The Picnic, Southern California, 1960

Daddy holds up a can of Schlitz beer like the statue of liberty holds the flame. Cheers! Perhaps he’s already had a couple. The lady on the right cheers a little less enthusiastically with a pretty pink paper cup. Her nails and lips are painted red like the redhead on the right smoking a cigarette with one hand and holding a lovely little girl with the other. Little Blondie is looking at grandma who’s looking at the buzz cut little boy held by grandpa who’s the only one staring into outer space and not wearing white. The little boy is picking his nose. Grandma’s initials are embroidered on her breast pocket. The handkerchief in that pocket matches her turquoise earrings. She tweezes her brows. The redhead does not.
»continue reading Charles Phoenix’s Slide of the Week: The Picnic, Southern California, 1960

Camellia Festival, Temple City, 1958

A young Camellia Queen-with-attitude is perched on her gold foil-wrapped throne centered on a pull cart glorified with camellias. She and her lavender clad court of one are just sitting there. The parade has come to a halt. The royal pull cart is powered by a trio of bobby socked brownies standing side by side in near military precision. Their fearless Girl Scout leader-chaperone is uniformed with a regulation hat and white buttoned up and bow tied blouse over a smart straight skirt. Her double strapped, chunk heeled, open-toed sling backs with side vents stand out quite nicely against asphalt. She doesn’t know it but her slip is showing. The sparse crowd of sidewalk sitters looks onward.
»continue reading Charles Phoenix’s Slide of the Week: Camellia Festival, Temple City, 1958

Hawaiian Punch, Fullerton, 1962

Six seniors have just returned home from a tour of the Hawaiian Punch factory. Each shows off a complimentary can of the fantasy fruit-flavored and colored virgin cocktail. One of them snagged two cans. He is the only one smiling. All but one wears the Hawaiian Punch factory souvenir hat in the normal position with the exception of Miss Floral Print, on the right, who sports her hat side saddle. Did one tourist call the others requesting that only blue, brown or white be worn for the exotic excursion? Color coordinating with friends for a day trip always makes the experience much better and far more memorable!
»continue reading Charles Phoenix’s Slide of the Week: Hawaiian Punch, Fullerton, 1962

Date Festival, Indio, 1963

Smart striped tent tops provide an eventful backdrop for a bevy of Queen Scheherazade wannabes cupped and draped in gold trimmed chiffon. They ride high in one of Detroit’s spaciest space age offerings – the all-new for 1962 Polara Convertible by Dodge. Italian sports cars inspired the startling design. WARNING: the abstract relationship between the flared front fenders, cockeyed in-n-outset headlights, teardrop bumper guards and tucked-in turn signals has the power to hypnotize if studied too long. The pretend Arab sheik on the right is clearly experiencing a mesmerizing moment of his own. It’s not difficult to see why.
»continue reading Charles Phoenix’s Slide of the Week: Date Festival, Indio, 1963

Hats & Gloves, 1962

These fine folks look like they are all related except for the breakout star of this portrait, Beavis and Butthead’s grandma, down on the left. It must be June. Junior has graduated. His gown and tasseled cap go almost unnoticed next the other fashion statements in this front yard family photo. Conservative high-necked dresses, cut in solids, prints and polka dots are generously accessorized with earrings, pearls and brooches. Obligatory hats and gloves complete the ever-so-civilized look. Proper ladies do not leave the house without them.
»continue reading Charles Phoenix’s Slide of the Week: Hats & Gloves, 1962

International House Of Pancakes, Southern California, 1965

The parking lot is full. A silver metallic 1963 Chevrolet Impala is either coming or going. American monster cars surround a lonely little foreign car parked backwards next to of the two front doors. Compared to the others the foreign car is a toy. The Impala is the Honda Civic of its day.

The big maple-toned sign is piece of early American furniture waiting to happen. A delivery truck must’ve hit the little, hanging two-toned sandwich/steak sign that hangs crooked below it.

