November 2007 - Vintage Culture

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Vintage Culture - November 2007

Vintage Bicycles

November 29th 2007 00:04

Vintage Push Bikes

A classic 50's style Schwinn print ad

I did a post the other day over on Fashion.org.au about the new Chanel designer push bike and it rekindled my fascination with pedal powered transportation. Once society fazed out the horse and buggy in favour of engine propelled vehicles they opted not to abandon the reliable bicycle.

Some well kept Vintage Cycles

Based on the French velocipede from 1763, the bicycle was invented in around 1885 and the chain driven, pedal pushing people movers design has changed little since.
Still brakes and tyres needed further modifying and there were some goofy ideas like the Penny Farthing near the start plus other blue print variations before it was perfected.

Penny farthing Cycle among other classics

Comfort improved as asphalt roads were built and by 1890 the bicycle craze reached it first peak. More affordable than a car, ideal for short to medium distances, no pesky parking problems and keeps you fit, bikes all but sell themselves.

Evolution of the Bicycle

Over the year’s the framework has gradually evolved into more customised shapes and strengths. Modern Materials have replaced the original iron used to forge the chassis.

Today cycles are specifically engineered for tasks. There’s the racing bike, with a mind on speed and aerodynamics.

The BMX and Mountain Bike, both able to with stand the demands of off road racing and freestyle trickery. Made from ultra light weight, heavy duty metal with modified extra absorbent suspension and brakes, this style made it’s mark in the 1970’s and has grown in strength ever since.

Some Classic Schwinn

The traditional concept is now defined as the cruiser and retro models from Schwinn are always in style. Boasting large well cushioned seats, easy gear changing and low rider positioning this is my choice when I decide to pedal up to the store for some chocolate.

Here’s a clip of some 1950’s style bicycles set to some cool classic tunes

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Johnny Weissmuller

November 27th 2007 00:11

Johnny Weissmuller - Olympic Jungle

Johnny Weissmuller

“Swimming gave me my start, but my pal Tarzan did the real work. He set me up nicely.” – Johnny Weissmuller

For some he will always be revered as “one of”, if not “the” greatest swimmer ever to freestyle in a pool, winning 5 Olympic Gold medals and setting an astonishing 67 World record’s.

Weismuller in the pool, soon he would outswim a crocodile.

For others he stands alone as the definitive cinema incarnation of Edgar Rice Burroughs Tarzan. The one thing that both sides agree on is his 6 foot 3 inch ripped physique and distinct masculinity in real life made him a star.
"How can a guy climb trees, say "Me, Tarzan, you, Jane," and make a million? The public forgives my acting because they know I was an athlete. They know I wasn't make-believe." – Johnny Weissmuller

Ungawa - Striking the pose for publicity as the simian ruler. of the jungle

Born in Austria-Hungary in 1904, 7 months later young Janos emigrated to the U.S with his family. After moving to Pennsylvania, they settled in Chicago where Johnny’s father owned a bar. By his own admission a “scrawny kid”, it was in Lake Michigan on summer vacations that the future champion of champions would first embrace his passion for swimming.
"I started out as a scrawny kid in Chicago, and even that was lucky. It got me to swimming. Then all the good breaks in the world happened-and kept on happening." – Johnny Weissmuller

After leaving school Weissmuller began training for the Olympics and in 1921 made his amateur debut, winning his race. At this early stage in his career he had already developed the revolutionary high-riding-front crawl that would set him ahead of the competition.

Lying on the registration so he could represent America in the 1924 Olympiad and also gain a passport, at 17 years of age he broke his first world record for the 100 metre freestyle. He also won the 400 metre freestyle in the same games and would go on to score two more gold four years later at the next summer Olympics.

Moving on to modelling and promotions it was in 1932 as Tarzan the Ape Man that Johnny Weissmuller became a global sensation. Starring in 6 more Greystoke adventures with MGM even the author of the series said he was pleased with the portrayal, though disliked the grunting and hollering.

Notorious for his womanising and competitive nature, rumour has it that he actually wrestled a live lion in the Tarzan and his Mate and also insisted on diving from the Brooklyn Bridge in Tarzan’s New York Adventure.

Johnny Weismuller maureen o suillivan tarzan

Tarzan and Maureen O Sullivan as Jane

Moving to RKO the series quickly took a nose dive though the large chested testosterone machine remained for another half dozen films. After his monumentally successful run as the Lord of the Apes Johnny then turned to the character of Jungle Jim.

