Yes, the nuclear menace and Capitalism have long gone hand-in-hand. Even today! Here they are, the threats of Atomic Annihilation being sold on eBay. Bid high and bid often while the bidding is hot! Or you can be like me and just look :)
I wish I could get Junior to show this kind of gumption as these boys are demonstrating. Usually it's a major achievement just to see him crawl out of bed and get dressed in the morning!
I'd be so interested to see what the plans for my own home town were, though I doubt it was very high on the target list. There are some massive underground shelters dotting the town yet though.
The helmet would have been used more as an authoritative symbol to identify by more than anything else. Though in times of any kind of natural or man-made emergency, the wearer would have had to be prepared to put their self in harms way.
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Today the world greets a new year... with an undercurrent of Uncertainty. Fear. Unrest. Monumental shifts in world powers. In America, our own government is seen to be out of control and the People are bearing its oppressive weight. More spending and rules, less and less freedom. Who could have imagined only a few years ago that as of today, January 1st, Edison's world-shaping invention, the ubiquitous electric filament light bulb is now declared officially off limits! Did the Mayans know something we didn't foresee? Are their predictions, that this year of 2012 the entire world would come to a great climatic "lights out," actually coming true???
What a different age we live in compared to some 60 years ago. But still, we can relate to the tinge of fear that pervaded a society that was determined to survive and thrive. Here's one public service film from those whirlwinds-of-changing times, and their own predictions for surviving the threat from atomic fall-out in mid century America:
Hopefully Congress's plans to regulate the Internet has been held off long enough for me to share this link with you tonight. And that you enjoyed checking out some of the modern living homes featured in this short as well!
And, government-willing, I shall thwart the Mayan predictions by returning with yet another installment ...
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Yep, it definitely is getting wintry outdoors now. Today the temp dipped from a grand high of 11 degrees (and plummeting), the blizzard winds are making the house creak, and the snow is whipping across the landscape in wispy white torrents trying to snake it's way into every crack and corner. But it's not getting into my home sweet home... Especially not after an emergency call to the furnace man to kick my heater a few times and getting it to work again!
As suddenly as if waking from a dream I realized that Mr. Winter has indeed arrived and Christmas is tagging inevitably along, not too far behind. Maybe I should start throwing a few decorations on the house?
It had all started a week ago with an unplanned visit to a Christmas tree stand and being uncontrollably drawn by a tree which beckoned me to please take it home. From that point on, there was no turning back.
Yes indeedy. Christmas has definitely arrived at the atomic man cave :)
I've clung to my Grandma's genuine aluminum tinsel Christmas year after year (and have incurred some unfair ridicule from friends over it!) Oh the memories of setting it up with her in the corner of the living room and hanging those really old decorations. But this holiday for some inexplicable reason I had a craving to go traditional and trim the real deal. There's nothing in the world like the smell of a real Scotch pine living inside your home, after all...
And Grandma's decorations look just as much at home on a traditional tree, don't ya think?
Oh, and here's the Sputnik lamp, decked out in an appropriately colorful attire of Christmas lights.
I've been waiting almost the whole year to fire up the electric fireplace...
Keep warm and toasty out there. Wear those wool socks and the long underwear, 'cuz Summer's a whole 4 months off yet. Until then, Ho ho ho ...and pass on down another margarita!
It all began on June 24, 1947 when pilot Kenneth Arnold spotted some mysterious crescent-shaped lights skipping like saucers in the sky while he flew his small airplane. He reported seeing nine of the objects flying in a "V" formation over Mount Rainier, Washington (There was also a little known report in 1947 near a little town in New Mexico called Roswell). In the war years there were reports of "ghost rockets" and "foo fighters," but the tales never really caught public attention. This story however changed all that. The terms "flying saucer"and "flying disc" were adopted.
After reports of the Arnold sighting hit the media, other cases began to be reported in increasing numbers. By early July there was a sudden surge in sightings. Most American newspapers were filled with front-page stories of the new "flying saucers" or "flying discs" phenomenon.
In 1948 and 1949, strange green fireballs were seen exploding over the skies of New Mexico. Many feared they were guided missiles sent by the Soviet Union. The Air Force concluded that they were merely meteors.
The Day the Earth Stood Still directed by Robert Wise, was released in 1951.
News stories and magazine articles pop up with topics such as "Some Saucers Still A Mystery," "Little Men Dressed In Blue," "Saucers And Mass Hysteria," and "Visitors From Outer Space?"
The United States Air Force, which coined the new term in 1952, initially defined UFOs as those objects that remain unidentified after scrutiny by expert investigators.
During the summer of 1952 Unidentified Flying Objects were seen roaming the skies over Washington D.C. and the White House.
George Adamski allegedly met an alien called Orthon in the California desert November 20, 1952. These friendly visitors warned of the dangers of scientific progress and gave a message for humanity.
In 1955 Fred Morrison sold his flying disc invention to WHAMO, which originally introduced it in 1957 as the "Pluto Platter". Three years later WHAMO rebranded the "Pluto Platter" as the "Frisbee."
In 1957 Brazil, farmer Antonio Villas Boas claimed a space woman captured and "had her way" with him.
Also in 1957 the Canadian aircraft builder AVRO (with considerable funding by the United States Air Force) rolls out its wingless saucer-shaped Y-2 Project, re-named the Avrocar.
In 1961, Betty and Barney Hill reported seeing a UFO following their car the night of September 19. Later, under hypnosis there was revealed a strange story of abduction.
By the end of the decade the saucer craze became an inseperable part of life in the Atomic Era America, and the rest of the globe for that matter: we ate flying saucer wafer candy, we lit our homes with flying saucer lighting, we watched them fly across the movie screen, we read the novelized stories in books, and we could play with an endless array of imaginative space toys. Disney turned them into amusement rides. Song writers composed about them. Architects even designed buildings to emulate them.
