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Got Rickets?
2008-01-18 21:05:00
When you were a kid growing up during the 50s, 60s, 70s, or 80s, was your mom always telling you to drink your milk? Well, mom knew best. Because for the past few months I've been seeing online news reports that the once-defunct bone disease, rickets, is actually making a comeback in parts of the U.S. and the U.K. because kids are not drinking much milk nowadays. Seems the little, lazy unhealthy fatties much prefer drinking their soda and sports drinks and it's doing a number to their wee bones. Doctors claims to be seeing the disease make a comeback in alarming rates. I just can't get over how stupid some people can be, especially when it comes to the health of their children. Rickets causes achy bones, swelling of the joints, and bowleggedness. Fortunately, the disease is curable - through proper diet and exercise. So, all you moms (and dads)...do your kids and yourselves a favor by going retro...drink milk! What a concept.

Smurftastic! The Smurfs Turn 50
2008-01-15 21:03:00
A Smurf tries to woo Smurfette with a big piece of birthday cake. Photography copyright Nevit Dilmen via Wikipedia.If you were a little girl growing up in the early 80s like me, you no doubt remember watching the cartoon show The Smurfs Adventures on Saturday morning TV and you likely owned several of the plastic figurines. I still have the "La, la, la la la la" theme song stuck in my head. Up until now I thought the Smurfs were an 80s creation, but it turns out they actually celebrated their 50th birthday yesterday. They were the creation of the late cartoonist Pierre Culliford, also known as "Peyo", who introduced the blue elf-like mushroom dwellers in a comic strip in October 1958. To mark their 50 years of existence in the entertainment industry, organizers are planning a 3-D animation feature film expected to be released next year. Supposedly the new movie is going to include more female Smurf characters, so that Smurfett won't be lonely. That's comforting to hear. I always t...
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Boob Tube Beginnings
2008-01-10 21:40:00
PBS has started airing a four-part documentary called Pioneers of Television. I watched the first two installments this week and while it's not spectacular, it isn't bad, either. The series combines clips from early classic TV shows that span the sitcom, variety, talk show, and game show categories with interviews from notable personalites. The sitcom segment featured I Love Lucy, The Andy Griffith Show, Make Room for Daddy, and The Honeymooners. There isn't anything in them that you probably don't already know about these shows so watch them for the clips, when television actually gave us something to laugh about.
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GoRetro's Retro Hottie of the Month: Elvis Presley!
2008-01-09 01:25:00
Happy Birthday to the King from a fellow Capricorn.
More About: Elvis , Retro , Hottie , Month , Elvis Presley

Moonstruck: A Tale of Two Lunar Tunes
2008-01-06 17:09:00
?It?s la luna!?That?s what Vincent Gardenia?s character cries out in the 1987 film ?Moonstruck?, while taking his dogs for a walk on a moonlight-illuminating evening. Soon thereafter, Cher falls in love with Nicolas Cage in the movie. Song composers have also never underestimated the power of the moon to seduce and bring lovers together. Witness the numerous ?moon June? ditties that graced the music charts in the 20th century: Blue Moon, Moon River, and Mr. Moonlight come to mind, to name a few. And lately, I?ve been seduced by two vintage moon songs myself: Moonglow and Moonlight Serenade. Both were released during the same era and have haunting, heart breaking romantic melodies that feature prominent clarinets and have stood the test of time. But which is the better song?Moonglow was written in 1934 by Will Hudson, Irving Mills and Eddie De Lange and originally recorded by the Dorsey Brothers (before their squabbling caused them to go their separate ways) but the most well-known r...
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The Ballad of John and Yoko Continues
2008-01-05 01:37:00
A new book featuring unreleased photos of John Lennon and Yoko Ono , taken just ten days before John's death, came out last year, but I only just recently found out about it. John & Yoko: A New York Love Story, Limited Edition retails for $45 on the Insight Editions website and has been signed by photographer and co-author Allen Tannenbaum. I'm really moved by the cover photo of this book. I've never seen a better or more beautiful picture of John and Yoko, and they look so happy (it looks like they were both naked during this one particular shot.) It's bittersweet because it shows a happy and relaxed man - not an overwhelmed rock star - who was finally settling into the role of husband and father quite well...just mere days before his unjust death. You should definitely click on the link that takes you inside the book, as many of the preview photos are just as moving. You can say what you want about Yoko, but there's no denying the love that this couple had for one another. Tan...
More About: Ballad , Alla

Boom...or Bust?
2008-01-04 15:16:00
Famous news reporter Tom Brokaw wrote another book that got published a few months ago: Boom ! Voices of the Sixties Personal Reflections on the '60s and Today. You may recall that Brokaw wrote a book about the 40s a few years ago called The Greatest Generation. This one is a colection of stories from people, both famous and non-famous, about their experiences during one of the most favorite and famous eras of the 20th century. I haven't read the book yet, but the problem is I can't imagine it's terribly exciting with Brokaw at the helm. I have nothing against the guy, but I don't think there's ever been a stiffer stuffed shirt in the media biz. Brokaw went on Ellen Degeneres' show a few months ago to talk about the book and what the sixties were like for him. It was so boring. I was so hoping Ellen would've asked him, "Tom, do you remember the first time you dropped acid? When did you smoke your first joint?" I mean this was the 60s, after all. That would've thrown him for ...
More About: Bust

Happy New Year!
2008-01-04 01:48:00
Three days late...so what? Hope you partied like it was 1999...or 1967. No, this isn't an old family photo. I snatched it from a site called Mulfalisa.
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Justice for Jimmy
2007-12-25 22:59:00
I don't get it. In It's A Wonderful Life, how come no one ever discovers that mean old Mr. Potter had Uncle Billy's $8,000 the whole time? Why does he get away with it? It's a huge cinematic plot flaw. At one point the cast of Saturday Night Live evidentally were haunted by this omission too, so they remedied it themselves in It's A Wonderful Life - The Lost Ending. Mr. Potter finally gets his just desserts. Good grief, is that Captain Kirk introducing the sketch? Merry Christmas!
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Go Retro Video of the Day: Usher and Gene Kelly Make a Splash
2007-12-20 22:52:00
I was perhaps a bit too hasty smacking down on CBS' Movies Rock television special a few weeks ago. It actually wasn't that bad. OK, it was pretty good. But only because the performers stayed true to the songs' original arrangements and didn't mess things up too much. I think my favorite portion was when Usher performed "Singing in the Rain" step-for-step a la Gene Kelly 's routine from the 1952 film. Check out the side-by-side video below of the two performers that just got posted on YouTube to see just how spot-on Usher was. I feel wet just watching these two guys. Wait! That came out wrong.
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Boyz II Men II Motown
2007-12-17 21:16:00
Image courtesy Amazon.com.Finally, someone out there who happens to be African American is paying homage to their roots instead of putting out a hip-hop record. Boyz II Men has released a CD called Motown : A Journey Through Hitsville USA and covers such classics as Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me), The Tracks Of My Tears, War, and Mercy Mercy Me. The Boyz performed a choreographed medley on The View last week and said something to the effect that they wanted to bring back the old music before it was forgotten, which was greeted with cheers from the audience. Of course, to quote one of their redone songs, ain't nothing like the real thing, baby, but I'll give these boyz kudos for trying.

Go Retro's Retro Hottie of the Month: The Abominable Snowman from the Rudol
2007-12-17 21:07:00
Gadzooks! I nearly forgot! Who else could I pick for December? Danny Kaye from White Christmas? (Sorry, Mr. Kaye.) Yes, this guy is a bit herky jerky but he can't help it - he's a bumble. And bumbles bounce!
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Sock it To Me!
2007-12-11 14:56:00
Image courtesy Macys and International Concepts.Just when I think I've outgrown the 60s-inspired look that clothing lines bring back year after year, INC (International Concepts) has to come out with something groovy to lure me back. This looks like something I wouldn't wear until the spring, but Macy's is selling it now for $89 in case you want to give it as a holiday gift to the flower child in your life. It's cotton but has to be hand washed as there's beaded detail on each of the flowers. Available online at the Macy's site or in Macy's stores in the INC section.

