So Long Pontiac.

The news about GM and Pontiac got me thinking about The Rockford Files and all those Firebird Esprit's (74-78 models, I think) James Garner drove.

Rocky's pickup was cool, too. And I'd love to have Rockford's trailer sitting in my backyard.

By the way, 29 Cove Road is not a real address. The trailer sat alongside the Sandcastle Restaurant, now the Paradise Cove Cafe. It's at 28128 Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu. When I eventually tote the family out to CA, you can bet we'll eat there.

Fridays With Frank (Zappa) #4

The New Rock
by Frank Zappa in Life
June 28, 1968

"...I remember going to see Blackboard Jungle. When the titles flashed up there on the screen Bill Haley and his Comets started blurching "One Two Three O'Clock, Four O'Clock Rock...." It was the loudest sound kids had ever heard at that time. I remember being inspired with awe. In cruddy little teen-age rooms across America, kids had been huddling around old radios and cheap record players listening to the "dirty music" of their life style. ("Go in your room if you wanna listen to that crap... and turn the volume all the way down.") But in the theatre, watching Blackboard Jungle, they couldn't tell you to turn it down. I didn't care if Bill Haley was white or sincere... he was playing the Teen-Age National Anthem and it was so LOUD I was jumping up and down. Blackboard Jungle, not even considering the story line (which had the old people winning in the end) represented a strange sort of "endorsement" of the teen-age cause: "They have made a movie about us, therefore, we exist..."

SURFINK!

Dig this, boys and girls.

You can make the scene just like Jody McCrea (in Beach Blanket Bingo) or these lovelies you see here, circa 1964, with your very own SURFINK! t-shirt.

This fine apparel was once available from the Ed "Big Daddy" Roth dumb junk empire. Now you go here for a reproduction. But don't do it till I get mine ordered!

Now, where do you go to get one of those bitchin' RF hats?

Another console stereo.

A Zenith this time. I love how the louvers can be closed when you're not playing (The) Ventures In Space.

In the past, the future was really cool.

Now that future has turned into the present, and it's kind of a drag. What happened?

Where's the kitchen that cooks stuff automatically? The car that navigates itself? The business trips to the moon?

Instead we got microwave burritos, the Prius and American Idol. I feel cheated.

Jody McCrea, Part Two. Or Revenge Of The Deadhead.

L to R: Jody McCrea, Dick Dale, John Ashley, Frankie Avalon, Annette Funicello.

Putting together yesterday's post about Jody McCrea's passing, I came across so many great images, I got stoked and had to stick a couple more on here.

Click on the insert card and it gets like the most.

See ya, Deadhead!

Jody McCrea, 1934 - 2009

Just found out that Jody McCrea passed away. The son of Joel McCrea and Frances Dee, he's known as Bonehead, Lunkhead and most often Deadhead in the Beach Party movies. He's still pretty much the same character each time. My favorite (and indeed one of my all-time favorite films) is the masterpiece Bikini Beach.

The story goes that McCrea was the only one of the cast who could actually surf. He left Hollywood in the early Seventies to become a rancher in New Mexico.

In these photos, note the "RF" Rat Fink hat and Surf Fink! t-shirt.

Fridays With Frank (Zappa) #3

Here's a little fact-y thing that signifies that there's a tiny micro-speck of hope for the record-buying American: We're Only In It For The Money actually hit #30 on the Billboard charts back in 1968.

Heard the Lumpy Money thing yet?

The beauty of the console stereo.

The Clairtone Empress 601 Stereo Console.

You know, some of these things don't sound too good. And they take up a lot of space. But to me, they're works of art. This one, with its simple lines, is a knockout.


Or Clairtone's Project G.


One of these days, when I get a house with more than 17 square feet...

Fridays With Frank (Zappa) #3

Neon Park's cover to The Mothers' mighty Weasels Ripped My Flesh.


And in case you were wondering, where Zappa got the title came from.

Seems like a good day for a '55 Gasser. Or two. Or five.

There's this folder on my detachable hard drive, and it's nothing but pictures of 1955 Chevy Gassers.

I find 'em, I drag 'em. Here's a few outta there.





My apologies to the uncredited photographers.

Man, I wanna see this!

It might stink. But it's gotta be great.

Fridays With Frank (Zappa) #2

The Mothers Of Invention at The Whiskey A Go-Go (on the fabulous Sunset Strip) in 1966. Note the copy of Freak Out! on the table.

What could they be twisting and frug-ing to? "Help, I'm A Rock?"

As you ponder such questions, dig this interview with Frank from 1968.

More Geeking Out About DVDs.

Recently, to announce the new Warner Archive program, the folks in charge of Warner Home Video's back catalog did a web chat deal with the Home Theater Forum. You can read the whole thing here. But the stuff I thought was interesting is as follows:

There will be more Joel McCrea movies coming out, including Colorado Territory (one of the best Westerns ever). Wichita is part of the first wave of titles. Mine arrived yesterday. Good movie, nice DVD. Also, Trail Street with Randolph Scott is on its way.

My all-time favorite film, Where Eagles Dare (1969), should receive a Blu-Ray release next year. I swore I wouldn't make the move to Blu-Ray (or a big fat TV) till that film came out, so I guess I'll be officially wanting to upgrade before too long.

Ed Roth.

Who says it takes a big car to be cool?