What City Am I In?

I am in a Michigan state of mind

2009-08-12T20:09:00.011-04:00

Hello All,

We apologize for our hiatus. We don't have an excuse for the lack of posts. Matt and I are just slackers. We will try to make up for it with a super awesome Michigan post.

We just visited our friends in Detroit and I looked through a treasure trove of postcards at John King's. For all of you who say "Detroit?? Why would you go there???" Let me break it down.

1) Beautiful Belle Isle. It has family reunions and car racing (not at the same time). Apparently the family reunions have been going on for about a century. Perhaps the car races too, this is Motor City after all. In this postcard from 1913 they are having fun in checkerboard painted canoes. Today everyone rents a moonbounce.

2)The finest pumping stations you have ever seen. Detroit has the castle of waste water management. This beautiful building is still in operation. Matt, Mr. Urban Planner, is very jealous that they are not building one in the DC area.

3) Alright, this isn't in Detroit- but if you are visiting Michigan in a time machine, set the dial for 1952 at the Alpena Siesta Motor Court. As you can see below, memories will be made, who you bring is up to you.

5) Of course you could always finish out with a visit to this fountain. Or to the Cadieux Cafe which has the only feather bowling lanes in the States. There's also other fun stuff to entertain you that has something to do with the music biz. That could take awhile.

The Hustlers - Boston Monkey

2009-07-17T22:18:00.007-04:00

Listen: The Hustlers - Boston Monkey

Once upon a time, people used to make up crazy dances. In fact, these dances were so crazy that they were called "dance crazes." You may be familiar with some of them: the twist, the swim, the mashed potato. Sometimes kids would make up a dance, and songwriters and record producers would try to cash in by recording a song to go with it. Sometimes the songwriters and record producers would write songs for dances that didn't exist, with the expectation that the kids would figure out how to turn the vague lyrical directions into a movement.

In response to Kendall's post about Boston (which definitely has the best fireworks, for what it's worth), I bring you a compendium on a dance craze that may or may not have originated in the Cradle of Liberty, the Boston Monkey.

I was able to dig up seven songs about the Boston Monkey. Not different versions of similar songs, but seven unique songs. Of course, the directions on how to do the Boston Monkey depend on which of these songs you are listening to.

Billy Butler - "Boston Monkey" (1966): Shake your hands, baby. Move your knees, baby. Side to side but not fast, just like a clap. First you take a dip, yeah, and then you shake it like a whip, yeah.

Les Cooper & the Soul Rockers - "Let's Do The Boston Monkey" (1965): Let's try it with a little bit of soul now. Let's go down to Soulville now.

Richard Anthony & The Bluenotes - "Boston Monkey" (1966): People get ready because it's Monkey time. Grab your baby, form a big boss line.

The Manhattans - "The Boston Monkey" (1965): With the Boston Monkey you don't have to be a Fred Astaire Everybody stand in line, let your hands take to the air. Hear the music with the honky tonk beat. Move your hands, your hips, and your feet.

The Hustlers - "Boston Monkey" (1965): On your right side and move. Now push your arms out baby, to the left side groove. Sway you hips and follow through. Boston Monkey, too.

Alvin Cash & The Registers - "Boston Monkey" (1966): Move to the left, move to the right. Shake your hips, and baby do the bite.

Otis Redding - "Boston Monkey" (Posthumous release, 1992): Shake your shoulders, wiggle your knees, clap your hands, do it if you please. You got to keep a groove going any kind of way, just do it, baby, just any old day.

The Boston Monkey was a big enough fad to warrant mention in a March 1966 issue of Time. Of course, by then it was on it's way out, replaced by moves like the Boogaloo and the Philly Dog.

Since Thanksgiving, the dance at discotheques and hip parties had been the Boston Monkey, which consists of keeping both feet still and shaking the hips and hands. But the kids got bored and started moving, so right now in Manhattan nightspots it's the Boogaloo, in which you swivel from side to side, shuffling feet, rotating shoulders and pelvis.

