Gulf Coast Deco II

Hughes Tool Company, Inc., c. 1942, restored

Reliefs on the building depict the self-sharpening oil well drill bit that was the source of Howard Hughes' fortune.


Gribble Stamp & Stencil Co.. c. 1948




J.C. Parks Building, c. 1930





The Granada Theater, c. 1949
The Granada is the twin of the Capitan Theater in Pasadena, Texas. Both were built for the Isley chain, which operated theaters in Texas and Oklahoma.

This picture was taken through a chain link fence and was the best one I'd get of the 1940 circa Brochsteins, Inc. building. Seeing as it was a Sunday morning, the entrance fence was closed and locked. I walked for a short length down the fence line to see if I could get a better view. Along the way, I found a ditch that ran beneath the fence, allowing someone (should he or she be so inclined) to crawl underneath. This is what I chose to do.

Gulf Coast Deco

Gulf Coast Deco III

Vintage travel photos

I found these photographs in a tattered old photofinishing envelope at my grandfather's house. They are of visits he made to Glasgow, Scotland, in 1934, and Mexico City during the same general time period, as well his time stationed in London during W.W. II (he was a B-52 mechanic). The scans aren't anywhere as nice as the original prints. They were taken by him or a friend of his.

This first one was taken in Glasgow, Scotland. Brennan from the band Monarch saw it at flickr, and asked me if they could use it for an album cover. Voila:
Lowly (2007)
This one was also taken in Glasgow, and may feature the People's Palace in the background:

Street lamp in Glasgow:

Bicyclist in Glasgow:

Mexico:


Street in Mexico City:


Mexico:


London during W.W. II:



Stratford-on-Avon:

"It's a Marshmallow World"

Wikipedia entry:

"Marshmallow World" (sometimes entitled "A Marshmallow World" or "It's a Marshmallow World") is a popular Christmas song that was written in 1949 by Carl Sigman (lyrics) and Peter DeRose (music). Although it has been recorded by many artists, it was first a hit for Bing Crosby (backed by The Lee Gordon Singers and the Sonny Burke Orchestra). Crosby's version (recorded in 1950) peaked at number 24 on the pop singles chart in January of 1951. Ray Anthony also recorded a version of the song in 1950. Another popular version was recorded by Vic Damone in 1951.

One of the most popular versions of "Marshmallow World" was recorded in 1963 by Darlene Love and released as a track on Phil Spector's classic holiday album A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector.

Another popular version of the song was recorded by Dean Martin for his 1966 holiday album The Dean Martin Christmas Album.

Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra around '66:


Dean Martin solo on a '70s-era TV special: