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Showing posts from January, 2015

Vintage Knott's Berry Farm Souvenier slides

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Not too long ago, I converted over 400 of my parents old film slides to digital format. The slides featured tons of pictures spanning from 1966 to 1982, and brought back a ton of memories. During the massive digital conversion, I found some souvenir slides that my old man had bought at Knott's Berry farm back in the late 70's.  Dad used to love Knott's Berry Farm, and actually preferred going there over Disneyland.   I'm not sure exactly how many of these slides were made, or if this was a complete set that was sold at the park. Nevertheless, I've posted them here for you to enjoy.. Old Gold prospectors Barber shop Lonely Joe Chinese Laundry Gamblers I remember seeing most of these life size dioramas around Knott's Berry farm as a kid.  I have no clue how many of them still exist however.  If I have enough time during my next California trip, maybe I'll poke around the theme park to see.

Retro Flashback.. The Sci-Fi Comedy Red Dwarf

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Red Dwarf is a British sci-fi comedy series that ran from 1988 to 1999.  It was such a big hit, that the series was brought back in miniseries form in 2009, and again for full seasons in 2012, 2016, 2017 and for a 90 minute TV special in 2020.  Can you imagine?  A series coming back and picking up in the thick of the storyline some 21 years later, and then still garnering interest and going strong ever since? Back in the day, Americans could watch the series on PBS if they were lucky, but videos were also abundantly available at movie and book stores ( back when those still existed ) which is where I used to buy all my VHS tapes of the series.  For those who haven't had the pleasure of watching this great show, here's a quick rundown.. The series takes place on a mining spaceship called 'Red Dwarf' which is 6 miles long, 5 miles tall, and 4 miles wide.  The series focuses on the lowest ranking crew member and last human being alive named Dave Lister, his b...

Two retro tech items I (almost) bought in 2014

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I saw a couple items while hitting the thrift stores last year that I came incredibly close to bringing home with me.  Behold.. Early 1970s KODAK Instamatic X-15 Camera I had an Instamatic X-15 exactly like this one when I was a kid.  I took pictures of everything from my BMX bikes, to diorama scenes I'd make with my Star Wars toys.  I had this camera in hand and was ready to spend a hard earned $1.99 for it, when reasoning took over.   I figured this camera would only be a conversation piece that would take up more of the ever shrinking real estate upon my office shelves.  You can no longer buy 126 film for them, and heck.. the camera on my phone takes great pictures and even fits in my pocket.   Just for kicks, I did a Google search for 126 film when I got home.  While you can sometimes find old unopened rolls of 126 film on eBay, I learned that 126 film cartridges can be loaded with 35mm film, meaning that yes.. you coul...

Television catch phrases solidified in pop culture

Every decade has its share of catch phrases that people love to rattle off.  Heck.. I'd go as far to say that the uttering of a catch phrase at just the right moment can make you instantly funny and cool!  I've never had this happen to me personally , but it's common knowledge right?!? Here's some of the catch phrases I remember most from my short period of my existence on this big blue marble.  I've got ten catch phrases listed, accompanied by where they originated, as well as their respective decades. "Where's the Beef?"   Wendy's 80's / Clara Peller "Whatchoo Talkin' Bout Willis?" Different Strokes 80's / Gary Coleman "You Look Mahvelous" Saturday Night Live 1984 / Billy Crystal "Flick my BIC" BIC lighters 70's advertising slogan "I Dare ya" EverReady Batteries 70's / Robert Conrad "I've fallen.. and I can't get up" Lifecall 80...

My Old Mans rides circa 1968 and 1973

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This is my father, myself and my older brother in front of my Old Man's Chevy back in 1973.  We were getting ready for a Saturday outing at the beach, and Santa Monica pier.  Can't remember what kind of car it was.. possibly a Biscayne? Here's another picture of one the Old Man's cars. a 1962 Dodge Lancer... That's my dad and my older brother in 1968.  This picture was taken somewhere in the hills outside of San Bernadino I believe.  What I'd give to own that car today!!  There's several models of cars that my folks, and I personally have owned, that I would like to buy for the purpose of restoration.  The only thing holding me back is a lack of space to store and work on the vehicle. Do you have any fond memories from your folks automobiles growing up?  Would you ever buy an older car and restore it?

