Pasadena Prize Winning Pumpkins Vandalized

Mae Powell is a 93 year old prize winning Pumpkin grower. Four of Mae's prize winning pumpkins were destroyed over night by vandals! Mae's pumpkins aren't just everyday run of the mill pumpkins they are 300 pound pumpkins. Mae was planning to enter her pumpkins in October's "Pumpkinmania" contest the way she does every year. One of Mae's pumpkins was impaled by a patio umbrella others were just shattered. Needless to say Mae has filed a police report but there is little chance of catching the fiends. Mae is offering a $1,000 reward for any information about the vandals that could help in catching them.

Damned Kids!

Starsky Gets Busted

 

Paul Michael Glaser was arrested in Kentucky this week for having a pipe and marijuana residue. Starsky it seems was ratted out by an anonymous complainer who called the Bowling Green, Kentucky police saying "a person named 'Paul Glaser' smoking marijuana near the elevators."
Mr. Glaser had been in town to do a reading from his new young adults novel at a local middle school. Mr Glaser is a resident of Venice, CA and has a prescription for medical marijuana. He plans to fight the charges! Go Dude Go!

The Blue Moon

"Once in a blue moon" is the old cliche. Tonight is that day there will be a blue moon. No the moon will not be blue in color but it will be the second full moon in a month. Well that is what some people say. It is also described as the third full moon in a season. Confusing no? Let's just say it is a big-ish deal if you are a moon fan. This blue moon also has some significance as it occurs on the night of the funeral service for astronaut and moon walker Neil Armstrong.

LA's Ghost Town

There is a ghost town in LA, really there is. LA being LA it is a ghost beach town. Surfridge is the town and it is real. Founded in 1921 by developers Dickinson & Gillespie Co. Surfridge was the southern part of an area known as Playa del Rey it was originally called Palisades del Rey. The area became popular with beach lovers and celebrities like Cecil B. DeMille and his older brother William de Mille. Mel Blanc also called Surfridge home.

Surfridge is no more and it is all the fault of its proximity to LAX. During the 60's and 70's the rise in popularity of jumbo jets and their jumbo noise was the nail in the coffin for Surfridge. The airport through eminent domain bought up all the houses and land displacing the residents. The houses that weren't moved were torn down. All that is left of Surfridge now are the streets and street lighting. Yes street lighting is still there and for one reason or another still comes on at night!

Mid-Century Modern in Palm Springs

Palm Springs is a Mecca if you love mid-century modern architecture. Municipal and commercial business as well as home owners embraced the modernist style. Icon architects like Neutra built master pieces in Palm Springs and the surrounding cities. There is a week during the winter, which is Palm Springs' busy season, dedicated to everything mid-century modern.

One of the first things one passes on highway 111, the route into town, is the Welcome Center. Built originally as a gas station the building now stands as a welcoming beacon to modernists. We stopped into the Welcome Center where there is an entire section of the room dedicated to modernism. We purchased a map detailing the locales of some of the masterpieces. The commercial and municipal sites on the map are mainly preserved and well maintained. Many of the private residences are hard to see as most are behind walls and hedges. We found many residences not on the map that were fantastic modern houses and much easier to see from the road. Just driving around in the residential neighborhoods is a modernist's delight.

Re-use and re-purposing is play a big part of modern Palm Springs. In an effort to safe the modernist buildings from the wreckers ball Palm Springs has embraced saving the buildings but filling them with different businesses. The Welcome Center is one example. Another one time gas station is now a KFC. On almost any corner one can find a quirky mid-century modern landmark.

No More Jersey Shore

MTV has signed the death certificate for "Jersey Shore". This will be the last season for the stupid and inane yet oddly popular reality show. Boo Hoo how sad. Yeah right. What ever will become of the guidos and guidettes? Who cares. Snooki has gone off an become some poor boy's mother, Pauly D is back to being a DJ and I guess part time car salesman again. The Situation and the others will wring the last couple of bucks from the fleeting fame and fade away into the oblivion they came from. In the words of my grandmother, "Good riddance to bad rubbish." Will anyone really be sorry to see them go?

Shia LaBeouf no Filter

Actor Shia LaBeouf apparently has no filter mechanism. He doesn't know what not to do or not to say. He is now claiming/admitting he has dropped acid while on set. Shia's new movie has his character dropping acid so mr. method kept it real and did the dirty himself.

He is also now big on appearing nude and doing what is purportedly a virtual porn movie. His big nude moment was in a Sigour Ros video and his porno debut will be in "Nymphomaniac". The Sigour Ros video is tedious at best; almost impossible to watch. Shia may see this as art but it all seems to be more art for art's sake. Who is advising him?

The World's Oldest Person turns 116

116 years! Damn that is a long life. Bessie Cooper turned 116 this week. Bessie lives in Monroe, Georgia she moved there in 1917. Her town has honored her achievement by naming a bridge after her. Bessie was born Bessie Beery Brown in Tennessee in 1896. William McKinley was elected President, Utah became a state and Harriet Beecher Stowe died that year. Bessie has seen the rise of the phone, electricity and the automoble in her lifetime. She was trained and worked as a teacher on of the few professions for women in an era when she could not even vote.
Bessie now lives in a nursing home in Monroe. When asked if she had advice for a long life she said,"I mind my own business and I don't eat junk food." Rock on Bessie!

