Vintage Cars
Due to sheer laziness, I am posting two photos of vintage cars on today's "Anything Goes Saturday" installment.
Obviously somebody was very proud of their new automobile! I wish I knew where the picture was taken - the landscape provides an attractive background. I believe that the car itself is a 1959 Chevy Impala - it looks like it might be the 2-door convertible. I love all of the chrome and the elaborate front end and grille. While we can't see them, there were distinctive tail-lights, and some very respectable tail fins - it was 1959, after all.
I believe that this one is from somewhere in California, though the slide is unlabeled and undated. I'm guessing mid-1950's. A certain eskimo from the north will probably be able to ID this one! This photo is "classic suburbia", even with the giant power line tower in the background.
23 comments:
Major-
"A certain eskimo from the north..." Yes, indeed. The first shot is certainly a 1959 Chevrolet - could be an Impala, or Bel Air. Yes its "gull wing" rear deck - also quite prominent on the 1959 & '60 Buick, too - makes quite the statement.
The black car with white top had me going for a while, but it's a 1953 Lincoln Cosmopolitan - with V8 engine - and an OHV 'Y-block', too boot. Ford vehicles continued using their famous Flathead engine until the 1954 model year. The car behind it could be a 1951 Chevrolet. And the scene does indeed look as if it could be in So. Cal.
Thanks, Major.
He may not be a great clone hunter, but the certain Eskimo from the north knows his classic American cars. Your detailed knowledge of the automobile never ceases to amaze me, Nanook. Do you have a particular favorite?
Love the giant power line tower. There's even a telephone pole! Thanks, Major.
Note the sign in the yard on the left-hand side of the second photo. I wonder what it says. "For Sale By Owner?" "Keep Off the Grass?" "Achtung Minen?"
@ Ken-
I don't really have any favorites, just a "reasonable" knowledge of Post-WWII autos.
@ Chuck-
I hadn't thought about that lawn sign, but did notice the license plate frame on the 1959 Chevrolet. It appears to read "Pollard" 'something'. I seem to recall a car dealership in the So. Cal. area with that name, but can't locate any more info to confirm. Although I may be thinking of Martin Pollard, who ran Casa de Cadillac, in Sherman Oaks, up thru the early 60's.
@Nanook, If I had to pick a favorite it would be the Camaros or Cudas from late 1960s. I'd be happy with one of those.
Nanook, a Lincoln Cosmopolitan! Never heard of that car, but it’s a great name. I’m pretty sure that this photo is from the San Diego area.
K. Martinez, I thought you only loved telephone poles in relation to Disneyland, but it turns out you like them no matter where!
Chuck, it says “Sign For Sale”.
Nanook, the fact that you knew the name of the former owner of Casa de Cadillac is also pretty impressive!
K. Martinez, I think I am more of a fan of cars from the late 1950’s (or early 1960’s), but that’s just me!
Major-
The "Cosmopolitan" is simply a model of the Lincoln; such as a Ford Fairlane or Chevrolet Bel Air. The Cosmopolitan existed from 1949 thru 1954, and was basically a luxury car, designed to compete with Cadillac or Packard - "Ask the man who owns one!"
And sometime, ask me to tell you about Bert Boeckmann of Galpin Motors...
Good one Major! FUNNY! My friend’s Wolf/Malamute highbred is named Nanook. I’m surprised that film has never been referenced here before, but I wasn’t going to be the one to say it first.
That's a cultural reference that I fear is in danger of dying out within a generation. I wonder how many of the regular readers have ever seen it (or any other Robert Flaherty work, for that matter)?
Chuck, It’s kind of an odd thing how SO MANY historical landmark films will someday slip into complete obscurity. I got my friend’s son to actually sit all the way through Seventh Voyage of Sinbad. Boy! He just seemed to squirm through the whole thing. At the end he said “it was good”, I think he was just being polite. Millennials and younger have such short attention spans, it just bizarre!
@ Monkey Cage Kurt-
Wolf/dog hybrids generally produce either a big mess or the best of both dog and wolf. In the latter case, you end up with one hell of an incredible animal. Which one is your friend's-?
Chuck, yes I think the general public doesn't have knowledge of such work, but still there is an interest from people of all ages who love film. I think DVD and streaming have brought new life into many of the older obscure and forgotten films like "Nanook of the North". Criterion Collection is an excellent source for obscure films like this.
Monkey Cage Kurt, I know people older than I who get bored of older films and only watch the new stuff. I also know several Millennials and younger who love and appreciate old and obscure films. I think it just depends on who you hang with. I tend to gravitate towards people who have a love for all film. I remember a couple of much younger friends I invited over to watch Satyajit Ray's 1950's Apu trilogy (Pather Panchali, Aparajito, Aputr Sansar) with me. They weren't sure they if were going to like it, but after they watched the whole thing, they told me they were blown away. You never know.
And yes, "The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad" is great! I'm a huge fan of the Harryhausen/Schneer collaborations of the 1950's.
I saw "Nanook of the North" in my 10th grade World History class! And I do think of that film from time to time when reading your name above your comments, Nanook!
My sister is 10 years younger than me and she had never seen a black and white movie until she was in her 20's. We watched "Psycho" together. I don't know if she has seen another black and white movie since then. I'll have to ask her. Today, it's a whole different generation out there that has only grown up with cable and the internet, so there are a gazillion more choices of things to watch. I'm not sure what my sister's excuse was.
