Atragon Revealed!

In 1965, I saw an ad on TV for what to a 10 year old boy had to be the greatest movie ever made - Atragon. Japanese scientists build a vessel that flies, goes underwater, and bores through the earth! I had to see this movie. (Click any pic for a larger version)



Somehow I never got around to getting to the movie, and over the years I missed it every time during the late night TV airings.



Finally in 2005, Atragon is released on DVD. Oh yeah.




An underground civilization is attacking the surface world, and the Atragon is dispatched to save the planet. That's about it. All of the plot info is here.




After waiting 42 years to see Atragon, was it worth it?




Yes. Buy your copy today.

School Safety Patrol 1960s

Remember the honor, the glory, the admiration heaped upon the selfless guardian of the school trafficways, the Safety Patrol officer? Yeah, me neither.



Joining the Safety Patrol was my first attempt to impress a girl. She didn't really notice, but there's no way she could ignore a Safety Patrol Captain! Off to Officer camp.


Still no luck. Oh well, sorry Julie, I tried.
Move along.

Jay Leno at Zanies

As long as we're on a celebrity kick, here's a concert flyer from the early 80s:



Love the endorsement. As always, click for larger pic.

I Met Captain Kangaroo

Back in 1989, my son was signed up for a brand new day care center in Nashville. I went to the opening ceremony and guess who was on the corporate board? That's right, Lamar and Honey Alexander. But also Bob Keeshan, Captain Kangaroo! I went up and asked for a pic of him with my son Will. Click for souvenir-sized pic:


Seeing the Captain was one thing, but when I heard his voice I thought I was three years old again. He was truly as nice and soft-spoken as everyone says. That was a good day.
All hail the Captain!

Sound Advice for Young Women

Susan Dey and Maureen McCormick give the goods on how to get a man. From Young Love comics, 1973. Click for much larger pic. Susan must have sold a few books in 1972 with this version:

Cap'n Crunch Animation Art

Here's an actual production cel from a Cap'n Crunch with Crunchberries TV commercial. The actual art is just the characters, but you can see a background and the cel numbering on the lower right side. Click for wallpaper sized pic.

This makes me smile every time. Here's a link for more Cap'n Crunch memories.

Lest We Forget

Packing a storage box today, this label caught my eye.

Wade Hampton Hotel Columbia South Carolina

"Opposite the State Capitol, the Wade Hampton gives you the best in hotel living, attractive guest rooms, TV and radios, excellent food and service. Completely air-conditioned".

And yeah, it's been bulldozed. From 1971, click for larger pic.

I'm pretty sure that's Wade Hampton's statue in the foreground.

Bernard Kliban "Whack Your Porcupine"

Bernard Kliban was published in Playboy in the 1970s, and eventually got into drawing lots of cats. He also did several great cartoon collections, including this one, "Whack Your Porcupine" and "Never Eat Anything Bigger Than Your Head".



The cartoons are funny and thought-provoking. These books aren't in print right now, but are dirt cheap on the used market. Highly recommended.

AM Radio QSL Cards

Back in the old days, you could listen to the AM radio band at night and hear stations from all over the country. Of course, you can do that today, but they're all playing the same syndicated music format, so who cares? If you sent the station a letter telling them where you heard them, what time and what they were playing, they would send you a souvenir QSL card, usually signed by the station engineer. Here are a few blasts from the past, click for larger pics. Part 2 was added March 2008. See it here.



I was on Estero Island in Ft. Myers, Florida when I picked up WABC New York city.



WOWO Fort Wayne Indiana.


A blank QSL card I picked up when I worked at WSM Nashville in the 1970s.

The Lane Motor Museum in Nashville TN

One of the coolest places in Nashville is the Lane Motor Museum, which has the largest collection of European cars outside of Europe. How did Nashville get this lucky?


There are so many cars here that I'm just going to post a lot of pics. Click any one for a larger view. Thanks to my brother Tom for taking most of these great shots.



Many two and three wheel vehicles are on display.



Do not miss this museum if you're anywhere in the Nashville area. Tickets are only $5, and there are many special events through the year. They even take the cars out on the road a couple of times each summer.


Military vehicles, too. Here's an amphibious troop carrier parked out back.


An amphibious car.







A French propellor car. It's even road licensed in France.



Here's a 1980 electric car with the battery in the front bumper.






This one is right out of Roger Rabbit.

Godzilla Lighter Fires Up!

The 25 year old Godzilla lighter finally fired up. See the pic here.

Holiday Inn Sioux City Iowa Postcard

Another great place to spend a summer day in the 60's, The Holiday Inn Sioux City Iowa. From the back: "24-hour restaurant - giant heated swimming pool, T. V., radio and music in every room". Click for larger pic.

Hallmark Hall of Fame The Littlest Angel

Johnny Whitaker from Family Affair starred in this NBC special from 1969. Get the album if you want to hear Fred Gwynne sing. Also starring E.G. Marshall as God, with Cab Calloway, Tony Randall, John McGiver, and Connie Stevens. Click for larger pics.

Brett Favre Bobbing Head Doll

I notice the box says "Official NFL Bobbing Head", not Bobblehead. You know how little the NFL cares about trademarks. I bought this off a souvenir stand at a Packers-Dolphins game in Green Bay Wisconsin. I don't remember how long ago it was, but Brett Favre was up against Dan Marino. As always, click on photos for larger versions.

Scary Flash Comic

If your boomerang is up for four hours or more, call your physician. From 1961. Click for a larger pic if you dare.

Opryland USA Interstatial

Here's another one of those artwork pieces that you showed during commercial breaks. This one features Tennessee Ernie Ford and Lynn Anderson. Click for a wallpaper sized look. Soon I'll post some personal pictures of the Opryland theme park from the 70s.

Time Tunnel Novel

Here's a book I picked up as a kid in the 60s. Time Tunnel was one of my favorite shows, and Murray Leinster (Will Jenkins) did a good job on the novels. This was the second book, but the novels ended when the series did. Click for larger pic, from 1967.