Palm Springs Vacation!

We are on a trip to Palm Springs

Can't wait to see what we find.

Heard about a Tiki Bar

Lots of Mid-Century Modern architecture

Any suggestions?

 

 

Airbnb

Are you going on a trip and looking for an interesting place to stay? Have you tried Aribnb? What is Aribnb? It is a website with rooms for rent in houses and apartments around the world. The company, based in San Francisco was started by RISD grads in 2007. The basic premise is there are lots of houses and apartments with a room sitting empty and lots of people not interested in staying in a Motel 6 or Holiday Inn.
The company was founded when The Industrial Design Society was holding it's yearly design conference in San Francisco and there just weren't enough rooms to accommodated the attendees. The co-founders had some extra space in their loft and decided to rent it out to conference attendees.
Airbnb's concept is not unlike that of coach surfing but a bit more upmarket. They offer a accommodations running from a futon in a corner to grand houses all over the world. Depending on your needs there will more than likely be a space for you. This isn't five star hostelry it is staying in some one's home.
For the renter it is a bit of extra income and insured for $50,000. For the rentee it is a reasonably priced room that offers a change from a commercial hotel.

The Space Shuttle Endeavor Coming to LA

The retired Space Shuttle is about to become Los Angeles' newest star attraction. The California Science Center in Exposition Park will be it new home. Los Angeles being the entertainment capital is not letting come in quietly. On September 20th the Endeavor will fly over the city landing at LAX. On August 25th NASA sent a jet on a recon mission over the city looking for the best place to photo the event. The jets flew very fast and very low a dry run for the Endeavor's arrival in September. The shuttle will stay at LAX until October 13th when the Endeavor will travel on surface streets

approximately 12 miles. Half way to the final destination the Endeavor will stop for a bit on Crenshaw Blvd. While it is stopped the will be a "Half-Time" show choreographed by Debbie Allen. It really doesn't get more Hollywood than that. Then, the shall we call it parade will continue onto to Exposition Park and the California Science Center.

"Mutha is Half a Word" LaWanda Page

She became famous as Aunt Esther the bible toting purse wielding sister-in-law of Redd Foxx on Sanford and Son. "You fished eyed fool" and "Watch it sucka" were two of her most uttered phrases. LaWanda Page and Redd Foxx had been friends for years before they starred on television together. Redd Foxx knew her when she was Alberta Peal living is St. Louis, MO.
LaWanda Page started out in the night club circuit of the south working the night clubs she was known as The Bronze Goddess of Fire as she did a fire eating act. Her career took around the country and she ended up in LA doing stand up. Her act can only be described as raunchy but hilarious. LaWanda returned to St. Louis to care for an elderly mother when Redd Foxx was offered the role of Fred Sanford. The character of Aunt Esther hadn't been cast and Foxx called her to ask her to audition for the role. She went out to LA and was cast. The producers weren't too happy with her and decided that she would have to be fired and the role recast until Redd Foxx put his foot down and said No LaWanda on Foxx! She went on to create one of the most memorable characters of 1970's television.
Aunt Esther the pious church goer could not have been futher from LaWanda's act.

After Sanford and Son LaWanda went back to doing stand up and would revive the Aunt Esther character for Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts. She also did a handful of movies television appearances and commercials. Her most famous commerical was for Church's Chicken. LaWanda also had a recording career and put out six comedy records as well as doing a vocal track on RuPaul's "Supermodel (You Better Work)".
LaWanda Page died 2002 at the age of 81. She was survived by her daughter and evangelist preacher.

Waffle-tini Ewww

National Waffle day in coming up next month on the 24th of September. There is a liquor company from Syosset, New York that puts out a line of waffle flavored vodka. Why would anyone want waffle flavored vodka? Why does anyone want flavored vodka at all? To promote their dubious conconction "Georgi" vodka has created a cocktail called the "waffle-tini". Umm Umm! Breakfast with a buzz. Where can you get one of these beverages? At the premier being held where else but at the Holiday Inn Express in Stony Brook on Long Island. How up market!

Calling All Ladies in Black!

It was 86 years ago that Rudolph Valentino left this mortal coil. The Sheik was a mere 31 sexy years old when he died in New York of pleurisy. What is pleurisy you ask yourself, well it is a disease that really doesn't exist anymore thanks to anti-biotics. It is the kind of disease that many a heroine in a romance novel falls prey to.
Rudolph Valentino the Latin lover and biggest grossing star of the 1920's was more than a just dashing figure he was a heart throb. He was the original matinee idol. The announcement of his death made women literally swoon. His funeral in New York was a mad house. 100,000 mourners stood in line to view the body. Polish actress Pola Negri collapsed upon seeing the casket. Valentino's body was then sent via train to Los Angeles where another equally elaborate funeral was arranged. As Valentino was a young man and had been in good health he had no final resting spot and one had to quickly arranged. His friend and mentor June Mathis offered her crypt in what is now Hollywood Forever Cemetery. This was meant to be a temporary resting spot but here it is 86 years later and there he lies.