They Want to Sing it Again
2007-12-10 22:07:00
Image courtesy 20th century Fox. In my opinion, a collection of Christmas songs is not complete unless it contains the 1958 hit The Chipmunk Song - you know, the one that makes some people want to smash their CD player up. Well, you cynics get ready because those cute little critters Simon, Theodore, and Alvin...um, Alvin? ALVIN!!!! are back starting this Friday when the feature film Alvin and The Chipmunks, starring Jason Lee from My Name is Earl, hits theaters. This time around, the rodents have been brought into the 21st century and 3D-ized thanks to the wonders of computer special effects. And they've been sexisized, too, as one of them sings the Pussycat Dolls' "Don't You Wish Your Girlfriend Was Hot Like Me?" while taking a shower in the dishwasher. The Chipmunks were originally the brainchild of Ross Bagdasarian, a struggling songwriter whose early claim to fame was cowriting the Rosemary Clooney hit "Come on-a My House." He also had bit parts in Hollywood films, including...
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Oprah Seeking Fanatics Who Had Crushes on "Past" Stars
2007-12-10 19:00:00
Picture courtesy BBC.If you recognize yourself as one of the girls in this photo or pelted Tom Jones with the contents of your lingerie drawer, then Oprah Winfrey is looking for you! I'm subscribed to the Oprah Winfrey Show mailing list, and I couldn't help but notice this on the bottom of one of the recent emails: Have a HUGE CRUSH on a STAR from the past? Is there a huge star from the past that makes your heart go pitter-patter? Can you honestly say that you were a celebrity's BIGGEST FAN? Were your bedroom walls papered with posters of this sensation? Did you scribble his or her name all over your notebooks? Who was your celebrity crush from the past? Did you have a major crush on a tv heartthrob...a silver screen sweetheart ...or a rock star? Do you ever wonder where they are now? Are you desperate to meet them? The Oprah Show wants to know who your superstar crush was from the past. Like, totally send us an email and tell us all every detail!So, if you don't mind making a f...
More About: Stars , Past , Fanatics , Seeking

Movies Rock; These Singers Do Not
2007-12-07 20:05:00
Photo courtesy CBS.com. A loudmouth below from the Movies Rock TV special sings "Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend" while one of her dancers prepares to give her oral sex. If you like the idea of rappers and untalented divas publicly incinerating some of the most beloved film songs from the 20th century, then tonight's CBS special Movies Rock airing at 9 PM EST is for you. Performers include Beyoncé, Carrie Underwood, Chris Brown, Busta Rhymes, Sir Elton John, Eve, Fergie, Jennifer Hudson, John Legend, John Williams, LL Cool J, LeAnn Rimes, Marc Anthony, Mary J. Blige, Nicole Scherzinger, Queen Latifah, Tony Bennett and Usher and will.i.am. Sam I Am who? I have no beef with Marc Anthony (unlike his wife, he can actually sing) and Sir Elton John but I've no desire to hear Beyonce sing Somewhere Over the Rainbow as "soooooommmeeeewhhhhhaaaaarrreeeee ovvvvverrrrrrr the rrrr-ay-ay-ay-ay-ain-bowwww!!!" unless my eardrums desire a dose of sadomachism. A better choice for her would've ...
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Where Will Clark Kent Change Into Superman Now?
2007-12-04 18:06:00
Pay phones, I'm afraid, are about to go the way of the telegraph. AT&T has announced that it is getting out of the phone booth and pay phone business by the end of 2008, since so many people own cell phones now. The first public coin telephone was installed in a Hartford, Conn., bank in 1889. By 1902, there were 81,000 public pay phones in service in the United States. During the 50s, the phone booth gained notoriety when the fad of "cramming" - or the act of stuffing as many people as possible into a phone booth - became popular among college students. I think it's sad. I like phone booths. Years from now some kid will be watching an old movie and will ask, "What IS that?" I can't think of Superman without thinking about Clar k Kent changing in a phone booth. Verizon still operates some pay phones in the U.S., particularly on the east coast, although I wouldn't be surprised if they yank them eventually as well.
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Knocking on Roll & Roll Heaven's Door
2007-12-03 21:28:00
Picture courtesy Amazon.Oh, untimely death! Along comes a book that is either fascinatingly morbid, or morbidly fascinating, depending on which way you look at it: Rock & Roll Heaven: A Fascinating Guide to Musical Icons Who Have Joined the Great Gig in the Sky, by Robert Dimery and Bruno MacDonald. Here's the description from the inside flap:Rock & Roll Heaven is a fascinating look at over 100 of popular music’s most famous fatalities, from legendary rockers who lived fast and died young to tragic and self-destructive poet-musicians. Discover whose body was washed up at the foot of Beale Street, home of the blues. Find out why country legend Gram Parsons’ corpse was stolen. Read about the grisly coincidence that links Keith Moon and Mama Cass. Artist portraits feature career highlights along with details of their untimely demise, accompanied by stunning photographs. This is your graveside guide to the final days of some of popular music’s legends. Featuring 120 late-but-grea...
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Godspeed, Evel Knievel
2007-12-02 17:11:00
Picture copyright Telegraph Media Group Limited 107.Rogue stuntman Evel Knievel passed away last week at the age of 69 from multiple health problems. Robert Craig Knievel began life as a small-time burglar and motorcycle thief in Butte, Montana, which led to his being nicknamed "Evil Knievel" by the police. He changed the spelling and later adopted the moniker as his stage name. Long before extreme sports were invented, Knievel's stunts during the late 60s and 70s propelled him into pop culture icon status, and created a new artform. He survived over 300 jumps and broke 40 bones during his career. An attempt to jump the fountains at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas in 1967 resulted in a 3-month long coma when he lost control of his bike on the way down. Knievel left his first wife, the mother of his four children, in the early 1980s and married Krystal Kennedy-Knievel in 1999, who was less than half his age. They later divorced, but continued to live together until his death.His grave...