The kids from New York were bored with what was cool in Boston. It's Peter Stuyvesant vs. John Winthrop, egg creams vs. cream pies, and Yankees vs. Red Sox all over again.

The final word goes to the Hullabaloo Discotheque Dance Book, which provides the best instruction on the Boston Monkey that you're probably ever going to see.

Feet: Together, knees bent.
Body: Bent from the waist.
Hands: In front of you, palms down, at waist level.
Movement: Hips to the left, hips to the right.
You push your right hip out, and slightly back, at the same time moving your hands to the left.
You push your left hip out, and slightly back, at the same time moving you hands to the right.
All done bobbing, Monkey-like.

Now you've got it!

Down in the South

2009-07-12T17:26:00.002-04:00

When I first read the title of this postcard A Fishing Smack in Southern Waters, I thought, "Like smack dab in southern waters?" Well, unfortunately for those of us with a southern drawl, it is referring to a type of fishing boat called a smack. In reality, this postcard interested me because of its resemblance to my hometown, Beaufort, SC.

Beaufort is mostly know for these things:
1) Shrimp.
2) Fantastic southern scenery that Hollywood regularly exploits.
3) The infamous Parris Island, which is a marine training base.
4) The place where secession papers were signed that started the civil war. Thanks a lot South Carolina.
5) A famous vacation destination for the populace of Ohio.
6) Pat Conroy.

Isn't this a nice combination of scenery and a shrimp boat?

So, shrimping being the theme here, I will leave you with recipes for two fantastic Lowcountry dishes: Frogmore Stew and Shrimp and Grits.

Shrimp and Grits Recipe
Frogmore Stew Recipe - The part about the newspapers is true, but usually you dump it out and then give people plates to scoop the stew onto.

Love that Dirty Water

2009-07-06T17:41:00.003-04:00

Boston, Massachusetts

Old City Hall is now home to the Beer Distributors of Massachusetts headquarters, all sorts of preservation groups, a Ruth Chris Steak House, and much more. At one point America's first public school sat on this land. Old City Hall was one of the first adaptive reuse projects in the 70s. It was the third City Hall building in the city's history, serving that purpose from 1865-1969. The second city hall was erected and demolished (around 1840) in the same spot. The fourth is pictured below.

The newest city hall was designed by Kallman, McKinnell and Knowles in the "brutalist modern" style of architecture. An American Institute of Architects poll voted it to be the 6th greatest building in American history in 1976. At one point, it was named the world's ugliest building by experts at VirtualTourist.com and many Boston residents.

There is also a famous tale that when the architects unveiled their design to Mayor John Collins, he gasped and blurted out "What the hell is that?"

Comment from designer Kallmann: "'We distrust and have reacted against an architecture that is absolute, uninvolved and abstract. We have moved towards an architecture that is specific and concrete, involving itself with the social and geographic context, the program, and methods of construction, in order to produce a building that exists strongly and irrevocably, rather than an uncommitted abstract structure that could be any place and, therefore, like modern man— without identity or presence."

I am not sure they succeeded. Also, I resent the idea that modern man is without identity or presence. In retort, I will blame that problem on bad architectural design that breaks up a city's community instead of bringing it together.

I feel like I need to cheer up my Boston neighbors after this post. I leave you with pictures of the Red Sox winning the World Series.

Van Morrison - Moonshine Whiskey

2009-07-06T16:59:00.003-04:00

Listen: Van Morrison - Moonshine Whiskey

I know it's been a long time since my last post. That is something that Van Morrison would never do to his fans. In fact, since going solo in 1967 with "Brown Eyed Girl," Morrison has released 34 albums. Impressive!

Some of those albums are very good, including Tupelo Honey, which closes out with today's song. It's a bit rambling and drawn out, but in a good way. We even get a nod to "Funky Broadway." I think it fits in well with the spirit of Kendall's recent posts.

Buy Van Morrison music

Happy Holidays

2009-06-30T17:04:00.012-04:00

Washington, DC

I hope everyone has plans for an excellent July 4th weekend. Remember our founding fathers, I suggest Ben Franklin in particular- he was really the most interesting. How can you resist learning about the continuous invention and wooing of French women? I am sure many of you will choose to focus on Sam Adams- at least you are trying.

