I’m very attached to my home state of Michigan and collect anything from the 1940s to 1970s that honors it. I particularly love when architecture is involved as in those decades Michigan exemplified the Atomic Age with its number one industry, automobiles, and much of the architecture in the state was inspired by the cash cow’s huge tail fins and modern color palettes.
The Harris Motor Inn in Kalamazoo couldn’t quite decide if it was traditional (lots of brick) or modern, though the excellent slate, floor to ceiling glass windows and suspended light fixtures suggest the latter influence was greater.
I love when anything proclaims itself “the best”. In the case of the Harris it’s “Michigan’s Best for Food and Rest”. If this place is still standing I just might make it there one day to sample the food by Zeman, who was heavy enough to get his/their initial in a larger font size than the Harris itself.
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Categories:
Accessories,
Architecture,
Kitsch,
Kitsch O' The Day,
Place,
Travel
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Rising like several healthy squirts of whipped cream on an otherwise dull sundae, the Sanctuary spa/resort/fantasy masterpiece of plaster workmanship on Palm Dr. in Desert Hot Springs, California almost caused me to have a car wreck when I first drove past it. Absolutely incongruous with anything else in the area, it still gets my vote as hot spot in town.
Categories:
Architecture,
Crafts,
Creativity,
Kitsch,
Kitsch O' The Day,
Place,
Self expression,
Travel
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The Aaron Spelling produced Vega$, the first TV series to be filmed entirely in Las Vegas, ran on ABC from 1978 to 1981. A kind of run-of-the-mill detective show, what I liked most was that its star, Robert Urich, aka private dick/ Vietnam vet Dan Tanna, a name spun off of a popular LA eatery, spun around town in a red 1957 T-Bird, gorgeous but no KITT and whose parking space was in Tanna’s living room.
Categories:
Famous,
Games,
Kitsch,
Kitsch O' The Day,
TV/Radio,
Travel
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I don’t have to tell any self-respecting Kitsch lover about the Parthenon of Kitsch, the Madonna Inn, in San Luis Obispo, California. Appearing like a mirage off the 101, its customized-to-the-brink-of-insanity rooms, pink, pink, pink dining room, not to mention the cheeseburgers and sprinkle cookies in the coffee shop attract me like a magnet whenever I drive up north. Besides, the bathrooms are nutty and always add that extra dimension to a rest stop. The place has such magic powers that any smoke rising from this ashtray is probably pink.
I love my bedroom but there’s no doubt that using this ashtray in the Barrel Of Fun, Canary cottage, Cave Man, Daisy Mae, Edelweiss, Jungle Rock, Matterhorn, Oriental Fantasy, Time Of Your Life, Wilhelm Tell or any of the other 11o rooms enhances the desired Kitsch effect. To see all of them go here.
I don’t have to tell any self-respecting Kitsch lover about the Parthenon of Kitsch, the Madonna Inn, in San Luis Obispo, California. Appearing like a mirage off the 101, its customized-to-the-brink-of-insanity rooms, pink, pink, pink dining room, not to mention the cheeseburgers and sprinkle cookies in the coffee shop attract me like a magnet whenever I drive up north. Besides, the bathrooms are nutty and always add that extra dimension to a rest stop. The place has such magic powers that any smoke rising from this ashtray is probably pink.
Categories:
Accessories,
Architecture,
Furniture and Housewares,
Kitsch,
Kitsch O' The Day,
Travel
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Originally 3 oz. of Avon perfume of undetermined name – Unforgettable, Topaze or OCCUR!, all of which came encased inside the Tower back in 1970. I used this once and couldn’t stand being around myself it reeked so bad so much of the contents remains.
The bottles are fairly easy to find but usually sans perfume. I screwed off the cap for the first time in decades in order to write this and it still smells like vinegar and whiskey might have been some of the ingredients. Bottle is 8-1/2″ tall with a goldtone plastic cap. Not a nick in sight.
Originally 3 oz. of Avon perfume of undetermined name – Unforgettable, Topaze or OCCUR!, all of which came encased inside the Tower in 1970. I used this once and couldn’t stand being around myself it reeked so bad, so much of the contents remains.
Categories:
Health & Beauty,
Kitsch,
Kitsch O' The Day,
Products,
Travel
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There’s nothing more I like to do on Sundays than take rides. I stock the car like it’s a motel, all amenities neatly arranged within arms reach, and tool through LA and vicinity photographing and making strategic pit stops at my favorite soul food restaurants. I’ve always dreamed of having a tricked out camper to make my rendezvous even more comfortable and have a selection of front mirror danglers, mud flaps and chasing lights license plate frames already purchased should the happy day ever arrive. In the meantime, I content myself with camper memorabilia, of which this quaint porcelain plate is requisite.
Categories:
Furniture and Housewares,
Kitsch,
Kitsch O' The Day,
Memorabilia,
Transportation,
Travel
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Dated Mother’s Day, 1951, this is a photo of the Smith family who lived in my house long before I bought it. My driveway never looked so good. Neither did mom, matching her family like a set of pristine bowling pins or Melmac plates.
Categories:
Clothes,
Holidays,
House,
Kitsch,
Kitsch O' The Day,
People,
Self expression,
Transportation,
Travel
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Fits just enough polyester for the weekend. Very rare Disco collectible though I’ve managed to find 3 pieces over the years: http://alleewillis.twi.bz/A. Still missing the big 21″ one and still looking…
Categories:
Disco,
Kitsch,
Kitsch O' The Day,
Products,
Travel
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