Speaking of Has-Been 80s Pop Stars with Disappearing Noses
2007-12-02 16:44:00
I'm only mentioning this because it is a milestone for my pop culture generation, but Friday marked the 25th anniversary release of the album Thriller. Why was a record that featured clearly a Halloween-themed song released less than a month before Christmas? I loathe Michael Jackson so much that I couldn't bear to post his picture on my blog, and I can't believe how many girls in my age range had a crush on him when this album came out. He was already so creepy to me - the soft-spoken, effiminate voice, the one glove, Neverland Ranch, etc. You mean no one else could see back then that this was a freak in the making? And while I will admit the album had some good songs on it, the only one I really liked was "The Girl is Mine" - because it was a duet with Paul McCartney. BTW, his sister Latoyota or Latoya or whatever her name is played his love interest in the video of the other song he did with McCartney, "Say Say Say." This didn't raise any red flags in the early 80s?Anyways, t...
More About: Stars , Speaking , Pop Stars

Deborah Gibson's Old Nose is Only In Her Dreams
2007-11-29 19:14:00
Image courtesy Star Magazine. Yes, this is former 80s teen pop star Deborah "don't call her Debbie anymore" Gibson, after a recent nose job. Owen Wilson called - he wants his schnoz back! This is really quite tragic. Deborah was one of the rare few stars whose teenage career didn't mess her up and she recently made a lucrative career for herself on Broadway. I think the doctor that did this to her should be sued up the wazoo.
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If You Like Mike
2007-11-28 19:50:00
Picture courtesy ClevelandSeniors.PBS has started airing Mike Douglas - Moments and Memories. The special is being described as "a profile of talk-show host Mike Douglas (1925-2006) that includes comments from Bill Cosby, Bob Newhart and Yoko Ono, and archival footage from his show, including clips of Tiger Woods, John Lennon and Marlon Brando." Check your local listings for air dates and times in your area. I hope this gem of John Lennon performing with Chuck Berry will be one of the clips shown. In case it isn't, I'm posting it from YouTube here because it's well worth the expression on Berry's face when Yoko begins wailing:

Old School Sesame Street Full of Bad Role Models
2007-11-28 19:11:00
Picture courtesy FunnyPart.com.This is one for the gimme a break category. It's recently been revealed that the first two DVD packages of the earliest episodes of Sesame Street (which debuted on PBS in 1969) have warning labels on them that indicate they're "intended for grown-ups, and may not suit the needs of today's preschool child." The program's executive producer Carol-Lynn Parente told The New York Times that they probably wouldn't be able to show a lot of classic images on Sesame Street today. Cookie Monster is cited as a major criminal for eating all those cookies or smoking a pipe while playing Alistair Cookie.According to Parente, the Oscar the Grouch character would not be created now. Too grouchy and mean. Snuffleupagus is a reference to hallucinations. And in the very first episode that ever aired, Gordon befriends a lonely little girl, takes her hand and leads her home to meet his wife and eat milk and cookies. That PBS. Such a live wire for controversial program...
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Go Retro Video of the Day: ABC
2007-11-27 21:35:00
"I didn't know that Benny Hill directed music videos."OK, I stole that line from a comment on YouTube, but man, does it fit a video that features a ballerina, clowns, and other characters that look like they came from every 60s movie that Dick Van Dyke made. It's hard to believe that at one time 80s music videos like these were considered cool, but they're also rather innocent compared to what views today on VH1. And I like ABC.
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Ghosts of Christmas Past
2007-11-26 22:34:00
It's not often that I make fun of retro items. After all, I'm supposed to be the purveyor of retro redux. I want my suggestions to make your humble abode look like Austin Powers' shagadelic hideaway. But once in a while, I come across something I remember from my childhood that is so hideous, so tacky, and so outdated even for its time that it stops me in my tracks cold. I'm warning you, you may want to half-cover your eyes for this one. Today that something happens to be beaded Christmas ornaments from a long-defunct store called Lee Wards. A few misguided souls are selling these gems on eBay, under the delusion that these things are actually pretty enough to display on your tree. I remember seeing a collection of these in one of the Christmas ornament boxes we'd lug down from the attic each year and personally, they are so fugly to me now that it's physically painful for me to look at them. I think my sister made these, and I think the notion behind them was that you'd be b...
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Dreaming of a Very Vintage Christmas? Head to Vermont
2007-11-25 22:30:00
For years I?ve been receiving catalogs from The Vermont Country Store without giving them more than a quick flip and a toss into the recycling bag. Unfair, I know, but you can blame it on Bob Newhart. I watched enough damaging episodes of his 80s sitcom to mistakenly believe that Vermonters have as much smarts as Britney Spears on a drug-free day. Until now. I opened up the latest edition of this unknown gem to hit my mailbox, and ? where have you been all my life, Vermont Country Store catalog??? This thing is loaded with retro goodness galore. If you?re looking to recreate a 40s, 50s, or 60s home holiday atmosphere, this is the website to go to.For starters there?s the silvery tinsel tree and color wheel, ?for those dreaming of a very 60s Christmas .? They better watch it with that strapline. If people are dreaming of a very 60s Christmas, the young uns? better stay away from the punch and brownies! The tree comes in two sizes: 4 feet tall at $79.95, and 6 feet at $129.95. The rota...
More About: Vintage , Dreaming , Head

