop. Also visit other WOE contributors shops: Lesley and Richelle also have shops on Etsy where they sell handmade beaded jewelry.

My user name on Etsy is Venusian23 and you can find me here at Jellyfish Sky,
Richelle is here, and Lesley, here.

Spry, the Flavor Saver

2010-08-03T09:06:00.000-07:00

I found this clipping inside an old cookbook I had bought awhile ago at the Goodwill. It's for "Spry" shortening, with a recipe for Pineapple Cream Pie.I love the "...sure make a hit with my husband!" blurb.
For more about Spry's history, with some great pics, visit the Curly Wurly blog which I found while Googling "Spry." She's scanned several images from the Spry cookbook.

On the back of the clipping are grocery ads for Citizen's Market, with prices like "assorted meat loaves" for .17¢ a pound, Beef roast for .13¢ a pound, "home made cheese" at .15¢ and roses, for .99¢ a dozen!

Remake of the Black Lagoon?

2010-06-24T17:24:00.000-07:00

From one of my favorite blogs, Monster Island News, the following item about one of my favorite movies, The Creature of the Black Lagoon. Former Creature From The Black Lagoon Director Says Remake On Hold

Some things you shouldn't recreate, like this movie, or covers of Unchained Melody. But who knows.

Here's a clip from the movie. Enjoy. . .

And the poster. . .love this one

The Clown Motel

2010-06-16T17:51:00.000-07:00

There's a hotel in Tonopah, Nevada, called the Clown Hotel. I can't think of anything more delightfully creepier than that. (I find clowns unaesthetically pleasing, creepy, seedy and weird.) And, . . . it's next to a cemetery! Can't get better than that. The image shown here is one where the best face is put on the place; but from other photos I've seen (Google "clown motel") the place looks dusty, rusty, and run down. One description on Panoramio talks about the:

"motel office. . . [where] the proprieters have every conceivable sort of clown image, stuffed clown, clown lighters, clown tissue boxes, etc, etc, etc. You name it, they had it. As I checked in, all I could think about was John Wayne Gacy. Gave me the creeps!"

image source: city data.com

Kerouac's Last Typewriter to be Auctioned

2010-06-16T07:47:00.000-07:00

From New York News: Jack Kerouac's Last Typewriter Hits the Auction Block.

Monster Island News: Indiana Jones In The Bermuda Triangle?

2010-06-15T20:35:00.000-07:00

Monster Island News on a new Indiana Jones... in The Bermuda Triangle? Or, not. Maybe. Read on:

Monster Island News: Indiana Jones In The Bermuda Triangle?

Mr. Potato Head Memory

2010-06-10T21:30:00.000-07:00

Speaking of Mr. Potato Head (see post below) I was wondering if I remembered my childhood days of playing with my Mr. Potato Head toy correctly. When I tell the story to some people, they think I'm making it up, they even laugh at me! I know it sounds like a "I walked ten miles to school uphill in the snow, both ways," kind of thing.

I remember playing in the kitchen, while my mom or grandmother worked away, with my Mr. Potato Head. Which was a real potato! I'd sit on the floor, in the corner in between the fridge, which was -- yes -- turquoise, and the pantry, or long cupboard, where we kept food, including the bins of onions and potatoes. I'd sit there, happily sticking felt and plastic face parts and accesories into a potato or two.

This would have been about 1958 or so. The toy came out in 1952.

According to Wikipedia, Mr. Potato Head first came out with only the pieces, not the plastic head:

It was originally produced as separate plastic parts to be stuck into a real potato or other vegetable.

Mr. Potato Head was born on May 1, 1952. The original toy cost $0.98, and contained hands, feet, ears, two mouths, two pairs of eyes, four noses, three hats, eyeglasses, a pipe, and 8 felt pieces resembling facial hair. The Original Mr Potato Head kit did not come with a "Potato Body," so parents had to supply their own potatoes for face-changing fun.

