Oversized Stardust Postcard 1960s

Oversized Stardust Postcard 1960s, a photo by sueism1 on Flickr.

Oh, yeah... did I mention that Sue has good taste in collectibles? She has a nice collection of vintage Vegas postcards.

Do To My Busy Schedule

As mentioned in the title, I'm busy today. However, I still have time to share a video, albeit old, that talks about the importance of the Googie style. You know, that California Coffee Shop style that we all find so cool. Those angled roofs jetting off into outer space...Signs that create a motion while sitting still, and using the whole building as a huge, awesomely designed sign for your modern business.

Well, if you don't understand, or you just want to reminisce, here's a cool video to do it with.

Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. By using these links you can get what you need/want and help Amidst Mod to continue providing info and inspirations

La Costa Taqueria Neon Sign with Lomo app for iPhone

La Costa Taqueria Neon Sign with Lomo app for iPhone, a photo by sueism1 on Flickr.

Here's a cool new photo from Sue on her Sueism1 Flickr stream. I really find her iphone photos interesting. She also has a habit of finding very cool subjects.

This sign is a good example of her ability. While this sign, in comparison to some Mid-Century signs, would be plain, it really is a good design.

A few of the aspects that draw my attention are the very simple shapes, and the lack of clutter. Don't get me wrong, I love the Googie motel signs too, but sometimes, less is more, right?.

I find this sign has balanced look to it, and while the rectangle portion of the sign is fairly plain, the arrow makes up for it. Also, with the floating boxes at the top, the sign his given a lighter, floating feeling.

Above all that though...While this sign could have bee shot in a way that made it look simple and fairly plain, Sue gave the sign a feeling of grandeur and flight, which is probably what the designer had in mind, when it was originally designed. That's just my take on it though.

Ice Cream with Pinhole app for iPhone

Ice Cream with Pinhole app for iPhone, a photo by sueism1 on Flickr.

Here's something to get your brains working on. What connection does this photo have to do with anything? Clearly it's a cool photo of a Mid-Century Modern sign, but why? Wait and find out.

City Center Motel

City Center Motel, a photo by Chimay Bleue on Flickr.

One thing is for sure. In the world of tearing down old things, a number of people are working to document these places before they die. Darren Bradley is doing his part, and beautifully. Like with this cool Mid-Century Motel.

Anaheim Convention Center Arena

Anaheim Convention Center Arena, a photo by Chimay Bleue on Flickr.

You don't get to much more Space Age Modern than this. So, enjoy! I'm off to bed.

MCM/Googie Los Angeles Evening

Photo Source: Chimay Bleue Flickr

One thing that has always amazed me about the Googie/MCM style is the ability to make a solid, weighty, or stagnant object look as though it is weightless, moving or airy. This is even been accomplished with the right kind of photo.

Here you are seeing both those aspects put into practice. A great design, and a great photo.

Architect, Gin Wong (William L. Pereira & Assoc.)
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It's just like that! Well...sort'a??!

This here is my art. It was inspired by something. No. really... that's more or less it. 

Ok, I know it was inspired by the great old Motor Inn signs. You know... the ones that littered all the major highways before those new fangled things we now call "Interstates" came and by-passed them. Yep, those are the same ones. 

It's interesting because I really don't remember which site or sign really inspired me. However, it was a sign, and for this reason I am going to feature another treasure that I found by digging thru the links on Tikimama's blog www.atomicteaparty.blogspot.com. She has been helping me be inspired a lot lately. That's when you know that someone has a good blog. This inspiration really came from one of her links but, in the end, I found it thru her. So, that counts. 

Truthfully, I will probably just keep following this inspiration for now. What can I say? It seems to be working. 

Oh! But, wait! That's not all. See, while I was looking at this site that I found, I thought of you. That's right, I thought of each and every one of my readers. So here is my present to you.  www.lileks.com/motels/index.html

"Wait??! What is this?" 

You wait! You...! This is your present.

"Who said I wanted a present?" 

I did. So there!

Sorry! I'm back. I really think you will like this site. There are TONS of old motel post cards and, even better, is that... there is seriously funny humor here. I haven't finished going thru all of them yet, and I'm looking forward to getting back to it. Some of the selling points on these old postcards are classic. No pun intended. I hope you find the site well, and if you have any problems, just let me know.

Also, check out my Flickr when you get chance.

amidstmod@yahoo.com

This is Googie

I think that the majority of us know what Googie architecture is. If not, I will describe it as an exaggerated architecture style mainly from the mid 50's thru the mid 60's. This form of architecture was an interpetation of space age futurism.  For a more precise definition of what Googie architecture is, check out this link.

A few years ago, I went thru a serious Googie phase. I looked up everything I could and found a lot of interesting stuff. However, my thoughts had moved on to other interesting things until a month or so ago when MoonDoggie started getting into Googie. With her looking for Googie in good old London Town, she seemed to be looking at all that she could online. Her enthusiastic blogs about the style motivated me to look at more Googie stuff, as well.

So yesterday I was looking at TikiLisa's blog, and re-found a site I had forgotten about. Thru this site I found "Googie Art". If you like Googie architecture and are inspired by the future left behind, then check out the images in this post and see the rest of these great architectural feats here.

Check out my Flickr

amidstmod@yahoo.com