Forgotten folk - Tammi Terrell

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The world of music is full of artists who died well before their time, and Tammi Terrell is one of them. She was best known for her association with Motown, and her duets with Marvin Gaye. She signed with Motown in 1965 and enjoyed modest success, but her career really started taking off when she started singing with Marvin Gaye in 1967.  However, her new found success would be short lived.  Later in October of that same year, she collapsed in Marvin Gaye's arms while performing on stage. That led to a diagnosis of a malignant brain tumor which led to her death three years later at the age of 24. While Tammi Terrell is no longer a household name, I have no doubt that you'll recognize at least one or two of these incredibly beautiful songs.. Marvin Gaye was so distraught by Tammi's death, that he took a four year hiatus from live performances.  They had an incredible chemistry, and virtually every song they recorded together was a hit on ...

The Dukes of Hazzard.. Ghost of The General Lee

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One of my 2014 additions to the old toy collection.. This is the Ghost of General Lee model kit made by Model Products Corporation ( MPC ) back in 2010.   I was,  and still am a huge fan of the Dukes of Hazzard TV series.  On the 26th of October, 1979, one of my favorite episodes “The Ghost of General Lee” aired on television.  You can see Rosco P. Coltrane on the packaging, scared out of his wits by a glowing General Lee that's apparently back from the dead. In this episode, the General Lee is stolen by two pool hustlers who drive it into the pond while being chased by Rosco.  For all intents and purposes, everyone believes that Bo, Luke, and the General have drowned.  When Boss Hogg comes up with a scheme by claiming the Duke Boys stole from him before their demise, they figure the only way to prove their innocence is to haunt Boss and Rosco by making the General Lee look like a ghost. MPC created this kit of the infamous ghostly General Lee...

Fitz & The Tantrums

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I find myself really not caring for much of the new music coming out these days, but I actually really like Fitz and The Tantrums.  I've had my eye and ear on them for a few years now, and truly dig a lot of their soulful indie-pop tunes.  In certain songs, the lead singer Michael Fitzpatrick's voice is so similar to Daryl Hall's it's almost scary. I'm sure one of the reasons I was originally drawn to this band, is because of the retro and at times 80s vibe they've got going on.  You can see for yourself from this video posted below.  From a retro loving standpoint, I very much dig the Max Headroom-esque special effects executed in this video. WARNING.. the hook that's delivered in this song by band member Noelle Scaggs very well may get stuck in your head for the next week.  But not in a Macarena or Achy Breaky Heart type of way. Here's another great video with Fitz & The Tantrums performing their hit song 'Money Grabber...

You still read comics?

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by Darrin Vindiola "You still read comics?" is a question I get from time to time.  I usually respond the same way I do when someone asks "You still watch cartoons?".  I opt to answer the question with another question.. "You don't?"   Granted, I'm a busy guy with a lot on my plate, so reading comics doesn't occupy too much of my time (at least not enough for my liking). As a kid, I read an insane amount of comic books.  I would go over to my best friends house after school with comic books in tow, and we would spend hours trading, reading, and discussing what we read.  I remember my friend inheriting about a half dozen boxes of old comics from one of his cousins.  That stockpile provided us with endless hours of entertainment and stimulation for our young and impressionable minds.  It's really what started us off on our obsession with comic books. I guess we were what you could call equal opportunity comic book readers.  We wou...

Retro Dad trick #221.. "The snack decoy"

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With a family of five, it's a safe bet that somebody in my household, may be hungry at any given moment.  During the course of my trip through fatherhood, I've developed a few tricks to ensure Daddy-O is never lacking in the morning, afternoon, or midnight snack area.  Here is one trick that's worked particularly well for me over the years.. 1.) Pick out any random food package.   (the less appealing the food is to young folks.. the better!) 2.) Hide your favorite snacks within the package.   V oilĂ ! A decoy  to preserve your "Dad Snacks" for emergencies.   By chance.. your brood may get suspicious or wise to this trick, so it may behoove you to be a little more sneaky err.. creative .  A simple way around this problem, is by further camouflaging your snacks as shown above. The snack decoy trick has always worked well for me personally .  Just don't tell my kids, or bride!

80s music flashback.. The English Beat and General Public

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by Darrin Vindiola The second "British Invasion" that took place in the 80s brought attention to some great musical talent from across the pond.  One of my favorite bands from this era was General Public.  They were one of those bands that instantly made you a little bit edgier and cooler once you became a fan. General Public actually started out as 'The English Beat'.  The group disbanded, and band members Dave Wakeling and Ranking Roger formed General Public with a number of other skilled artists.  Other band members included; drummer Andy "Stoker" Growcott and keyboardist Mickey Billingham from Dexys Midnight Runners, guitarist Mick Jones from the Clash, and bassist Horace Panter from The Specials.  Remaining members of the English Beat Andy Cox and David Steele in turn formed the music group "Fine Young Cannibals", but that's another story altogether. Bands like Madness, Bad Manners, and The English Beat got me hooked on Ska music ...