Elvis Mr. Potato Head

2010-06-10T21:17:00.000-07:00

Mr. Potato Head has a new look: Elvis. Elvis Mr. Potato Head will hit the stores in August.

"What If the Beatles Were Irish?" by Roy Zimmerman

2010-06-09T20:14:00.000-07:00

Marvel Black Light Posters

2010-06-07T22:19:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Boing Boing for link; here are some groovy Marvel black light posters.

STARZ Buys US Torchwood Rights, Airs in 2011

2010-06-07T17:57:00.000-07:00

The blog Monster Island News (great blog, great title) has an item about one of my all time favorite shows, Torchwood. Seems Starz has bought the U.S. television rights, and a 10 episode run will air in 2011. With John Barrowman/Captain Jack, and Eve Myles/Gwen, who really make the show. I can't imagine the show without Barrowman or Myles; their chemistry is fantastic, and Barrowman' Captain Jack character is Torchwood.

I realize that Dr. Who (of which Torchwood is a spin-off) changes actors, and it works, and the storyline involving Torchwood's history allows for different characters to come and go. (as we've seen in past seasons, with the passing of two characters: Dr. Owen Harper, and Toshiko Sato) so I'm trying not to be unrealistic to the intergrity of the show, or unfair. It's just that I love Gwen and Jack so much!

And hey, is it possible for me to sound any more like a paranormal TV nerd?

reposted at Pulp Jello.

Cigarette Vending Machines Now Sell Books

2010-06-04T17:09:00.000-07:00

Germany has found a new use for vending machines that used to sell cigarettes; now they sell books.

Rest in Peace Dennis... Dennis Hopper Dies at 74

2010-05-29T13:52:00.000-07:00

Sad to read that Dennis Hopper has passed away at the age of 74. He was iconic.
Rest in peace Dennis...

A longtime resident of Venice who also was known as a photographer, artist and collector of modern art, Hopper died at his home of complications from prostate cancer, said Alex Hitz, a friend of the family.

In a more than five-decade acting career that was influenced early on by working with James Dean and studying at the Actors Studio, he made his film debut as one of the high school gang members who menace Dean in the 1955 classic "Rebel Without a Cause."

Hopper went on to appear in more than 115 films, including "Giant," "Cool Hand Luke," "Hang 'Em High," "True Grit," "Apocalypse Now," "The American Friend," "Rumble Fish," "Speed," "True Romance" and "Rivers Edge."

Blog find: Monster Island News

2010-05-29T13:41:00.000-07:00

I found a new blog (new to me that is): Monster Island News. Great title, fun blog. Check it out.

USO Episode From Sea Hunt

2010-05-28T08:15:00.000-07:00

Ray's X-Blog has a nice post about two episodes of Sea Hunt; one involving a USO (a UFO, only underwater: Unidentified Submerged Object) and a "profusely" growing plant on the bottom of the ocean floor that's a "hybrid cannabis."

Women Of Esoterica: Next Wave

2010-05-27T19:47:00.000-07:00

One of my blogs is Women Of Esoterica, but I hesitate to say it's "my" blog because there are several contributors (Karyn Dolan, Lesley Gunter, Farah Yurdozu, Chris Holly, Anya, Richelle Hawks, Danille Lee, Kithra, Deirdre O'Lavery of Interstellar Housewife ) who make it what it is. Our newest contributor is Tina Sena, of the yufology.blogspot.com">YUFOLOGY blog; you can also find her at Binnall of America at her column Esotericana.

Her first article for WOE is titled Women of Esoterica: The Next Wave, about female esoteric super heroes. . .

Gabriel Vargas, Rest in Peace

2010-05-26T20:38:00.000-07:00

Mexico's 'Familia Burron' cartoonist dies at 95.