I believe this postcard is supposed to capture the Capitol at night. I think if the Capitol actually looked like this at night I might head for a bomb shelter. On a lighter note, perhaps it is a 4th of July firework spectacle. This leads me to a very important question:

Which City has the best fireworks?

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BOSTON VS. PHILLY

The Joy of Painting

2009-06-21T19:04:00.000-04:00

Kings Canyon, California

An ode to happy, little trees. We miss you Bob Ross.

Matt will be with us again shortly.

See Rock City

2009-06-14T09:25:00.000-04:00

Chattanooga, TN

The gnomes are from Rock City theme park in Chattanooga, TN. Rock City refers to actual rocks, the kind you would find on the top of a mountain. This is not like Detroit Rock City (sorry Michigan- Tennessee is a country music state).

In 1928 Frieda Carter "forged a path through the wilderness" and came upon the scene above. It is difficult to tell in the chain of events if the gnomes existed before or after Frieda's moonshine consumption. Eventually Garnet Carter (husband) figured he should make some money off of this wilderness bender and began an advertising campaign of painting "See Rock City" on barns near highways. When tourists got wind of the gnomes selling moonshine they decided perhaps Chattanooga was a good spot to stop for the night.

Rock City is a surrealist adventure- there's a fat man's squeeze, the needle's eye, black lit/neon dioramas of fairy tales, and a Mother Goose land that would delight Salvador Dali. AND there are Christmas lights and cocoa in December to make it a little more weird and fun.

I bet you thought there was no reason to visit Tennessee. Well, you were wrong. Make a vacation of it. Once you leave Chattanooga you can head west to the Mississippi River and that's Mark Twain territory.

To learn the real story of Rock City click here.

Not sure. Bo Peep perhaps? She is creepy.

Fairies visiting sleeping children.

The Butcher, the Baker, and the Candlestick Maker. That wave moves.

The Capitol was built on a swamp

2009-06-06T11:32:00.010-04:00

What everyone wants the weather in DC to be like today:

What the weather in DC has felt like for the past two weeks:

The flooding has been serious. The capitol is underwater. According to the Washington Post, we are reaching typical rainfall amounts for the whole month.

P.S. - It is unique to find a postcard someone has typed. I have visited NY for four days and found it to be quite pleasant. I am sad Mary Louise has to go about her father's business. I think she should give the state another chance.

UPDATE: A star from Coney Island's Astroland has made it to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. Check out the Air and Space blog for more info.

Ted Taylor - Help the Bear

2009-05-30T00:54:00.005-04:00

Listen: Ted Taylor - Help the Bear

I'm pretty sure that the park ranger of the "poking the bear" postcard fame is not gospel, blues, and R&B singer Ted Taylor. But if he was, and he and the bear were fighting over a woman, Taylor seems to think that the bear would be outmatched. My money is on the bear.

buy Ted Taylor music

Poking the Bear

2009-05-24T19:20:00.008-04:00

The Great Smoky Mountain National Park

In honor of family vacations, I give you the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

I grew up in Tennessee and South Carolina. During the time I lived in Tennessee my parents liked to take us to the Great Smoky Mountains over long weekends. The Smoky Mountains are located within the Appalachian Mountain chain divided between Tennessee and North Carolina. (My dad claims he is going to hike the Appalachian Trail someday, which stretches from Georgia to Maine and is 2,178 miles long) (532 people hiked it in 2008).

Appalachian Mountains

I am sure many of you experienced family vacations in National Parks. I hope you did not experience a park ranger poking a black bear.

Just in case you do have one of those hilarious family adventures- you should step up to the challenge. Here is what trained park rangers tell you to do.