Stylistically the super-sized a-frame structure is Swiss Miss Modern. Or in Southern California terms: Wienerschnitzel meets Ranch House. It has the a-frame of the hot dog drive-thrus and used brick chimney, diamond pane windows and the colorized version of a wood shake roof of a typical tract home. The spectacular orange-white-turquoise color scheme is borrowed from on the grand daddy of the coffee shops, Howard Johnson’s. The a-frame buildings were cloned until 1979 when the last one in that style was built. Scale-wise they are monumental compared with other coffee shops of the day which are generally sleeker and far more space age.

The interior is maple to the max! Beneath the soaring beeamed celing is an early american wonderland of vinyl booths and maple-toned tables and chairs. Each tabletop has its own pot of hot coffee and and eight artificially flavored and colored syrups perfect for drowning your culturally-themed panckaes.

The world got a little smaller in 1958 when the first International House of Pancakes opened in Los Angeles. It is a coffee shop with a gimmick: glorifying pancakes into an around-the-world-taste treat sensation by ever-so-slightly altering the recipe. Top a short stack with Lingonberries and they’re Swedish; pineapple and they’re Hawaiian; add some shredded potoatoes and they’re German. Lighten up the batter and voila they’re French! Who knew pancakes were so worldly?

Here’s to Swiss Miss Modern, pancakes and YOU!

Charles Phoenix

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Happy New Year, Monterey Park, 1956

I hope you like yellow! Swedish monkeys tell us what year is ending and what year is beginning. Our smiling bartender pours a cocktail. There is a small open container of cigarettes in front of him and a pack of L&M’s where the Formica counter meets the wall.

Katie Kellogg wears horn-rimmed glasses, sling-back Cinderella slippers, red lips, red nails and rouge. She’s pulled up her plain-Jane party dress revealing some leg. In her left hand: her thigh. In her right: a mass produced clear green glass with a reindeer motif. At the bottom of that fancy glass: a perky pair of little plastic breasts! Happy New Year!

Here’s to you and your best new year yet!

Charles Phoenix

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Christmas Morning, Santa Ana, CA 1959

Who is the creative design genius that was able to get their half-flocked Christmas tree to blend into the wallpaper? That is not an easy effect to achieve! This Slide was marked “Janet’s first look at Santa’s Gifts.” The life-like, wide-blue eyed plastic toddler in full make up, formally dressed, rubber-faced, stuffed plushie man-dog and a deluxe dollhouse with all the trimmings are all wonderful gifts. But what I want to know is which one sent a signal to her brain that then sent a signal to her hands to reach down and give herself a reverse Melvin?

HAPPY HOLIDAZE!
Charles Phoenix

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Love Annette, Disneyland, Dec 1955

Disney’s biggest live action star Annette Funicello sports smart western wear for an afternoon autograph session. Spin and Marty, signing beside her, go for a more casual jeans and t-shirt look. A uniformed Disneyland security guard protects the Mickey Mouse Club Stars form circle skirted and plaid shirted fans.

Speaking of the Mickey Mouse Club in 1972 when I was twelve I got a big beautiful Hobie skateboard for Christmas. I soon discovered that the best place in my neighborhood to ride it was a driveway down the street and around the corner. It was the only hilly spot around. Afternoon after afternoon I would go over there and ride my skateboard. One day a mother came outside and said “my son wants to know if you’ll come in and watch the Mickey Mouse Club with him.” I didn’t know him. He was a year older than me and far more bookish. I went in and sat in their den and watched the show with him. Then when it was over he said “Do you want to come to my room and listen to the soundtrack for Funny Girl?” I can’t tell you what he said after that!

Here’s to Annette, the Mickey Mouse Club the Funny Girl Soundtrack and YOU!

HAPPY HOLIDAZE!

