Size really does matter! It should be called the longest trailer. Certainly it must be. The highway hog is a rather stylish and very deluxe creation with that smart two-tone turquoise and white paint scheme. Those porthole windows on both the front and back door are amazing. I know!

The enormous home away from home on wheels simply dwarfs a creamy white and light lime green 1956 Oldsmobile four-door hardtop. Can you imagine in your wildest dreams being the captain of this accident waiting to happen? On level ground ok. But what about trying to pull this motion mansion up a hill or worse yet have it behind you going downhill. I smell brakes! And what about baking up? I’d be up for the challenge anytime.

Never mind the stress on the driver think about the stress in the poor car. Oldsmobile’s were notorious in their day for being powerful cars but this haul job would be a bit much for any car of any period. And the whole thing perched on those tiny little tires just waiting to blowout.

I’ll never forget the first time I saw the 1954 movie classic, The Long Long Trailer starring Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. It was during the late seventies when ABC showed movies in the afternoon opposite Dinah and the Mike Douglas Show. I was already a huge fan of Lucy and Ricky and it didn’t take me long to figure out that The Long, Long Trailer is basically a feature length version I Love Lucy in color. And I loved it, of course!

Here’s to the Long, Long Trailer, the longest trailer, the driver and you!

Two university students perched on a crunched-up-crepe-paper-cross between a terrier and weenie dog parade a little s&m for a crowd of stadium spectators. A big, blue clown-dog watches the action. Those matching black hoods and short capes over red jumpsuits are quite a contrast to the wholesome all-white dress of the crossed armed college students that, according to their body language. don’t quite seem to know what to make of it. Neither do I. mmmm….

Last weekend I had the pleasure of visiting the Atlanta, the city that gave the world its most famous brand name product, Coca-Cola. If they ever change the name of the city it could be Coca-Colaland. You will have to admit it has a nice ring to it. While there I enjoyed several servings of the oh-so sweet soda pop served alongside platters heaping with fried chicken and buttered biscuits one night and pulled pork sandwiched paired with cole slaw and macaroni and cheese the next. I’m here to tell you southern cooking and southern hospitality are alive and well.

Here’s to S&M and southern hospitality in Coca-Colaland and YOU!

People parked at the curb line the main street for the annual date festival parade. Among the paraders is a snow white ass. This is not any old ordinary barnyard ass. This is an ass with special skills. It’s has roller skates attached to its hooves and its roller skating down the street. I love it when animals skate.

With all the talk of roller skating lately, with planning the Moonlight Rollerway Jubilee and all, I can’t believe how many people tell me they can’t skate. Even I can skate. And you can’t possibly be more uncoordinated than I am. I can count on one hand the times I’ve been skating since I was in third grade and took skating lessons at the Holiday Roller Rink in Montclair. So, since its been a while, tonight I went to the rink to practice a bit before the big show this weekend. Before long I was gliding around the well-skated wood floor like I had wings on my heels. It was wonderful and I can’t recommend it enough!

This weekend I host the moonlight Rollerway in Glendale at Southern California’s most historic roller rink! Come experience a cast of more than 60 thrilling champion skaters in a spectacular variety of costumed musical acts, I’ll be doing a slide show story of roller skating and there will be an after show all skate party – All this to live Hammond organ music by the worlds greatest rink organist, Dominic! Free snack bar treats will be served!

SATURDAY NIGHT May 17 at 8pm – $20. STANDING ROOM TIX ONLY (Seating for this Saturdays performance is sold out!)

SUNDAY MATINEE, May 18 at 3pm – $35. FEW SEATS STILL AVAIABLE!
Don’t miss out! Tickets and Info!
Here’s to Asses that can skate and YOU!

Young skaters dressed in blue solids, strips and plaids stand out against the warm stained wood and banana yellow tones of the rink. it looks like “Little Mr. Shifty Eyes,” on the left, is looking at the lovely young lady or the young man beside her who is skating l like Frankenstein. They are all experiencing that very special now-I’m-balanced–now-I’m-not feeling that you get when you enjoy that wonderful Americana pastime of the highest order, Roller Skating. We didn’t invent roller skating in the USA but likes so many things we certainly perfect it!