MEXICO CITY — Gabriel Vargas, the creator of "La Familia Burron," one of Mexico's most-loved comic strips, died Tuesday. He was 95.
The National Council of the Arts and Culture said Vargas died at his home in central Mexico City. It said his health had been failing in recent years, but did not give a cause of death.
La Familia Burron was "one of the greatest representatives of the golden age of Mexican comics" and an "undeniable reference point for the nation's popular culture," the council said in a statement.
The cartoon, which Vargas started in 1937, described in quirky detail the travails of a lower-class Mexican family, their extended family and the barrio where they lived.

Thanks to The Daily Grail for the link.

Seattle's Best Coffee: New Logo

2010-05-19T17:12:00.000-07:00

Seattle's Best Coffee has a new design, which makes one wonder why they bothered because it's disturbingly ugly, in a plain non-descript and uncoffee-like way. It looks more like the logo for an off brand of feminine hygiene products. Reasoning for the ugly logo:

According to a spokesperson for the company, the logo "has to live in all kinds of environments." The understated look may be intentionally generic, as she says they "want it to be a universal sign for good coffee someday."

More here, with pics.

Great Resource on Copyright, etc. images

2010-05-16T18:00:00.000-07:00

Just found a blog new to me that some of you might know of: Dear Rich, which answers questions about use of images, copyright, patents, fair use, public domain, etc. News and info, images, -- readers send in questions and Rich answers them with specific advice. Very useful. Thanks, Rich!

New 'Witches of Oz' with Lance Henriksen

2010-03-25T20:05:00.000-07:00

Lance Henriksen, star of one of the best television programs in the high strangeness genre, Millenium, is starring in the Witches of Oz film. More here. (There's a clip of an outake with Henriksen not getting along with the cat he's holding for the scene.)

Listen to the Doctor Now. . .

2010-02-22T18:38:00.000-08:00

From the "inappropriate ads" file box: doctors who encourage smoking. Those were the days!

Artist James Rich

2010-02-17T21:21:00.000-08:00

I suppose this is shameless self-promotion of a sorts: my husband, artist James Rich, and his pin-up type work. James works in many styles: surreal, abstract, impressionist, as well as nudes and pin-up inspired figures. You can view his art here, as well as his blog.

Godzillathon

2010-02-16T20:03:00.000-08:00

From the sci-fi Worlds blog: Godzillathon. (!)

Nightmare Alley, the Musical

2009-12-31T22:34:00.000-08:00

Boing Boing has a post about a musical version of the pulp book Nightmare Alley, by William Lindsay Gresham.

Nightmare Alley is a seedy journey into carny world. Here's an excerpt of a summary from Book Balloon:

At a seedy traveling carnival in Depression-era rural America, amateur magician Stan Carlisle is making a name for himself. But he’s not content fleecing the rubes for nickels and dimes. He wants more. When he gets hold of a number code he sets himself up as a mentalist; he hooks up with the carnival’s Electric Girl Molly and the two of them start working in vaudeville. But that’s still not enough for Stan and his grudge against anyone who has more respect and money than he does. He joins forces with Lilith, a coldhearted psychiatrist.

The movie of the book was made in 1947, starring Tyrone Power and Joan Blondell.

Octopi Love: "Poulpe"

2009-12-25T16:21:00.000-08:00

Poulpe Pulps is a wonderful resource of vintage cover art with underwater and Octopi type creatures as the theme. This is great news for me, for I share an affinity with things of the deep, especially the octopi realm, as my blog Octopus Confessional shows!

Here's an excerpt from the Poulpe blog's intro:

Welcome to Poulpe Pulps, an OCTOPIA BLOG feature. The octopus, known as poulpe in French, pulpo in Spanish, polip in Hungarian, and polypous in Classical Greek, is pluperfectly the essence of pulp.

Here you will find hard-to-locate images of science fiction, fantasy, and adventure pulp and comic covers featuring the wily octopus, courtesy of your hostess Francesca Myman.

