Wow, considering that it was neither directed by an ageing Chaplin nor did it star the Burtons, Zabriskie Point sure got an inordinate amount of press back in the day. Here’s a sampling of the coverage from Films and Filming beginning in February 1968 (above).
July 1968.
October 1968.
January 1969.
Posted in cinema, context, zabriskie point
I was pretty jazzed to find this ad featuring The Beach Boys—in the middle of their “Brian’s Back” campaign—hocking car stereos not just because it features the classic line up all with great facial hair but also because the record they were pushing at the time was The Beach Boys Love You . Everyone always makes a big stink about Pet Sounds—and with good reason—but I think I like Love You more.
I believe that this is the first album that Brian soley wrote and produced since he relinquished control of the group following the failed Smile sessions. When the other guys agreed to allow Brian to write again were they aware of how moog-fixated he’d become or that the material that he would hand them would be songs about Johnny Carson, rollerskating Lolitas and the solar system bringing wisdom? Anyway the record is fascinating and—even though it may take a little getting used to—is an unjustly overlooked corner of their rather large catalog.
If you’re unfamiliar with this 1977—well, I’ll call it a masterpiece of sorts, it can be found here. Be warned that Brian, Carl and Dennis are all in very poor voice with Dennis and Brian’s voices being in particularly ragged shape. Al, however, rather nails his take on (I kid you not) my favorite track, “Honking Down the Highway”. Don’t miss that “woo” and that “yeah” that he throws in or this ragged live version. Also watch out for “I Want to Pick You Up”, the creepiest song about touching a child this side of “Baby Greaser George”. I wish Danny Tanner and his boys had sung “I Want to Pick You Up” to Michelle. Finally, if the lyrics to “Mona” seem a bit made-up-while-going-along, here‘s a solo Brian demo that will dispell that assumption.
Posted in advertising, context, music
This is the first of a new series on Casino Royale. The series is really just an excuse to post images from a February 1967 Playboy pictorial which featured photos taken on the set of the film (some depicting scenes that didn’t appear in the finished film) and nearly all of the film’s actresses in various stages of undress. It should be pretty groovy so stay tuned.
Oh, above we have Joanna Pettet, Casino Royale’s Mata Bond.
Posted in casino royale, cinema, context
Sight and Sound. Summer 1957.
Posted in cinema, context, press conference, Sturges
John Ford’s grandson hands the Midway flag to Mrs. Ford. (Don’t miss Duke Wayne on the right.) 1973.
Posted in cinema, context, tabloid tuesday
This dude is way before my time but I always thought this story was pretty cool (from wikipedia):
On New Year’s Day 1965, miffed at having to work on the holiday, Sales ended his live broadcast by encouraging his young viewers to tiptoe into their still-sleeping parents’ bedrooms and remove those “funny green pieces of paper with pictures of U.S. Presidents” from their pants and pocketbooks. “Put them in an envelope and mail them to me,” Soupy instructed the children. “And I’ll send you a postcard from Puerto Rico!” He was then hit with a pie.
Several days later, a chagrined Soupy announced that money was unexpectedly being received in the mail. He explained that he had been joking and announced that unreturnable contributions would be donated to charity. As parents’ complaints increased, WNEW’s management felt compelled to suspend Sales for two weeks. Young viewers picketed Channel 5. The uproar surrounding Sales’ suspension increased his popularity.
Posted in context, television, we are the dead
Fields and Louise Brooks in It’s the Old Army Game. Eddie Sutherland. 1926.
Posted in cinema, context, f for fields
chained and perfumed 