Charles Phoenix

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Christmas Tree With A View, 1970

The Hollywood Freeway goes from side to side. The Union Bank building was the first skyscraper in Southern California. It was dedicated in 1966. We are high up atop one of the twin Arco Towers as they near completion. Rarely do we see a fake Christmas tree and an American flag together but here they are high on a steel beam labeled KAISER TOWER dangling from a crane fixed high above the city. The workmen protect their heads with smart red hardhats. They stand in awe of their patriotic holiday display. It is truly inspired. One of the men makes a timeless early morning fashion statement by pairing a black sweater vest with a lipstick red long sleeve shirt over white bun-huggin’ bellbottoms. Everyone knows you’re not supposed to wear white to a construction site!

Here’s to the flag and the tree flying high together, bellbottoms and YOU!
HAPPY HOLIDAZE!

Charles Phoenix

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This is what do you get when you stud a tinfoil wrapped Styrofoam cone with cocktail weenies, green olives, black olives, pearl onions, baby dills, pineapple chunks, pummeled carrots, radishes, broccoli and cauliflower then top it with a slice of star fruit star! I just couldn’t help myself! I had to do it!

An edible Christmas tree in a 1960s slide from the Retro Holiday Slide Show inspired me to create this timeless tower of tidbits – this beauteous beacon of bites. It’s the smartest savory sampler that you will see this season!

You can make one too! See the instructional video on YouTube.com.
»continue reading Charles Phoenix’s Slide of the Week: The Astro Weenie Christmas Tree, My Kitchen, 2006

People often ask if I drive the bus – I could, but I can’t. The bus company won’t let me. And by-the-way this is no ordinary, run-of-the-mill tour bus. Oh no! It’s a school bus! And a very special vintage one at that! And by-the-way if, say, that tasty taquito snack on Olvera Street doesn’t agree with you and you get bus-sick, no problem. Don’t you worry about a thing! There is a BODY FLUID CLEAN UP KIT handy right behind me.
»continue reading Charles Phoenix’s Slide of the Week: Disneyland Tour of Downtown Los Angeles, 2006

This is, in no uncertain terms, my favorite pagoda in all of Los Angeles. Golden yellow paired with Chinese red and Buddha blue trim have never looked so good together! Even the Kirin sponsored Chinese lanterns match!

The Golden Pagoda Restaurant isn’t the centerpiece of Chinatown, but it certainly is the crowning touch. Except for the name, which has been changed to Hop Louie, it looks virtually the same today as it did when it opened in 1941. It’s one of the many kitsch-cultural stops on my “Disneyland” tour of downtown tour this weekend and next. Standing in front of it is like being in a dream. (No, not the kind you get after eating too much Chinese food!)

When you walk in the door off to the left is the lounge should you desire an exotic cocktail before you saunter up the staircase to the second floor where you will find the most spectacular mid-century Chinese modern dining room on earth! If Lucy and Ethyl ever went for Chinese food this is where they would go.
»continue reading Charles Phoenix’s Slide of the Week: Golden Pagoda Resaurant, Chinatown, 1975

Beverly Hills Hotel, 1967

Life is full of typos… especially my life! Last week I called the Beverly HILton Hotel the Beverly HILLS Hotel. So I’m a lousy proof-reader! Maybe the two hotels can merge and become the Beverly HILLSTON Hotels — just an idea!
»continue reading Charles Phoenix’s Slide of the Week: Beverly Hills Hotel, 1967

Freeway Poser, 1959

I love it when people decide to take their official new car portrait on the right shoulder of the Hollywood freeway in the heart of downtown Los Angeles. Does anybody even take an official new car portrait anymore?
»continue reading Charles Phoenix’s Slide of the Week: Freeway Poser, 1959

Brown Derby, 1949

I love to eat out. Always have and always will. Growing up, my family regularly went out to dinner on Friday and Saturday nights and out to breakfast on Sunday morning. And if you count going to McDonalds for lunch – going out -we did that too – a lot!