Being too close may promote aggressive behavior from the bear such as running toward you, making loud noises, or swatting the ground. Don’t run, but slowly back away, watching the bear. Try to increase the distance between you and the bear. The bear will probably do the same. If a bear persistently follows or approaches you, without vocalizing, or paw swatting, try changing your direction. If the bear continues to follow you, stand your ground. If the bear gets closer, talk loudly or shout at it. Act aggressively and try to intimidate the bear. Act together as a group if you have companions. Make yourselves look as large as possible (for example, move to higher ground). Throw non-food objects such as rocks at the bear. Use a deterrent such as a stout stick. Don’t run and don't turn away from the bear.

For the record, the postcard does not indicate that the park ranger has made it to "level stick" yet.

They also want you to watch out for panhandler bears.

Other blogs that talk about bears and Memorial Day.

Tom Waits - Coney Island Baby

2009-05-24T18:49:00.002-04:00

Listen: Tom Waits - Coney Island Baby

I was tempted to respond to Kendall's Coney Island post with something from one of the Mermaid Avenue albums, but this one is a better fit. You see, when Kendall and I started dating, the very first mix CD (yes, I am embarrassed that it wasn't a mix tape) that I made for her had this devastatingly beautiful Tom Waits song mentioning Coney Island. But when I started doing a bit of research on that song ("Take It With Me" from Mule Variations), I found that Waits has a bit of a lyrical obsession with Coney Island and the bygone Dreamland amusement park depicted in our postcard. I guess the Dreamland pun is just too perfect to avoid (e.g. "I will close my eyes and wake up there in Dreamland" in the song "Flowers Grave").

Today's song also play's with the dual meanings ("Every night she comes to take me out to Dreamland"). It comes from the 2002 album Blood Money, an album of songs that Waits and his wife Kathleen wrote for musical adaptation of an unfinished work by a early 19th century German playwright. The musical, Woyzeck, is a collaboration between Waits and Robert Wilson, the avant-garde theater artist who once staged a seven day long play on seven mountains in Iran.

I'll let Waits paraphrase the plot of Woyzeck:

It's a story that continues to surface in Europe. Wilson told me about this lowly soldier who submitted to medical experiments and went slowly mad from taking medications and herbs. He finds out his wife is unfaithful. He slits her throat and throws his knife in the lake, goes in after it and drowns, and then his child is raised by the village idiot. I said, "OK, I'm in. You had me at 'slit her throat.'"

(Thanks to the Tom Waits Library for providing an incredible amount of info about a musician I really should listen to more often.)

buy Tom Waits music

Coney Island: A Dream Deferred

2009-05-17T12:38:00.005-04:00

Dreamland: Coney Island. Circa, 1907-1911

Prepare yourself. I’m beginning to realize that many scenic locations have to do with developers.

Dreamland was built in 1904, supposedly so fast that the city didn’t have time to remove the fire hydrants from underneath it. Dreamland was in operation until 1911, when it burned down because of fire started on the Hell’s Gate ride. The whole park burned in 18 hours. The rumor is that the park stole water from the city's fire hydrants for years and when the fire took place, the water pressure was too low to save it. The owner William Reynolds (also a senator) was indicted in 1912 for perjury associated with Tammany Hall shenanigans, such as land-grabs for his Dreamland Park construction.

Popular attractions at Dreamland before it burned included Midget City, which was a scaled down version of 15th century Nuremberg and premature babies in incubators (this technology was too new for hospitals to accept, but apparently just right for amusement parks).

Joe Sitt, of the Thor Corporation, is trying to open a new Dreamland on top of Coney Island’s Astroland. A fight ensues with Mayor Bloomberg & the City, who have purchased pieces of Astroland/Dreamland and have refused permits for park rides to thwart his overall development plans. Check out NBC New York’s coverage and the Coney Island Message Board for constant updates on the evils of development.

The Great Divide opened in 1907 and was a "scenic" roller coaster. In Michael Immerso’s book Coney Island: The People’s Playground, he describes The Great Divide as “a scenic rail trip over the Rocky Mountains, which wound its way in and out of tunnels, through canyons, and over a 70 foot wide trestle...” When you hear the description of the Great Divide, you wouldn’t think a ride on the roller coaster could lead to this: “While going at a high speed through that tunnel both cars suddenly jumped the tracks…The passengers, of whom it is said many where children, where thrown from their seats and sent whirling through the air. Some of them, it was said, struck the walls of the tunnel with great force.” (From NY Times article, Dreamland Train Derailed: Seven Persons Hurt When Train Leaves Tracks) This was probably two months after it opened- the article is from July 16, 1907.

