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Archive for retro

Halloween Countdown: Universal Monster Keychain Flashlight Portraits

Posted in kitsch, monsters, retro, toys, vintage with tags bride of Frankenstein, Frankenstein, John Purlia, kitsch, monsters, retro, toys, vampire, vintage, wolfman on October 4, 2016 by shewalkssoftly

This series of Universal Monsters keychain flashlights released in 1995 (on which you press a button on the back to illuminate the heads) are kind of cool. BUT…

I’m posting them here because they were made in “portraits” by John Purlia, the master of elevating and imbuing all forms of kitsch with a life force via meticulous staging and photography.

Most of Purlia’s scenes are quite elaborate and rich with symbolism (you should really check out his website), but I love the color choices and singular focus in these shots.

Look at those cold, dead eyes!

It’s hard to pick a favorite, but I think the Wolfman, with his shifty sideways glance, might be my mine. Which one is yours?

John Purlia

4 Comments »

Desktop Goodies 9/17

Posted in 80's, absurd, anatomy, anthropomorphic, art, comics, creatures, death, ephemera, food, humor, illustration, macabre, meat, postcards, religion, retro, skulls and skeletons, vintage, you can't handle the cute with tags 80's, absurd, anatomy, anthropomorphic, art, comics, creatures, death, ephemera, food, humor, illustration, macabre, meat, postcards, religion, retro, skulls and skeletons, vintage, you can't handle the cute on September 17, 2016 by shewalkssoftly

Be warned:

Sometimes I write fictional surrealist resumes in my head just for fun. I’m definitely adding “Can appear as a disembodied head and hypnotize crocodiles” to my skill set.

The daintiest amphibious juggler.

There is something very wrong with this cat’s hind quarters (or maybe very right as far as he’s concerned).

An unlikely friendship, indeed.

There are not nearly enough meat puns in the sentimental postcard industry.

So delightfully subtle…until you step in the wrong spot, that is.

Thank you, Rachel, for these next two. I’ll quote her here: “No means NO, Jesus!”

…but this is a sweater that many can afford. (I’m sure this man’s parrot has become clinically depressed from living with him).

Genuinely creepy. Not sure where this comes from. Hell, presumably.

I was going to write an individual comment for each of these, but they kind of work as a dyad.

I spent a while trying to figure out this “twelfth finger” thing. Does anyone get it?

Now, a giant chicken absconding with a child, anyone can understand.

2 Comments »

Image Odyssey: Discontinued Cereals of the 70’s and 80’s

Posted in 70's, 80's, absurd, food, humor, image odyssey, retro with tags 70's, 80's, absurd, cereal, food, humor, image odyssey, retro on August 19, 2016 by shewalkssoftly

It’s SO hard to narrow down my search results for this image odyssey. There are legions of bizarre and beloved crunchy, sugary relics to be found. Let’s start with some collages by Like Totally 80’s, where you can also find original commercials. It was all about toy, video games…and doughnuts. Lots of doughnuts. (Click images to enlarge)

What kind of cold hearted freaks could look at Gizmo and cancel this cereal? Look at those eyes! I’d eat a box that’s been sitting around since 1984 if this creature asked me to.

Who remembers Body Buddies? I had these as a kid. I think I believed they were healthy because of the deceptive name (and those awesomely strong kids on the box). Dear World, please notify me when sugary corn puffs become healthy. Thanks.

Barbie? No wonder this failed. Everybody knows she has black coffee and cigarettes for breakfast.

Poor King Vitaman didn’t reign for long.

These were before my time, but I’m sad to see any monster cereal go.

I’m not sure what prompted anyone, ever, to think that grape flavored grains and marshmallows was a good idea. This has to pass…committees and stuff.

I’m sure this got discontinued because no one wanted to bother writing the name on a grocery list. Still, the premise of a robot who shoots out sweetened morsels when tickled was gold.

It’s not cereal, folks. It’s a cereal system, which sounds undeniably sophisticated.

If someone handed me chocolate food…filled with chocolate…I’d be calling him Mr. Wonderful too.

6 Comments »

Desktop Goodies 7/27

Posted in 70's, absurd, Books, death, fashion, horror, humor, illustration, retro, retrofuturism, sci-fi, skulls and skeletons, undead, vintage with tags 70's, absurd, Books, cats, death, fashion, horror, humor, illustration, retro, retrofuturism, sci-fi, skulls and skeletons, undead, vintage on July 27, 2016 by shewalkssoftly

I think this pairs nicely with the book above.

Gotta have standards.

I love how engaged Death is with his book.

Strangest strike banner ever. Unless you’ve seen a stranger one, in which case I really hope you share it with me.