@TokyoMagic!, Because of the internet I've discovered lots of films I never even heard of. Films from India, Japan, China, UK, France, etc. that were made in the 1940's through 1970's. Really cool stuff. If anything, technology has given us access to discover more of what's out there currently and historically (films/music).
Nanook, I am waiting for the big budget, special-effects laden Steven Spielberg biopic of Bert Boekmann!
Monkey Cage Kurt, I guess I was worried that our commenter might be the REAL Nanook from the 1922 film, and might want to avoid the paparazzi.
Chuck, I must admit that I am unaware of other works by Robert Flaherty… :-(
Monkey Cage Kurt, thanks to my dad, I got into the habit of doing crossword puzzles. I often think that my niece (a super smart 17 year old) probably would not be able to do many of them because the cultural references predate her by 40 or 50 years at least. Maybe I’m wrong.
Nanook, just don’t cross a wiener dog with a wolf.
K. Martinez, at my old office I would often turn on Turner Classic Movies in the lunch room, and most of the time my co-workers complained of how boring the movies were. They wanted to watch VH-1. Sigh.
TokyoMagic!, I actually rented “Nanook of the North” at my local library - it had a great selection of classics, both domestic and foreign. It was the greatest! How in the world did your sister avoid a black and white movie for 20 years?! Remember when everything was being (badly) colorized? Speaking of which, “I Love Lucy” has apparently been colorized.
K. Martinez, I agree, access to stuff from around the world is more readily available than ever; my brother loves vintage trash/horror/gore/monster movies too, I think he had caught lots on Netflix over the years.
Nanook, Nooks is THEE best dog in the world. He’s not trained or anything, but he’s super well mannered, absolutely HUGE, and just gorgeous off the charts. He’s also very gentle and loves to play with very small cats. I LOVE that dog!
Incidentally Nanook, is there a story behind your name?
You know come to think of it guys, I squirm quite a bit trying to get through Seventh Voyage of Sinbad these days as well.
Oh, and speaking of squirming through movies, are we ever going to discuss how bad that new Star Wars was? It was REALLY stinky in my opinion.
@ All-
Yes the moniker of 'Nanook' was taken from the Robert Flaherty film Nanook of the North. I've changed-up my avatar to reflect the inspiration for the name. (No disparaging words about the real fur ruff, please...) And as a film lover and former projectionist, I've both seen and PROJECTED many, many great films. I am so lucky to have done so. (Go, Ray Harryhausen-!)
@ Monkey Cage Kurt-
It sounds as if your friend has the best of both worlds. As you said, his (Nanook's) gentleness and good behavior isn't a guarantee, but when it occurs - WOW. I suspect there may also be a bit of 'soulfulness' mixed into his personality-?
Nanook, I like the new profile pic!
Major, I'm not sure how my sister managed to avoid black and white movies for that long. We didn't grow up together, otherwise I would have shown her a black and white movie much sooner. I hated that whole colorization thing of the eighties. I'm glad that Turner finally realized he didn't have to do that in order to get people to watch them. The current colorization of the I Love Lucy episodes is kind of strange. Why even bother at this point? And to me, it still looks horrible and phony no matter what "they" say.
Nanook, Love your new avatar.
Monkey Cage Kurt, I have a soft spot for mutts, but that’s just me. My cousin raises Bernese Mountain Dogs, and they are big and gentle… her mom also raised them, and when I was a kid, they would hook them up to sleds and pull us around in the snow.
Monkey Cage Kurt, I’d hate to spoil Star Wars for anybody who still hasn’t seen it (it’s only been out for a few weeks). I had very low expectations, so I had an OK time, though I did not think it was great by any means. Watch the prequels again and you’ll find that “The Force Awakens” wasn’t so bad! I am mostly curious to see what Rian Johnson does with the next one.
Nanook, is the Flaherty film a particular favorite of yours? I think it would be hard to choose a nickname from among the many thousands of great films from history.
TokyoMagic! I’m sure that “Lucy” is being colorized for the same reasons that things were being colorized 30 years ago… they feel that people will be less inclined to watch a show that is in black and white, and they are hoping that younger viewers (like your sister!) might tune in. I still remember watching a colorized version of “It’s a Wonderful Life”, and thought it was dumb that “Violet” was always wearing purple.
K. Martinez, I don’t know why, but now I am missing my old winking avatar. Google’s Blogger made it stop working.
Nanook - I love your nylon-shell N-3B, especially with the "US Air Force" logo on the shoulder!!
I had one of the later, cotton-shelled, faux-fur versions, and that was probably the hardest issue item return in my career. I nearly "lost" the coat before I had to turn it back in and would have gladly reimbursed the gov't for it. I was issued a newer design at my next assignment, and while it's warm and they let me keep it when I retired (in fact, I wore it today), it's not the same as an N-3B.
@ Chuck-
I sold that N-3B on eBay many years ago. I used that image to highlight the ruff - which was one of the better examples I've seen of a ruff with dense underfur and very long guard hairs - easily approaching 6". And the middle-front section of fur was (not deliberately) pieced together from fur with minimal length guard hairs. I still have a couple, and on occasion even wear one.
@ Major-
I can't say the Flaherty film is a particular favorite it's just a seminal film which I viewed undoubtedly in a film history class. (I may have even projected a print of it at some point. I can't remember for certain).
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