These days whenever possible I avoid chain restaurants and fast food stands and instead go for the vintage homespun-and-family-run dining experiences wherever I go. Perhaps you’re familiar with my two faves -Vince’s Spaghetti – “The World’s Largest Spaghetti House” – serving in my hometown of Ontario, California since 1945. And, of course there’s the granddaddy of all cafeterias, Clifton’s – “Dine Free Unless Delighted” – downtown Los Angeles at 7th and Broadway since 1935. In fact, I was at Clifton’s just yesterday. On the way out, to further enhance and prolong that special Clifton’s spell, I bought a three layer Chocolate banana crème cake, yes a whole cake, and took it to go. They have a bakery there too!

I do, however, occasionally slip and secretly enjoy an early morning Egg McMuffin on the way to a funky flea market or smart yard sale in hopes of finding slides to share with you such as this amazing shot of the Brown Derby.
»continue reading Charles Phoenix’s Slide of the Week: Brown Derby, 1949

The Jungle, Anaheim, 1959

A flaming redhead poses in a sensible shirtwaist dress and royal silk satin curly-topped, bell hop hat. Her body language speaks of possession. That ‘58 Chrysler must be hers. The window is down, the vent-wing open and the door is ajar. Behind her the font on the OPEN sign is inspired and worthy today of being developed into a full alphabet. I wonder if she knows the shocking story of what happened at the Jungle just a couple of years before.
»continue reading Charles Phoenix’s Slide of the Week: The Jungle, Anaheim, 1959

Fondue Party, 1968

Ordinarily, beer can-curled coifs, clanking cocktails and cackling conversation around a stainless steel fondue pot, sitting on a rich, blue felt-covered board atop a pool table, would be enough to inspire my imagination and make my spirit soar. But this slide offers much more!

Psychedelic beaded curtains (WOW they photograph well!) and lava lamps are rarely captured on film. And here they are side by side! I weep!
»continue reading Charles Phoenix’s Slide of the Week: Fondue Party, 1968

The Kiss, 1958

Half open Venetian blinds reveal a dusk or dawn sky. Are Venetian blinds really from Venice? Funny, I never thought to ask myself that question before. The answer is yes! Thank you Italy!

But this slide isn’t about Venetian blinds. Oh no! It’s not even about the warm and inviting honey blond wood paneling, dainty doilies, yellow daisies on black, hand held hankies, mod curtains or the gold anodized aluminum bullet lamp pointing to the curved ceiling above. Not even about the overwhelming fact that this is the interior of a trailer. No. This slide is about makin’ out with grandma!

I loved my grandmas. One was town and the other was country. There names were Geraldine and Kindzetta. Yes, I loved them but I don’t recall kissin’ them like this!

By the way, don’t you just love grandma names?

Here’s to trailer interiors, kissin’ grandmas and you!

Charles Phoenix

Valley Drive-In Theatre, Montclair, 1954

The world’s largest neon mural made this the most spectacular drive in ever built in Southern California and the centerpiece of the valley it was named for.

With a beautiful blue sky, majestic mountain range and Santa Barbara Mission as a dramatic backdrop, a Native American, on the right, and a priest, on the left, witness an oxcart, with a driver and two passengers, cross a stream. The Native American has a jug at his side. The priest carries a bible in his hand. At night the early California scene was completely outlined with more than 2500 ft. of glowing neon.

The giant work of art wasn’t the monumental drive-in’s only unusual feature. A year after the grand opening in 1948, the owners who “collected” monkeys, put their primates on display in cages alongside the children’s playground. This was a novel attempt to entertain people before the movie started. They called it Monkeyland.

By the time THE END came in 1980 and the monumental screen tower was demolished to make room for an ill-fated Dodge dealer, the monkeys were long gone, the neon had all but burned out and the hot sun had faded giant painting.

This is the drive-in theater that I grew up going to. I remember the monkeys and being told not to stick my fingers in their cages. But, yes, it was the neon mural that really stands out in my memory. The priest’s bible, the only part of the scene rendered in royal blue neon, always caught my eye. I haven’t seen a blue neon bible since.

Here’s to the Valley Drive-in Theater and you!

Charles Phoenix

Visit Charles’ site or join his Slide of the Week Mailing List.