Christmas Music

2009-12-11T07:43:00.000-08:00

I'm a Christmas music fan; which often irritates some people, my husband included. Given the fact we're Jewish probably has something to do with that. Christmas, for me, is about a season of light and festivities. Caring, sharing, love, all around good intent, warmth, lights, tuning into the season's cycles is spiritual, for me, and part of that is just enjoying, for whatever reasons, or, no reason in particular, Christmas music. It may be corny but I love Santa Baby and Blue Christmas and Charlie Brown Christmas. (I also love musicals and bagpipe music.) So I was delighted to find this CD/DVD combo for under $5.00 at the local discount store yesterday: All American Christmas

The DVD includes "The Christmas Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet," which I never was a fan of, but luckily, also has "Jack Benny Christmas." Songs include "Philadelphia Cream Cheese Commercial."

2009-12-08T20:45:00.000-08:00

From 1953, Gayla Peevey singing I Want a Hippopotomous for Christmas
with some neat vintage images:

Duke R. Lee

2009-11-29T23:04:00.000-08:00

My grandfather, Duke R. Lee, appeared in many westerns, was in the Tom Mix Circus, worked with director John Ford, was a carny . . . he was married to Louise Gladstone Lee, who was one of the Gladstone Sisters; they performed in Vaudville and later, my grandmother was wardrobe mistress and elephant riding acrobat in the circus. (Louise is the one on the left)

Here's a film bio on Wikipedia, and on Internet Movie Database.

So Simple, So Obvious!: Turn Old Clocks Into Picture Frames

2009-11-28T20:15:00.000-08:00

A neat, elegant, and simply obvious idea from a creative Oregonian: turning old broken clocks into picture frames!

"Head for Hippie Land"

2009-11-25T15:50:00.000-08:00

I always love it when TV shows from the 1960s and '70s do hippie. This clip has everything; fifteen cent cup of coffee, Go-Go dancers, a MIB, ponchos and lots of thick black eyeliner.

John Hiatt: "My Thunderbird"

2009-10-16T12:24:00.000-07:00

Saw Lyle Lovett and John Hiatt in concert last night, fantastic! Here's a clip with great pics of Thunderbirds, and Hiatt singing "My Thunderbird."

Who Was That Masked Man?: "The Gray Man"

2009-08-17T12:48:00.000-07:00

Hat tip to Professor Hex for this item.

"The Gray Man" masked figure predates Batman and other iconic hereoes. Twenty-four years before Batman -- who is this 1915 masked man? in L.A. Times.

Johnny Depp in Tim Burton's Alice

2009-08-01T16:06:00.001-07:00

Depp is the Mad Hatter in Tim Burton's Alice; won't be out until March but here's a promo.

Blog Find: Pulp International

2009-07-31T22:02:00.000-07:00

Lucha Libre! Something I'm just beginning to explore; right now I'm working on my new Trickster's Realm column for Binnall of America, which is about masked Mexican wrestlers. In roaming the web I found this groovy site: Pulp International.

1930 Fashion Predictions

2009-06-23T19:35:00.000-07:00

Lesley at The Totally Girlie Blog has a nifty clip from the '30s predicting fashion in the Year 2000.

Ironic War Propaganda

2009-06-08T20:02:00.000-07:00

Keep UFO Hunters on the Air!

2009-05-23T22:02:00.001-07:00

Lesley posted this on Women Of Esoterica, and I'm passing it along. Please sign the petition and keep UFO Hunters on the air!

Bill has just finished filming for Season 3 and I don't know if there will be a Season 4. Maybe you -- plus some pals -- can write to the network and let them know you would like to see more episodes:

http://www.history.com/global/feedback/contact.jsp?site=HistoryChannel.com&NetwCode=THC

or you can sign a petition:

http://www.petitiononline.com/uf0hunt/petition.html

Either way, it can't hurt, and it just might help!

Keeping hope alive!

Thanks!

