Gulf Coast Deco IV: a new hope

Previous episodes:

Gulf Coast Deco I: the phantom menace

Gulf Coast Deco II: attack of the clones

Gulf Coast Deco III: revenge of the sith

These Gulf Coast Deco posts are inspired by the website Houston Deco. Some may ask: "What is Art Deco?" A few of these building are in Baytown, which is generally considered to be a part of Houston.


Let's begin with the Bay Theater, c. 1942



The ticket booth for the Brunson Theater, c. 1949, which is late for a structure to be considered vintage Art Deco, but Houston Deco lists it as an example of Deco from the 1940s.


This is one I've definitely dreamed of getting.




The River Oaks Theater, c. 1939, which is or has been endangered. I used to work right across the street from this theater, and I feared I wouldn't get to this area to get a picture of it before it was too late.



Rounded corner to a section of the River Oaks Community Center expansion, which was completed in 1948.


Wehring's Grocery and Market (was once also a Piggly Wiggly), c. 1938


And finally,



Clarke & Courts Printing & Lithography Co., c. 1936

Gulf Coast Deco V

Gulf Coast Deco VI

Gulf Coast Deco VII

Gulf Coast Deco VIII

Gulf Coast Deco IX

Gulf Coast Deco X

Selections from the Lady in Cement sdtrck.

Here are some groovy, swingin' tracks from Hugo Montenegro's soundtrack to Lady in Cement. This music makes me want to jump right inside 1968 and walk around, but only if I could remain white and above draft age...


"Tony's Theme (Opening Credits)"

"The Shark"

"Again"

And my personal favorite: "Lady in Cement (alternate version)"

Hidden (formerly) treasure

I've driven right by this sign leaving San Augustine many times, but thanks to the time of year, it's temporarily revealed. It is a neon sign for an Oldsmobile 6 and 8 dealership, circa 1949-ish. I couldn't believe it! The condition of it and the font sort of reminds me of this one or this one.

Abandoned

Just outside of Many, Louisiana

"Give a Little Whistle"

"Give a Little Whistle" was written by Leigh Harline and Ned Washington. The song was published in 1940 and was of course introduced in Walt Disney's Pinocchio, the second Disney animated feature.

Fantastic live Sinatra performance

April 21st, in Tokyo
After being "snubbed" by President Kennedy (Chicky Baby) early in 1962, Frank Sinatra decided he needed to improve his image, so he embarked upon what was called the "World Tour in Aid of Children's Charities." It was thirty dates in two months, starting on April 15 in Mexico City and ending June 17 in Monte Carlo. The June 5 performance in Paris was released in 1994 on the excellent Sinatra & Sextet: Live in Paris album.

Guitarist Al Viola stated in the liner notes of the album that, since the band was gathered on such short notice, they never rehearsed with Sinatra for the tour. Much of the band had already performed with him on previous albums with the same arrangements, so he never felt rehearsals were necessary. (Wikipedia)

One of the songs from the band's repertoire which was not included on the Sinatra & Sextet: Live in Paris disc is "The Moon Was Yellow." According to Sinatra! The Song Is You, this version is scaled down from an arrangement Sinatra and Nelson Riddle used in 1958, it being based upon Billy May's arrangement of "April in Paris" (from 1957's Come Fly with Me!). This is the performance of it the singer (& sextet) did at Royal Festival Hall on June 1st, 1962:


Around 2:14 - wow! A lesson learned from Tommy Dorsey

I grock Spock

I don't know about you, but ever since 9/11, I've increasingly doubted any of the "powers that be" are really, actually doing (or are capable of doing) what it is we've all been led to believe they were doing. I guess if I had been an adult during Watergate, these feelings would have fully matured by now. Whether it's "intelligence" agencies, such as the CIA, or other governmental entities like the FTC, FDA, SEC, or FEMA, it seems like no one either knows how to do (or is willing to do) what they are being paid or appointed to do.

Whatever the case, as I watch our economy (and other things) fall apart, I've often wondered where the "grown-ups" are. Or, even better, in total sympathy with Houston Chronicle writer and frequent Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me! panelist Kyrie O'Connor, I have to ask: "Where is Spock?!? Barring the return of a "Messiah" or something, I think asking Spock what to do is about the only thing we haven't yet tried. So somebody get Spock on the communicator, then have Gisele Bündchen drop by to see me. These are simple, reasonable requests.