Speaking of roller skating, I’m SO excited about the THE MOONLIGHT ROLLERAY JUBILEE show. Over 60 skaters, including the Moonlight Rollerway’s own long reigning Unites States champion synchronized skaters, Team In Sinc, and other skating stars and former world champions will perform in a variety of costumed musical acts. I’ve never seen a roller skating show. Have you?

Before the skating extravaganza I will present a retro slide show and tell about the history of roller skating. The evenings musical stylings will be provided by none other than the “Worlds Greatest Roller Rink Organist,” Dominic Cangalosi, live on the Hammond Organ. He is the only rink organist in the Roller Skating Hall of Fame.

Seating for skating show will be in a single row around inside edge of the rink floor. So everyone will have a great view! Free snack bar treats will be served at intermission and after the show the audience is invited to stay and play at the AFTER SHOW ALL-SKATE PARTY. Skate rental is free!

Don’t miss this very special event at Southern California’s most historic roller rink!
Saturday’s performance IS SOLD OUT!

Get your tix now for the Sunday matinee show, MAY 18 @ 3PM
Tickets and Info!
Here’s to THE MOONLIGHT ROLLERWAY JUBILEE and YOU!

The mid-morning sky is moody blue with high clouds. The Ranch Kitchen Coffee Shop looks like a ranch house complete with a front porch and shuttered windows. The signage is friendly, casual and very inviting. Dining room and kitchen quality and cleanliness are insured by the AAA logo.

A not-so-weeping weeping willow matches the leafy and shady green tones of the oh-so-proud poser’s short sleeved and straight skirted plaid dress. She beams with contentment and joy as she holds the door handle of her very photogenic posing partner, a sparkling brand new 1962 Ford Galaxie 500 four-door hardtop. Pillows cluttering the package tray and a sunshade in the side window suggest that the rear seat doubles as a bedroom.

The morning-sun-soaked lipstick red finish is spectacular. The Ford’s sleeker than sleek side spear and flat rear window are a stark contrast to wide spear and wraparound rear window of the already out-of-date 1958 Pontiac sitting beside it.

And why wouldn’t this woman be beaming from ear to ear? She’s got a ranch house breakfast-filled tummy and a racy red Ford to take her wherever she wants to go.

Here’s to the lady, her ‘62 Ford, Ranch House breakfast and YOU!

A mommy, daddy and daughter are professionally posed in a photographer’s studio. Of course they’re all dressed up. Mommy and Missy have just been to the beauty parlor. Each sports a stylish variation of the poodle do and both have fuchsia pink painted lips. And there is a pearly white theme happening here.

Mommy’s pearl button earrings match Missy’s pearly cat eyes glasses and front teeth. And in case you didn’t notice, the pearly white accordion too. How gorgeous is that! Together with mommy’s far more common black accordion, I’m sure they make beautiful music together. Close your eyes and just imagine. Do you hear musical magic? I do.

The first accordion was patented in Austria in 1829. Thank you Austria for that! The American Association of Accordionists was founded in 1938 in Danbury, Connecticut. The organization is also known as the AAA. They will tow your car too! This year they will celebrate their seventieth anniversary with a accordion concert Saturday afternoon June 21st at Westchester Community College, Valhalla, New York. Would I ever love to be there for that!

Here’s to Accordions, families that play them together and YOU!

Three palms on one side, two on the other and an almost-centered flagless flagpole compliment one of Southern California’s least known architectural treasures.

According to the legend the builder of the Angeles Abbey Memorial Park sent two architects to India in 1922 for inspiration. Two years later this Byzantine-Moorish-Spanish hybrid style Castle-esque mausoleum, was standing in stark contrast in the middle of a patchwork quilt homes and of small farms in one of Los Angeles oldest suburban cities.

