Retro Inspired Design and Living From the 50s, 60s and 70s | Ultra Swank

How to Become a Stewardess in the 1950s

Chris — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 06:58:42 +0000

It was most likely much tougher than it seemed – with charm and grace training, evacuation exercises, disgruntled passengers and endless hair and makeup sessions. Guess all the excitement and grandeur is a thing of the past. Does anyone even consider becoming a flight attendant today? Photos taken from the wonderful Life archive at Google.

Kitschy Swedish Postcards from the 1960s

Chris — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 06:26:57 +0000

Winter is almost upon us in northern Europe, but these newly found postcards of retro Sweden brings back kitschy summer vibes that are sure to warm anyone. Those of you with sharp eyes might spot that a few of the cards depict Sweden pre-1967, when we still had left-side traffic. Native Swedes might even recognize [...]

Three Classic Sci-Fi Movies from the Past

Chris — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 06:09:04 +0000

Contributor Klara have been busy time traveling into the golden age of science fiction, on a mission to find three classics that will please and catch the imagination of the readers of Ultra Swank. So, head out to the launchpad and strap your self in, our rocket's first stop is the moon! Destination Moon (1950) – The [...]

Haunting Halloween Mood Sounds with Doctor Druid

Chris — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 06:03:44 +0000

Halloween is just a few days away and to kick things off in a ghoulish way, this old piece of 1973 wax will most likely do the trick (...or treat). This record is sure to scare and entertain everyone in the family, especially if used with one speaker hidden in the ceiling for the proper [...]

Kitschen Feast with Heidi & Betty Crocker

Chris — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 20:05:42 +0000

And you thought baked beans and sausage weren't the least bit French? Betty & I have paired up to prove you wrong. Behold Betty Crocker's Baked Bean & Sausage Casserole aka Middle Income French Cooking! This casserole is, per Betty, an "...appetizing adaptation of the French cassoulet." Put that in your Pyrex, Julie & Julia! [...]

Gene Kelly on Roller Skates in NYC

Chris — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 05:45:19 +0000

From the movie It's Always Fair Weather made in 1955 starring the always brilliant and talented Gene Kelly, this time singing with roller skates around Broadway in New York City. What do you daydream about today? [Thanks Cam]

How About a Retro Themed Halloween Cocktail Party?

Chris — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:24:57 +0000

Halloween is coming up and to give you some ideas for your costume, contributor Cam presents a couple of retro themed suggestions. All you need is to pick your favorite classic movie character and you are almost set to go! Some possibilities for the ladies could be the eternal style icon Audrey Hepburn as Holly [...]

Stereo Music for Your Bachelor Pad

Chris — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 05:18:11 +0000

Head on over to the Ultra Swank Flickr group for more tasty designs from the past. Why not join our group and contribute with your own retro related images? It's free and very easy. Which is your favorite record to play on late Friday nights? Images via the Ultra Swank Flickr Pool

Visual Accoustics Celebrates Photographer Julius Schulman

Chris — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 05:52:43 +0000

This documentary about the life of famed photographer Julius Schulman looks very appealing to me. If you have been reading my earlier architecture posts you will immediately know who I am referring to. [Thanks Cam] Narrated by Dustin Hoffman, VISUAL ACOUSTICS celebrates the life and career of Julius Shulman, the world’s greatest architectural photographer, whose images [...]

How to Be Popular in the 1950s

Chris — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 05:35:59 +0000

Following up on my earlier post on how to get a date if you lived in 1950s America, here is a new film which show and tell how you can have a few close friends but be popular among a large group of people too. The entertainment value and kitsch-meter is going through the roof [...]

Swank Style Surprise Discovered

Chris — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 05:26:11 +0000

I had the occasion this past summer to stay in a Motel 6 here in the U.S. for the first time in many years. I was most pleasantly surprised at the new look of the room. It was simple, utilitarian, but perhaps best of all, something new in that it reminded me of mid-century [...]

How to Date in the 1950s

Chris — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 05:53:11 +0000

How would you get into dating if you were a teenager in the suburbs of America in the 1950s? Ever wonder how social life was like for your mother, father, grandmother or grandfather? The video is taken from the Coronet collection, which features lots of swell vintage movies about growing up in the 1940s and [...]

New Design and New Features

Chris — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 17:28:20 +0000

What you are looking at right now represents many months of late night work sessions. Ultra Swank has been around for a little more than four years now and I thought it was due for a real change, to give it its own style and persona that represents more elegant and fun times. This new [...]

More 1960s Space Age Fashion from Paris

Chris — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 05:55:23 +0000

It's the start of another week and to inspire you here is some more fashion from Paris set to the theme of the famous jet set Riviera TV-series The Persuaders starring Roger More and Tony Curtis. The theme was originally composed by John Barry but this is the moog version from the 1974 album The [...]

1964 Vision of Man Exploring Mars

Chris — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 05:45:06 +0000

The weekend is around the corner and to inspire you here is artist Robert McCall's vision of man exploring Mars, scanned from the October 1964 issue of Life Magazine. McCall did many illustrations for NASA in the 1960s as well the movie 2001 by Stanley Kubrick. Have a great weekend! Via the Ultra Swank Flickr Pool

1964 New York World’s Fair Futurama Ride

Chris — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 05:30:28 +0000

General Motors was a pioneer exhibitor back in the mid-century often with the technical assistance of Walt Disney's Imagineers. Futarama was a ride at the New York World's Fair in 1939 and was updated for the 1964 fair which offered its riders a glimpse into what life in the year 2024 would be like. This [...]

Welcome to Fabulous Los Angeles Jetport

Chris — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 05:10:16 +0000

This is Los Angeles International Airport (Jetport), it was built in the late 1950s and was at the time one of the biggest airports in America. They first envisioned it to be even bigger in the anticipation of the "jet age" with lots of terminals and buildings connected through a huge steel-and-glass dome building but [...]

Retro Cocktails For Your Pad

Chris — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 05:16:14 +0000

Do you know who Tom Collins is? Ever tried a Old Fashioned? Here are a couple of ideas for drinks that will make sure that your next retro themed Mad Men cocktail party is one for the books. Which is your favorite retro cocktail? Bottoms up from Ultra Swank. Martini 2 oz. Gin or Vodka 2 drops Dry [...]

Mr. Lucky Television Series

Chris — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 05:12:49 +0000

Mr. Lucky was a relatively short-lived (34 episodes) 1959-1960 television series. It starred actors John Vivyan as the suave professional gambler, "Mr. Lucky", and Ross Martin as his sidekick, Andamo. Most of the action in this crime drama took place on or around Mr. Lucky’s floating casino/pad called "The Fortuna". Possibly the most memorable thing [...]

Happy Birthday Lesley Hornby

Chris — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 05:51:57 +0000

Don't know who i am referring to? Well you might know her better under her nickname "Twiggy" (from twig – tree). Twiggy was born September 19, 1949 in Neasden, London. She became famous in the swingin' 60s as a model icon and revolutionized the fashion world with her slim and boyish figure, short hair and [...]