Thank you Rachel, for showing me that Saran wrap and Bubble wrap are the fashion of the (retro) future. (Seriously ladies, would you be into a guy who confidently sauntered over to you in bubble wrap thigh highs?)

70’s fashion

I sense a seemingly incorrigible child and a maudlin, happy ending.

I can forgive the obvious impracticality of having a giant tube directly in the driver’s field of vision, because it’s clearly inspired by atomic structure.

A wonder what qualifies as a “good” or “mediocre” decapitation.

“Did anyone notice Grandma looked a little unwell today?

This could be a poster to promote neutering (PSA: countless healthy animals are put down in shelters due to overpopulation. Have your pet spayed/neutered!)

Circulation Zero

Posted in music, retro, vintage with tags music, retro, vintage print, zines on July 19, 2016 by shewalkssoftly

Present, former and/or punks at heart, Circulation Zero is an “experiment” that has released a huge collection of legendary old punk zines in digital format, available for download!

I was not quite born in time for what I consider the greatest era of punk (late 70’s). But I do recall running to my room to rabidly search through zines, with a pencil in hand to circle new bands to explore and take notes on new finds (wow…I was even a meticulous nerd in my musical quests as a kid). My dressers used to be covered in piles of goth, punk, industrial, hardcore and metal zines.

Production value ranged from horrendous to professional, depending on the publication, but I’m sure many of you remember the tangible satisfaction of these zines. It’s truly a lost art.

All files are ostensibly free, but donations are encouraged to keep the project going. What was your favorite zine?

Circulation Zero

2 Comments »

Just a Little Pulp Art for Your Sunday

Posted in art, comics, horror, retro, sci-fi, vintage with tags aliens, art, comics, horror, monsters, pulp, retro, sci-fi, spiders, undead, vintage on June 26, 2016 by shewalkssoftly

I’ve always wanted to post a bunch of great pulp art here, but it’s an overwhelming thought since my pulp archives contain thousands of images. How does one even choose?

Well, another blog I follow recently posted a bunch of images (some of which I had, some not), so here are a few choice cuts!

2 Comments »

Bizarre Celebrity Cookbook Megapost

Posted in absurd, Books, food, humor, retro with tags absurd, Books, celebrity, cookbook, food, humor, retro on June 19, 2016 by shewalkssoftly

I’ve had these kicking around my hard drive for years. Why not share some bizarre, retro and/or otherwise laughable celebrity culinary publication efforts.

I really want to see what’s in this one!

7 Comments »

Miles Aldridge

Posted in fashion, photography, retro, surreal with tags fashion, photography, retro, surrealism on April 13, 2016 by shewalkssoftly

This Technicolor photo set of Estelle Chan by photographer Miles Aldridge captivated me with its surreal vintage flare.

Everything is so sublimely artificial and constructed; a glorious Stepford Wife presentation that one can hardly help editorializing at a glance.

These color-saturated high fashion shots are undeniably cinematic. Alridge says “I want to set a sort of unsettling message. But my trick is to sugarcoat it in these bright colors.”

Mission accomplished, sir!

Miles Aldridge

Desktop Goodies 4/10

Posted in absurd, anatomy, art, clothing, fashion, film, humor, japan, photography, retro, sea, vintage with tags absurd, anatomy, art, clothing, comics, fashion, film, food, humor, japan, photography, retro, sculpture, sea, vintage on April 10, 2016 by shewalkssoftly

Let’s start with some sea inspired fashion…

And a gorgeous octopus ice sculpture:

A stunning still frame.

I like the way this woman thinks. Pizza will never break your heart.

A beautiful soul is made of rabbits.

Oh thank you, Rachel, for this…and your other invaluable contributions to this post.

I’m sure it’s happening somewhere…

Traveling in style.

I approve of this progression.

Yep, it’s a wig made of countless earbuds on strings…for people who want to have listening parties and don’t care about personal space.

Who remembers this?

All of my outfits are based on various diaphonized specimens. Fashion at its finest.

4 Comments »

Desktop Goodies 11/27

Posted in absurd, art, clothing, comics, craft, humor, retro, sci-fi, sea, toys, undead, vintage with tags absurd, art, clothing, comics, craft, humor, retro, sci-fi, sea, toys, undead, vintage on November 27, 2015 by shewalkssoftly

Did anyone have these toys?

Inbread people…

This is an excellent shop concept because it enables you to shoot the people who disturb your reading without making extra store stops.

“BURST WITH THE TERROR OF A BREAKUP!” You better believe I’ll be turning this into a sympathy greeting card if my friends ever need it…but I hope they don’t.