Party in the Basement, June 1960
Come on over, we're having a pot luck party in our wood-paneled basement! Bring that ambrosia that you are so famous for, it's deelish. Gladys is bringing deviled eggs and Susan is making a casserole.
Today's photos are from Somewheresville U.S.A., circa 1960, and I love 'em. Just look at those crazy folks, I'm surprised (and a little disappointed) that there is not a single lamp shade on anyone's noggin.
Music is playing, and they've busted out the instruments - bongos (darn, I wanted the bongos), a güiro, maracas, and something called "lummi sticks" (according to a friend of mine). Pretty soon, the clothes will start coming off and the cops show up. Happens like every time.
Meanwhile, back at the bar, everyone is drinking up a storm. I love the beer signs - Schaeffer beer is obviously a house favorite. I swear this could be my Uncle Harold's basement; nearby you would have found a Hammond electric organ (which his wife Florence would play), and even a bumper pool table, which was pretty awesome. Good times, for sure.
I hope you don't have a hangover after today's "Anything Goes" installment!
18 comments:
Golly - knotty pine wall paneling, "lovely" curtains and even a Celotex tiled ceiling-! (I certainly hope the tile is asbestos-free... Good luck on that score). That group had better be drinking good and hearty. Never mix - never worry-! Yeah, right.
What a swell look back at a seemingly carefree time.
Oh yeah! They look like they're having quite a wild time there! I think I'll try some of Gladys' deviled eggs. Mmmmm delicious!
I lived in a house that had low ceilings and paneling like this back in my 30s. At first I liked the style, but really grew to hate it later on. No matter what you put on the wall it looked ugly.
Papa Loves Mambo!
Nothing fake about those happy smiles - they are having a good time :)
Why do these people make me think of 'Bob' and male enhancement products?
Wow....flashback! I played the guiro in a Christmas pageant in elementary school!
We had a neighbor with a basement like this....brings back fun memories!!
LOL, what fun! And the teens probably thought these guys were all squares!
I really expect that mambo-combo in the first picture to beak out with "The Woman is Smarter", as performed here by another better known group:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dm2hLuTIOI
x
Nanook, there must have been a law passed at some point that made knotty pin paneling required in all basements. Our basement in Pennsylvania certainly had it.
K. Martinez, did the whole house have low ceilings, or do you mean just the basement?
Chiana, Rosemary Clooney always knows what to say.
Debbie V, you're right, they really DO seem to be genuinely happy.
DonaldTDuck, oh man, I hate those commercials! Especially that dumb music in the background.
TokyoMagic!, it is too bad you didn't continue with your güiro studies…. who knows, you could have been a huge star today.
Nancy, this makes me wish that houses in California had basements (most of them don't, it seems). All that extra living space!
Connie, by 1960 the teens were into rock and roll, so I guess in a way the parents were square; but at least they were fun AND square.
Katella, what about the Banana Boat Song?
Major, The whole house had low ceilings. It was a summer vacation rental (cabin) in the Santa Cruz mountains that was turned into a year-round unit. It was actually more like a shack.
Being tall, the low ceilings eventually got to me as well as the fact that old seasonal rentals are not meant for year round occupancy (no heat in the winter). These images remind me so much of that place I lived in back then.
These days I live near the beach which is much nicer!
BTW, The second image is great!
Now, those were the days when paneling was paneling!
I ADORE these photos! Love, love, love Bob's bowtie. But doesn't anybody notice that Carl, in the corner, is in need of a refill??
rosie
picture 1. Made my weekend. RAWK IT!
You brought up lampshade, so I had to do it: Here's a picture of me in my favorite costume joining the party:
http://ow.ly/i/JLy5
K. Martinez, living near the beach is always a nice thing!
Melissa, I can't view the paneling without thinking of the cabins I used to stay in when fishing in Minnesota. Always knotty pine.
Guy, I'm glad you liked these! And thanks for the pic!
Now,I grew up in Orange County CA where there are no basements,however, every cookie cutter tract house had a two car garage. Substitute the knotty pine for barn wood,and you have my (Dad's lair) garage growing up in the early 70's. Bar with cool beer signs,check,fridge with a tapper for kegs,check,pool table,check. And of course Dad's awesome stereo (hi-fi) setup. Dad was an early "mix taper", for parties he'd record hours of songs from album to reel to reel,we were the go to house for parties. Of course later there was Dad's desk in there with his base station during the CB craze......Ahhhh,the 70's....and the rapidly fading memories....
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