Ultra Swank

Retro British Puddings

Guest — Thu, 24 May 2012 08:45:15 +0000

Remember those school dinner days, when desserts were stodgy, substantial and satisfying? Do you yearn for a bit of nosh-stalgia? Join us on a trip down memory lane as we revisit the all-time favourite retro British puddings, those classic heartwarming staples that have stood the test of time. Spotted Dick A serious pudding with a [...]

A tour of Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo filming locations – How do they look today?

Chris — Tue, 22 May 2012 05:55:47 +0000

Klara lives in San Francisco, very near the Hotel Vertigo, so she couldn’t resist putting together this video for Alfred Hitchcock and ‘Vertigo‘ fans. Klara explains that it made sense to make a video project out of it and track several of the locations from the film – especially for folks who aren’t able to [...]

The Mighty Hand of Union Carbide

James Vaughan — Mon, 21 May 2012 05:53:19 +0000

“Oh Mighty Hand of Progress and Science. We beseech thee to guide or ways. Help us to secure funding for our Research Projects. Show us the mysteries of Nature that we may harness them and produce a brighter cleaner wash! Shelter us from the elements and bring us good and ever-lasting AC. Beloved Mighty Hand [...]

Podcast Episode 221

Chris — Sun, 20 May 2012 13:43:52 +0000

On the show this week, Koop Kooper finds out about an Australia legend of the entertainment business who traveled to America to become a success there. Koop also look into the passing of of a sixties fashion legend plus news about a a cool new blog and a film to check out. Listen to the [...]

The Swank Traveler

Guest — Mon, 14 May 2012 05:10:53 +0000

It was Saint Augustine who said that “The World is a Book and those who don’t travel read only a page”. Before I got into radio I travelled on the Professional Tennis circuit and I would say that I consider myself a well seasoned traveller. People have often asked me what makes a great traveller. [...]

Podcast Episode 220

Chris — Sun, 13 May 2012 11:07:51 +0000

On the show this week, Koop Kooper talk to David Pierce, the author of a book all about one of his favourite tv-shows, Bewitched. There are also news on a couple of departures from the world and as usual the best exotica and lounge music on the planet. Listen to the podcast Played songs Melody [...]

Seven-oh-seven – The Jet Age Begins

James Vaughan — Fri, 11 May 2012 13:11:50 +0000

Flying, as we know it, began with the Boeing 707. This was the airplane that leaped us into the ‘Jet-Age‘. Today’s millions of air-travelers can hardly imagine what a jump in performance, comfort and safety the 707 provided. At twice the speed of previous propeller driven airliners, the 707 also flew at almost twice the [...]

Nostalgic postcards of American Roadside Attractions – Part 2

Chris — Thu, 10 May 2012 11:30:54 +0000

Nostalgic, classic, vintage and timeless yet again. So vivid, futuristic and warm but also gloomy and grey at the same time. Postwar suburban America was certainly a time of change – a time when the automobile was the spotlight of modern living. You could go anywhere in your Oldsmobile, Chrysler, Chevrolet or Cadillac. How about [...]

Where did our sense of dressing well go?

Guest — Mon, 07 May 2012 05:26:15 +0000

At some point in history our standard of dress has deteriorated to the point of no return. I blame this partly on the youth of the seventies and the baby boomers who seemed to think that they needed to rebel against everything and anything their parents stood for. Reading the paper today I was struck [...]

Podcast Episode 219

Chris — Sun, 06 May 2012 09:00:43 +0000

On the show this week, Koop Kooper share a few albums he picked up at a record fair in Sydney so stand by for some great finds from the record bins. Did you know that Errol Flynn never won an Oscar? We will meet the man who has written about this and find out what [...]

We go to the moon! The Art of Robert McCall

James Vaughan — Fri, 04 May 2012 08:15:47 +0000

“We choose to go to the moon, not because it is easy, but because it is hard!” John F. Kennedy, Sept. 12, 1962. Rice University, Texas. Huh! What did he say? President Kennedy’s speech, kicking off the Space Race, was inspired words. But everyone knows the real reason we went to the moon. We went because it [...]

Podcast Episode 218

Chris — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 14:41:19 +0000

On the show this week, Koop Kooper talk to one of the most popular jazz musicians in Australia and plays a track from an album he picked up from a charity store, plus lots of gigs to check out along with the best lounge and exotica from across the globe as usual. Listen to the [...]

Stanley Donen’s Arabesque

James Vaughan — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 08:30:10 +0000

arabesque def: 1. a sinuous, spiraling, undulating, or serpentine line or linear motif. Nobody liked the screenplay. After three writers tried to make it better, it was worse! But director Stanley Donen knew, that if the audience would be staring at Gregory Peck and Sophia Loren the whole time, maybe the story really wasn’t all [...]

Podcast Episode 217

Chris — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 08:08:44 +0000

On the show this week, Koop Kooper talk to the editor of brand new mid century modern magazine, more new music from Pink Martini and a band I just discovered called the Sunday Combo. Also got lots of new gigs to check out and some Bond news for you! Listen to the podcast Played songs [...]

The Nuclear Family Goes Underground

James Vaughan — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 19:00:42 +0000

Our re-runs of an Ultra Swank world are interrupted by a shrill tone from the television. ‘Howdy Dooty’ and Mom’s favorite soap opera are suddenly replaced by a Civil Defense symbol and gravely intoned warnings of the END OF THE WORLD! High above the utopian suburbs of plenty, an ever present overcast of death and [...]

Podcast Episode 216

Chris — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 20:23:44 +0000

On the show this week, Koop Kooper is joined by Kramer as we take a look at some bachelor pad loungin’ films. First up is the Matt Helm series as we check out The Silencers. Koop got requests flying into the penthouse so we will play some of those tonight, plus new music from Pink [...]

Fashion and fun plus bubbly sweet drinks

James Vaughan — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 15:00:05 +0000

There are few examples in advertising or pop-culture which are the idealization of American youth, affluence and style, better than the Pepsi print campaigns of the 1950′s. These magazine illustrations clearly marked out a sophisticated lifestyle and the beautiful stylish people that practiced it. The artistic style was colorful and simple with a few important [...]

New York to Puerto Rico by Air in 1962

Chris — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 09:38:46 +0000

Home video shot in 1962 that depicts some quite amazing piece of silent film history. We start with a early departure at Boston Airport and then take to the skies and land at New York City and Idlewild airport (now JFK) where we first take a look at a legendary Pan Am Boeing 707 and [...]

Podcast Episode 215

Chris — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 13:15:24 +0000

On the show this week, Koop Kooper enter the murky world of boxing as we talk to Paul Bishop, an Los Angeles Homicide Detective turned boxing pulp writer and blogger. We also have a letter from a listener which vindicates Koop. Plus new music on the way from a gal called Marita Brake. Listen to [...]

A Stylish and Strange Trip Around the World

Chris — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 14:20:29 +0000

Here is another masterfully and stylishly edited video by YouTube user Solsoulvideo. This time we are taking a mile high mondo (very bizarre) trip around the world, set to the best lounge and bossa music on the planet. From Italy to Greece, England to France and the US to Spain and back again, we experience [...]