There you have it people. Don’t get on rides at any version of Dreamland.

Early rendering of Joe Sitt’s Coney Island re-model. Yeah, that’s a blimp. (From New York Magazine.)

Wilson Pickett - You Left The Water Running

2009-05-12T17:58:00.005-04:00

Listen: Wilson Pickett - You Left The Water Running

This song was a bit of a soul standard in the mid and late sixties. It was written by Rick Hall (producer and founder of FAME Studios), Dan Penn (FAME's in-house songwriter), and Oscar Franck (who's only other credit I can dig up is an obscure Mavis Staples song). Apparently, none other than Otis Redding recorded the studio's demo for the song in July 1966. Barbara Lynn took it to #42 on the R&B charts later that year.

Wilson Pickett cut this version at FAME and released in on his 1967 Atlantic LP The Wicked Pickett. The big hit from that record was "Mustang Sally," which shares that inimitable Muscle Shoals groove with our song.

Whether it's Pickett, Redding, Lynn, Sam and Dave, or Maurice and Mac on the microphone, the song is a fitting tribute to a fountain memorializing a man who built an aqueduct.

buy Wilson Pickett music

Los Angeles: Lost in the Desert

2009-05-11T20:07:00.021-04:00

Los Angeles, circa 1940(?)

Matt and I went to LA for the first time in October. We visited the Griffith Observatory and I bought this postcard thinking the fountain was around there at some point in time.

Griffith Observatory- Where is the fountain?

(Elevator shaft circled. Perhaps the fountain could have been there?)

(Map of Griffith Park) Circled is where the fountain is in relation to where I visited.

More on the Mulholland and the "Kool Aid" Fountain.

Matt explains:

Mulholland built an aqueduct (around 1913) and it took water away from the orange groves so they couldn’t grow oranges anymore. Then they bought up the land cheap and then the suburbs happened and everybody got rich.

Kendall adds: That’s why this guy got a fountain?

Matt says: Remember Chinatown? I watched it with you.

Staple Singers - Long Walk To D. C.

2009-05-08T20:14:00.004-04:00

Listen: Staple Singers - Long Walk to D. C.

Well, I didn't think this would ever actually happen, but I finally have a blog. This is probably my third attempt at starting one up, and I'm only following though this time because Kendall is on board.

The general idea: Kendall will post one of our vintage postcards and I will reply with one of our vintage records. We have a lot more records than postcards, though, so who know how long we can keep that up. Maybe when we run out of postcards we'll move on to political buttons or civil war bullets. Any excuse to hit the flea market, I guess.

Kendall's first post was a DC postcard, which is fitting because it's where we live. It's a pretty good home, too. Last night I had my first presidential motorcade sighting. That is an impressive sight (and sound), even if you voted for the other guy (who still works here, too).

Seeing the president is why Pops, Mavis, Cleotha, Pervis, and Yvonne all decided to take a long walk here for their first Stax single back in 1968. It's a short song, and the MGs keep them moving along all the way from Memphis (or Jackson, Mississippi) to DC.

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2009 Update: What City Am I In?

2009-05-06T15:05:00.003-04:00

Postcard of a secret location, circa some time long ago.

Clue #1: A portrait of our first president 205 years later. He's still got it. (You can visit him at a National Gallery dedicated to Portraits).

Clue #2:
On the current state of land lines in the secret area. No one looks frustrated here.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/13/AR2008041302349.html

Clue #3:

Current Tallest buildings in the secret location:

The US Capitol, at 288 ft (288 ft)

Twin Towers across the river, 31 stories (381 ft.)

The Washington Monument (555 Ft.)

Those sleuths on Carmen Sandiego are never going to crack this case.