Get your Poodle skirts here!

2009-03-30T12:08:00.000-07:00

Found a retro fashion site; poodle skirts, bowling shirts and more at Cruisin' USA.

Octopi

2009-03-05T20:37:00.000-08:00

It's been awhile since I've posted images here but inspired by a new blog I've started -- Octopus Confessional -- I've decided to go digging for octopus images. Here are a few to enjoy.

Women in Crime

2009-01-31T23:41:00.000-08:00

I have an affinity for women in prison/juvie type stuff. Don't ask me why. Maybe it's because I went to Catholic school. Anyway, the best of genres: cover art, and women in peril, if even by their own evil deeds. . .

Rest in Peace, Eartha

2008-12-27T23:37:00.001-08:00

Vintage Hannukah?

2008-12-19T21:56:00.000-08:00

So, I wondered, any vintage Hannukah images? Not really. But I love this retro swinging Hannukah Lounge image:

And this garish display of Hannukah foods; very vintage in its 1950s, 1960s kind of presentation:

Vintage Christmas

2008-12-19T21:38:00.000-08:00

This is my favorite one. I found it through Lesley's blog, The Debris Field.

This is pretty; I like Christmas things that give the feeling of elves and fairies and magic.

This one kind of gives me the creeps for some reason.

This one is very sweet; I like the combination of angel with an animal, and I love the soft glowing lights. You have to have soft glowing lights everywhere!

Bettie Page Dies at 85

2008-12-11T20:47:00.000-08:00

Sad news: Bettie Page has passed. She was 85.

Pin-Up Girl Bettie Page in Coma

2008-12-06T14:53:00.000-08:00

Pin-up girl Bettie Page is in a coma, after her heart attack. Prayers go out to her and her family.

Vintage Occult and Paranormal Ads

2008-12-05T21:20:00.000-08:00

2008-11-24T21:50:00.000-08:00

You Are Bettie Page

Girl next door with a wild streak

You're a famous beauty - with unique look

And the people like you are cultish about it

What Famous Pinup Are You?

Well, I don't know about that, but she is my favorite pin-up!

Mermaid Time!

2008-11-17T13:39:00.000-08:00

I love mermaids, possibly more than fairies. Here are some vintage mermaid images to enjoy. I'm also fond of vintage ads and labels, and was delighted to find both mermaids and old ads together.

This image is from a comic book from the 1950s: Bob Hope Meets the Mermaids. You can see the whole thing here.

Singer Yma Sumac Dies

2008-11-08T22:59:00.000-08:00

The Peruvian singer Yma Sumac died at age 86 on November 2. I have great memories of listeing to Yma Sumac when I was a child; I thought her music was so strangely wonderful.

Vintage Ouija

2008-11-08T01:36:00.000-08:00

She looks goofy, not mystical, and just what is he grinning for? I think he's up to something!

I love the cartoon art imagery in this one, and use of "Ka-bala!" (as in Kabbalah) to invoke some serious mysticism!

2008-10-24T23:55:00.001-07:00

Years ago I had a large rubber stamp with this comment but a slightly different image seen here. I found this at Funky Fridge.com.

Vintage Baby Picture

2008-10-24T23:49:00.000-07:00

Yes, that's me! Taken in 1954 or '55. Cracks me up. Casual, laid back, with 'tude, even then!

2008-10-22T07:25:00.000-07:00

Vintage Housewife Fun from The Totally Girlie Blog

2008-10-21T19:54:00.000-07:00

Lesley's blog (one of her many great blogs) Totally Girlie Blog, brings us some vintage housewife fun. Here's one that I like! For more visit

The Totally Girlie blog, here.

Retro TV and Old Recipes Widgets

2008-10-11T20:54:00.000-07:00

I'm having fun with widgets; making them, finding them. Check the menu on your right, you'll see retro kitty clock, and scroll down, you'll find a retro TV widget, and a widget for old recipes. For widget goodies in all subjects, goggle widgetbox.com.

