I’ve moved!

Tawdry Swank is my new blog that continues the content found on Bowling Trophy – including the Record Cover of the Week and Thrift Item of the Moment. Bowling Trophy will continue as an archive but won’t be updated.

Thanks.

Found Sound Friday – No. 4

The Story of Andrew and Matthew

Give A Little Whistle

These two beer company vehicles have been parking on my street lately:

A 1964 Jeep Wagoneer called “Grande Verde”

and a Dodge Challenger – don’t know what year or what it’s called because there isn’t a webpage for it on the Steam Whistle site.

I’m not so keen on muscle cars but I love the Jeep wagon. I’m keeping my eye out for the driver. If you trap him, he has to bribe you to set him free with cases of beer (or am I thinking of leprechauns?)

Steam Whistle has a whole fleet of vintage vehicles.

A cautionary note: Just this moment I watched the Challenger get ticketed for parking too close to a fire hydrant. If you’re coming to Old Strathcona for the Fringe, be careful where you park! The parking patrol is on duty ALL THE TIME, including evenings and weekends. And for heaven’s sake, don’t block my driveway!

Found Sound Friday – No. 3

I missed the last two Fridays – sorry, sorry sorry. To make up for my unconscionable neglect, here’s an early Christmas present:

The Gang: Silent Night

This somewhat drunken (?) version of Silent Night was recorded on Christmas day 1955 on a 78 rpm recording blank. The handwriting on the label reads “Party… Dec 25/55… Gang – Silent Night… at piano – Rita”

Midcentury Modern on Whyte

The Palomar Building on the northwest corner of Whyte Avenue and 104th Street (housing The Second Cup and other stores) looks fantastic after its recent facelift.

Simple, sleek and (midcentury) modern…

with a sophisticated monochromatic pallette

and uncluttered lines.

Here’s what it used to look like, courtesy of Google Street Views:

They didn’t do a whole lot to it. It’s more about what they took away than what they added – namely, the hodgepodge of awnings and other signage. I think, though, that the reno isn’t complete and that the signage has yet to go back up. Looks great as it is – wish they could leave it this way (though the merchants might want their signs).

I found this rendering online:

click to enlarge

Looks like there’s some art deco (or streamline moderne) detailing to come. I think I like it better just as it is.

Found Sound Friday – No. 2

Two sides of a Soundcraft Audition 78 rpm recording blank. This is how people sent audio letters before cassettes were invented. This would have been recorded using a portable record cutting machine similar to this one (on the Sound Preservation Association of Tasmania website).

Side 1

Labeled simply “Message.” The “Sahara Desert” mentioned by the woman is probably the long-gone Sahara Dining Lounge in Edmonton.

Side 2

Labeled “Eleanor at about 9 years of age & Ivy tap dance.” I’m a big fan of tap dance on record.

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Tastes Like Summer

click to enlarge