Who couldn't delve into the subject of the Flying Saucer phenomenon in the Atomic Age without referring to the iconic contributions made by Hollywood? Fear not... I will not be the exception...
The Day the Earth Stood Still(1951) My all, all-time fave. I can still remember being huddling in front of our tiny black and white set as a wee youngster, staring wide eyed as Gort makes his appearance down the ramp. Brimming over with one memorable scene after the other... but then, I'm a bit biased ;)
Stars Michael Rennie, Patricia Neal, Hugh Marlowe, Billy Gray (pre-Father Knows Best!) and Lock Martin as Gort.
Day The Earth Stood Still-Bernard Herrmann - Gort - The Visor - The Telescope .mp3
War of the Worlds (1953) - This has to be high on everyone's list. I never passed up an opportunity to watch this as a kid, and would faithfully draw my impressions of the one-eyed invaders on paper. Most memorable moment is Anne's encounter, with the creature's hand on her shoulder. Also quite arguably the coolest saucer design ever seen on celluloid. War of the Worlds (1953) Trailer
Invasion of the Saucer-Men(1957) I never saw this until much later on cable. It's good-humored fun and who can resist the bug-eyed men in this one? Not to mention Frank Gorshin's short appearance! Everyone MUST see this one at least once if you're a true 50's movie fan. Invasion of the Saucer Men (1957) movie trailer
Earth vs the Flying Saucers (1956) Well, I've never been able to accept Hugh Marlowe as a hero scientist (after all, he was the anti-hero in Day the Earth Stood Still!) But this movie is flooded with saucer imagery. Most memorable scene(s) is the saucer crashing into the Washington D.C. memorial of your choice. Earth Vs. The Flying Saucers (1956) Trailer
It Came From Outer Space(1953) Another hero scientist to the rescue tries to make peace with a stranded menace from outer space. I like the ending when one of the bug-eyed creatures disguised as the lead love interest shoots deadly sparks from her wand. It Came From Outer Space
Invaders From Mars(1953) I don't know... it seems like the movie runs on about 30 minutes longer than it really needs to be, but it's considered a classic, plus an original storyline told from a child's perspective.
This Island Earth (1955) Not exactly an invasion storyline, but it does go in to quite a bit of detail into the sad story of Exeter and his dying other-worldly race. And there's saucers, the "interocitor", the "mu-tants" and a hero scientist to boot! This Island Earth (1955) - Theatrical Trailer
Yes, the list can go on, and on... but the End is near.
Be sure to come back tomorrow for the thrilling conclusion of "Flying Saucer Hysteria Week" - only at Atomic Living!
---edited--- How could I have possibly left off The THING? Bad, BAD me!! The THING (from Another World) (1951) This one tended to creep me as a kid (it didn't take too much!) I giant carrot-man (played by James Arness) from space terrorizes a polar research outpost. My favorite scene is the beginning when the search-party forms a wide circle around an object they find under the ice, then realize they've found a crashed saucer. The Thing (1951) movie clip
With the imminent possibility of an outer space menace threatening to invade American soil, your first priority is to assure your family's survival. “A prudent man foresees the difficulties ahead and prepares for them."
It is with the highest priority that we teach our sons and our daughters these words:
"Watch Out!" "Always be alert" and to "Always be prepared."
Ideally we should begin our children's training at the youngest possible age...
We do this through their toys.
Tom Corbett Space men Figures! These two are definitely up to no good!
Friction-driven Tin Saucer - the spring-antenneaed dome spins!
Tin litho Target Game to become a sure-shooting Space Ace!
Gort! Klaatu barada nikto!
Captain Video space men figures!
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Be sure to come back tomorrow for more -- it's "Flying Saucer Hysteria Week" seen only at Atomic Living!
Yes indeedy, the flying saucer men have invaded our country, our lives, and perhaps most shocking of all -- they came, they saw, and they conquered our beloved vinyl. Here's a modest selection for your listening pleasure:
The first ever "flying saucer" plastic model kit is produced (and patented) in 1954. In fact, it's the very first space-themed and science fiction kit ever available to the good citizens of Earth. This little hunk of plastic embodies all that America's best and brightest scientific research has gleaned together about these strange visitors from another world.
The Lindberg "Flying Saucer" kit reveals all: the aerodynamic inverted dinnerplate shape, the pair of turbo thrust rockets mounted on the smoothly curved silver hull, the rotating rim studded with jets, the futuristic cockpit bubble... and yes, the presence of a little green man at the controls of the whole unearthly device.
And what of the twin blaster cannons which one must assume that our large-brained friend is aiming? Just what are his intentions? Can we be long for this world???
You too can own your very own piece of saucer history. This kit has been reissued several times over the years. One of the more recent releases, reissued under the Glencoe name, can still be seen offered on eBay.
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Be sure to come back for more tomorrow... it's "Flying Saucer Hysteria Week," only on Atomic Living!
You've found the ramblings of a Retro lifestyler living in a Post-millenial world. Now moved back to his childhood home and restoring it to the optimistic era it was born in.
Can an overworked single father and an irrepressable 9-year old live by old fashioned values vrs. today's, survive the struggles of renovation, and together make a home in a humble '58 ranch?
I wish I could get Junior to show this kind of gumption as these boys are demonstrating. Usually it's a major achievement just to see him crawl out of bed and get dressed in the morning!
This would be a good thing to put on the bathroom door. Of course!
It'd almost be a shame to have all this cool electronic gadgetry unless you found the occasion to actually use it!... Almost ;)
I'd be so interested to see what the plans for my own home town were, though I doubt it was very high on the target list. There are some massive underground shelters dotting the town yet though.
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