Suggestive Coca Cola Ads

2008-10-04T00:36:00.000-07:00

I posted on Alice Surreal about an item in the news now: coke as a contraceptive. Which then had me curious about subliminal (and not so much) and suggestive imagery in coke ads: all that Vance Packard "Hidden Persuasion" kind of thing.

Didn't seem to work for her however.

Smashing Katie

2008-09-27T22:50:00.000-07:00

I got to know about Smashing Katie from my friend Lesley, Blog Queen, who runs several blogs including, among others, The Debris Field and The Totally Girlie Blog. Smashing Katie comes to us by way of The Girlie Blog (where I'm pleased to say I'm a co-contributor.) Smashing Katie has its own twist on vintage type items. Here's a bit about the inspiration for Smashing Katie from the site:

We understand the roller coaster of emotions one goes through during a breakup. We understand that breakups happen for various reasons. We understand that sometimes the decision is one-sided, mutual, or for those special breakups, there is a third party involved that "helped" in the process. Smashing Katie spawned from such a breakup where a real Katie was the inspiration.

You can read more on the site in the "about us" section.

Halloween!

2008-09-21T17:58:00.000-07:00

I know, it's not Halloween yet. It's not even October yet. But Fall is in the air, and the days are crisp. The lights are out, at least mine are; I have an icicle style string I use in the Fall; the lights are orange that fade to purple and back again. Very pretty. There are so many wonderful vintage Halloween images -- I thought I'd get started early and just post ones as I find them.

Coffee Makers

2008-09-17T19:52:00.000-07:00

I love coffee makers; the vintage, old fashioned kind, not the Mr. Coffees and the like of today. Something very pleasing of the round shapes, the Air Stream type look of many of the coffee makers. My favorite kitchen object is my simple little espresso pot. Nothing special or fancy, but I love the simplicity and the great coffee (and of course it depends on the beans you use) it makes. And I love the little espresso cups too. And just for fun and silliness, some goofy vintage type coffee signs.

I love coffee makers; the vintage, old fashioned kind, not the Mr. Coffees and the like of today. Something very pleasing of the round shapes, the Air Stream type look of many of the coffee makers. My favorite kitchen object is my simple little espresso pot. Nothing special or fancy, but I love the simplicity and the great coffee (and of course it depends on the beans you use) it makes. And I love the little espresso cups too. And just for fun and silliness, some goofy vintage type coffee signs.

James Rich Studio

2008-09-17T19:48:00.000-07:00

New images up on James Rich's blog James Rich Studio, with link to even more new images on the Yessy.com website.

2008-09-01T01:12:00.000-07:00

Star of David on the label on this bottle of absinthe. I found the image on a lovely blog called Vintage Postcards.

Pin Up and Dance

2008-08-22T23:46:00.000-07:00

These two images are from a 1952 calendar, from Bibi's Box blog.

I love this image, found it on a great blog called Exotic Dance.

My Coffee Jello Attempt

2008-08-20T23:22:00.001-07:00

Well, it wasn't bad. Actually pretty good, in a strange way. As is my style, I didn't use any recipe, just added 2 C of coffee (I threw in some powdered cocoa in with the coffee when it was brewing) to the jello powder.

I used orange Jello, didn't have just plain gelatin. I think raspberry jello would be good too.

A little goes a long way! It's like uber coffee! I just ate two or three spoonfuls, and mixed that with french vanilla ice cream. Whipped cream would be a good addition. Sounds weird, but it really was good.

I think next time I should use 1 C of coffee. . . it's pretty strong with the 2 C, even though some recipes call for 2 C.

In searching the web I found a whole world of coffee jello and flan recipes; it seems to be popular in some Asian cultures. And of course, gelatin, used in the U.S. is an animal product, so many use agar instead, derived from plants. Next time I'll experiment with the agar.