As Jungle Jim

Retiring in 1965 with only speckled screen appearances later, the legendary athlete and screen idol died in 1984 from a pulmonary edema.

Here you can relish in the infamous skinny dipping scene from Tarzan and his Mate which was the last straws in the war for film censorship

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Harold Holt

November 22nd 2007 03:55

Harold Holt - Did he fall or was he pushed?

Harold Holt

Harold Holt is the Australian Politician who became Liberal Prime Minister in 1966 and then mysteriously disappeared a year later while still holding the countries top office.

Notoriously increasing the Aussie’s involvement in the Vietnam War and embracing U.S President LBJ with a fervor not seen again until John Howard offered to have George Bush’s lovechild. Causing a turbulence in the population and putting us on a world stage to be judged, one day the larakin ruler went for a dip in Cheviot Beach near Portsea in Victoria and was never heard from again.

Best Buddies?

Born in Stanmore Sydney in 1908, a young Holt studied law after proving a well rounded student at school. He also had to deal with his parents divorce and mothers death at a young age which defined his lonely personality for the rest of his life.

Drawn to politics in the early 1930’s Harold Holt had a 32 year career in parliament. Moving through the ranks with some clever maneuvering and also spending time in the Air Force as a gunner, by the time the Liberal party was formed by John Menzies Holt had the experience to focus on his political aspirations.

Harold Holt on the podium

Finding a strength in industrial relations he earnt a reputation for getting the job done and his profile grew in the 1950’s. An economic missteps in the early 60’s almost cost him his career as he was the man responsible for a fiscal disaster that resulted in credit crisis.

He finally gained control of Australia after John Menzies stepped down as leader and Holt was elected.

It good to be the king

His enigmatic demise remains a topic for speculation to this day and has overshadowed his other achievements and blunders. Everything from natural causes and Conspiracy theories to suicide has been bandied about in the years that have followed. Was he abducted by a Russian nuclear submarine, did the CIA have a hit out or did he just drown. These questions are just a selection of some explanations that have been offered.

Or did he just do the "harold Holt"? (Aussie slang)A brand new investigative report that aired this week in Oz offered no further hard evidence to add to the debate.

Armed and ready for his future?

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Mahatma Gandhi

November 14th 2007 18:37

Why does Vintage Culture have to be only about film stars? Let's go back in history and get real Vintage.

Mahatma Gandhi is probably one of the most easily recognized, most admired Indian in history. He's an icon in the global peace arena, as an outspoken proponent for truth and non-violence.

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born in 1869 to a family in the merchant caste in Gujarat. He grew up as a vegetarian and pacifist, and went to London to study law. He was not an excellent student, but his time in London brought him closer to understanding his vegetarianism, and also allowed him time to think about philosophy and the major religions.

He was married at the age of 13 to Kasturba Makhanji, and they had four sons... though she's not very well-known, she followed him through his teachings, and lived with him in poverty.

Gandhi practised law in South Africa, where he saw firsthand the ugliness of racism and intolerance. During the South African War, he organized the Indian population into a medical corps, providing medical services to injured soldiers. Through his actions, he mobilized the Indian community into a powerful political force in South Africa.

Most notably, Gandhi pushed for Indian Independence, and renounced the idea of Hindu castes. He saw all people as equal and argued against retaliation.

It was a clever idea - if the Indians resisted, the British occupiers would have no problem fighting them... when Gandhi led his peaceful resistance, the British troops were hesitant to kill peaceful protesters.

In 1948, Gandhi was assassinated while taking his daily walk. He was killed by a Hindu radical who disagreed on Gandhi's views on the India-Pakistan question, and felt that Gandhi was weakening India.

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Raquel Welch

November 14th 2007 04:36

A personal favorite of mine, Raquel Welch was a knockout in 60s, known for that iconic poster of her in the fur bra, running away from a dinosaur. Here it is:

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Frances Farmer - Institutions, Shock Treatment and Film Stardom

November 7th 2007 00:00

Institutions, shock treatments and film stardom

Frances Farmer - Elegant Insanity?

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Paul Newman

November 6th 2007 02:14

It feels like we know him so personally, as the guy that makes the salad dressing. Not as Vintage as some of the others on this blog, but still an everlasting classic, Paul Newman is the everyman's Everyhero.

His food company, Newman's Own, has contributed over $220 million to charity since its inception, showing Newman's strong philanthropic spirit. He was an auto racer in the 70s, and starred in a helluva lotta great movies

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