Was It The Spring? No, It Was the Riding Crop!
2007-11-21 01:54:00
Layla was about Pattie Boyd, Maggie May was about an older woman that Rod Stewart had a relationship with, and Neil Diamond's Sweet Caroline was about...Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg. Diamond recently revealed the muse for his famous song at Schlossberg's 50th birthday celebration last week. According to the Associated Press, Diamond confessed that he had seen a photo of young Caroline in a news magazine, dressed in her riding gear, and was inspired by the "innocent, wonderful" picture. Several years later he wrote the song in a Memphis hotel room.I'm so thankful for that last part. Taken out of context, that admission sounds a bit like the makings of a child molester. I mean, the song does sing about "hands touching hands" and "warmth touching warmth." But we know Neil was better than that. And this was a more innocent time, after all.Still, I don't need to know who Kentucky Woman was about...
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Sooooo Much Better Than Madonna's Rags
2007-11-21 01:33:00
Finally, H&M is giving me a good reason to shop at their stores: they announced a partnership with Finnish fabric manufacturer Marimekko to produce about 50 items of clothing for their spring 2008 collection, to be released in April. Marimekko will be digging up retro patterns from the 50s through the 70s for the clothing line, and will feature tunics and dresses as well as shirts and shorts for men. Men? As much as I'd love to see a retro daddy wearing a patterned shirt, I doubt any straight guys will be caught dead in Marimekko, but at least H+M is going to try. Could turn out to be a waste of good fabric.
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Off to The Big Grocery Store in the Sky
2007-11-19 22:52:00
Picture courtesy TVLand.No more warnings not to squeeze the Charmin! Dick Wilson, the actor whose most famous role was playing Mr. Whipple the grocer in over 500 Charmin commercials during a 21-year period, passed away today. He was 91. The first Charmin ad featuring Wilson aired in 1964, and immediately his character and the product's tagline secured a place in memorable pop culture history. Born in England in 1916, he was the son of a vaudeville entertainer and a singer. The family moved to Canada when he was a child, and he served in the Canadian Air Force during World War II, and became a U.S. citizen in 1954.In addition to Melanie, Wilson is survived by his wife, Meg; a son, Stuart; and another daughter, Wendy.
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Retro Couple of the Day: Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip
2007-11-19 17:06:00
Photo source: China DailyOh happy day! Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh (when did he stop being referred to as Prince Philip?) celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary today at the Westminster Abbey in London. Elizabeth was the first monarch to celebrate a diamond wedding anniversary. Over 2,000 people made up the congregation which included couples who married on the same day 60 years ago. The Queen, now 81, and the Duke, now 86, tied the knot on Nov. 20 in 1947. Well, of course it lasted this long: it's not like either of them could ask for a divorce! You just know they were thinking to themselves at the ceremony, "If your personal ass wiper forgets to put the toliet seat down again I'm going to take a flying leap off the London Bridge!"
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