I discovered this amazing place quite by chance one day about a decade or so ago when I got a bee in my bonnet to go check out my mother’s childhood home in Compton. After driving back and forth a few times in front of the ‘ol house and being reminded of some of my earliest childhood memories I decided to drive around the neighborhood. Two short blocks later I found this. I was shocked! I drove around the tombstone decorated grounds a bit but was a too chicken to get out and go inside.

A couple of months later I couldn’t stand the suspense any longer so decided to go back and this time go in. Walking inside felt like walking into a European Cathedral. Spectacular old world style hand painted motifs repeating on walls, wood beams, and balconies were peeling form age. Stained glass windows colorized the late afternoon sunbeams that illuminated the one thousand crypts. In a dusty room upstairs urns filled floor to ceiling glass front cabinets. Another room housed babies and children.

And as if one castle in Compton isn’t enough there is another one behind it. The second little tower that you see sticking up on the right is actually on the slightly smaller sister mausoleum behind this one. It was built in the late ‘20s.

Discovering architectural treasures and oddities is always a joy to behold. But finding them in places where they are least expected is even better. Angeles Abbey is located at 1515 E. Compton Blvd. Compton, CA 90221-3499. Call first to make sure they are open 310-631-1141

Here’s to The Angeles Abbey, treasures in unexpected places, and YOU!

An upper-class suburban-scale picture window diffused with shears provides a warm backdrop for a bespectacled Andy Griffith wannabe and a lovely young lady that proves how well plaid stands out against yards of floral upholstery fabric. Her black bow-tied puritan collar on that short-sleeved shift is a stark contrast to that sassy Vidal Sassoon inspired hair-do. A smart red bag and matching shoes complete her good-girl-gone-mod look.

Their legs are crossed in opposite directions and they don’t seem terribly comfortable. Drinks have been served. He holds his in his lap while hers sits on a coaster protecting the maple finish on that classic early American coffee table decorated with an eye-catching bouquet of mass-produced plastic fantasy flowers and two milk glass dishes, one of which contains roasted peanuts for them to nibble on.

In case the not-so-cozy couple need to flick some ashes that is not a problem. On the matching end table are not one, but two ashtrays and an XL Hummel figurine of an old world country boy.

And in case you didn’t notice they are flanked by a pair of early American fantasy lamps. Why collectively as a society have we all turned our backs on ruffled lampshades?

Here’s the Early Americana, ruffled lampshades and YOU!

Saturday May 17, 2008 – 8 pm & Sunday May 18, 2008 – 3pm
At the classic Moonlight Rollerway, freeway close in Glendale, CA

Several weeks ago I went to the Moonlight Rollerway to have a meeting with the rink organist and owner, Dominic Cangilosi. I walked in the door and my eyes almost bugged out of my head. About 16 skaters were practicing a synchronized skating routine. I was mesmerized. I didn’t even know there was such a thing as Synchronized skating. But there they were skating in perfect harmony across the huge rink floor as one. They were amazing. And that is what inspired me to put together and present THE MOONLIGHT ROLLERWAY JUBILEE – A ROLLER SKATING SHOW SPECTACULAR more than 50 years in the making!

The show will also feature other skating stars and former world champions in a variety of costumed musical acts. I’ll do a short RETRO SLIDE SHOW CELEBRATING THE HISTORY OF ROLLER SKATING and pay tribuite to Dominic Cangilosi, “the world’s finest roller rink organist,” who will provide live musical stylings on the Hammond organ. After the show everyone is invited to the AFTER SHOW ALL-SKATE PARTY and FREE snack bar treats will be served!

Everyone will have a perfect view of the performance. Chairs will be set in a single row on the rink floor. There is certainly no better place to do a show like this than Southern California’s last classic roller rink. The Moonlight Rollerway opened in Glendale in 1955. They’ve never done anything like this there before!

Tickets and Info!

Here’s to everything having to do with Roller skating and YOU!