One of the oddest of all results of the icon's death is the Lady in Black. The Lady or as it must be assumed Ladies in Black appear at Valentino's crypt dressed in widows weeds leaving roses. As he died 86 years ago and the Lady in Black still appears one must assume that the mantle has been passed down through at least two generations. This is just a myth I hear you saying but I am here to tell you the Lady in black is real! I have seen her with my own slightly disbelieving eyes. She puts on a show too! The weeping is world class. The Lady in Black I have seen also added a bit of low singing in a vaguely foreign language that was indecipherable. It was an over all mind boggling effect.

How Not to Make it in Hollywood

Unknown actor Vivek Shah will be able to teach a course in not making it in Hollywood if he gets out of jail. Vivek Shah was arrested recently for attempting to extort money from Harvey Weinstein one of Hollywood's heaviest hitters. Shah sent Mr. Weinstein a letter to kill a member of the Weinstein unless money was deposited into an off shore bank account. Oddly this has worked out for Vivek Shah. He was arrested outside of his family's home in Chicago. Mr Shah was a West Hollywood resident and aspiring actor with small roles in a few TV shows. It seems his 15 minutes are now over!

Do Not Mess with LL Cool J

If you are a burglar you need to know who's house you are burgling. An unidentified man broke into the home of LL Cool J last night and he got his ass kicked! After what LAPD described as a knock down drag out fight the man was detained by LL Cool J in his kitchen to wait for the arrival of the police.

Want a Piece of Crime History?

Have you ever wanted to won your own piece of American crime history? If you have this is just the spot for you. The home that the infamous Ma Baker lived in is on the market.

Kate "Ma" Barker was know as Arizona Donnie Clark when she was born. Arizona or Arrie married a man named George Clark in the late 1880's. They got themselves a book of bad baby names and picked out 5 for their sons  Herman, Lloyd, Arthur, Fred and Willmer. George it turned out was an alcoholic and the boys were all bad seeds. Ma as their mother took care of them and helped them when they were in trouble with the "law". George did a runner or was kicked out no one is sure to this day. Ma was alone with her boys. Ma's oldest son Herman committed suicide while during a shoot out in Wichita. The rest of the boys were in and out of jail and eventually became part of the Barker-Karpis gang. Fred Barker and Alvin Karpis had a multi state crime spree in the 30's and were at one time America's most wanted men. J.Edgar Hoover and his crack team of g-men tracked the gang down to Ma's house in Ocklawaha, Florida and in 1935 had a shoot out there. Fred and Ma Barker were killed there. Over the years the story has become told that Ma Barker was the criminal mastermind but in truth she was really just a bad mother to a bunch of bad boys. She merely aid and abetted she never planned any of the crimes. It has been said that she "couldn't plan breakfast" never mind a crime spree. Many think J.Edgar Hoover made up the story to cover up shooting an old woman in her home.

Ma's house is now on the market and from the photos of it more or less the same as when Ma was mowed down that January morning in 1935. The bullet holes are still intact. The asking price is a mere $1,000,000. It is lake front property just 62 miles out of Orlando, the perfect winter hide out.

Prince Harry Frolics

Poor Prince Harry can't seem to do anything with out causing an uproar. The unmarried Prince is 27 and in Vegas where apparently things don't stay. He was having a bit of a lark and was photographed nude. The photos have now gone public thanks to TMZ. The saddest part is that one of Harry's "friends" has ratted him out. Nice friends!
Dance Harry Dance! He is third in line to the throne and the second his brother sires a child his rank drops. The likelihood of him ever becoming King in next to nil so have some fun while you are young. At least he looks good nude where as most people appearing nude in public shouldn't.

Dick Van Dyke Lifetime Achivement Award

The legendary Dick Van Dyke is receiving a lifetime achievement award from SAG. He will get the award at the Screen Actors Guild awards ceremony in January. It seems about time.
The man is 86 years old! It is had to believe he is 86 but he is.
Dick Van Dyke is a performer that can do just about anything. He can sing, dance and act. The only thing he seems to have had a time with was a decent English accent. He is most remembered for his role as Rob Petrie on the Dick Van Dyke Show of the 1960's. Based on the creator Carl Reiner's time as a writer for Your Show of Shows the Dick Van Dyke Show, still seen in reruns, is considered to be a sitcom masterpiece.
Dick Van Dyke and his younger brother Jerry were raised in the mid-west. His father was of Dutch ancestry and his mother a descendant of a passenger of the Mayflower. Mr Van Dyke's career really started during his service in World War II. After the was he was living in LA. Dick Van Dyke married  Margerie Willett on a radio show called "Bride and Groom". They eventually had 4 children and were married for 34 years. That's a reality show! Van Dyke had an act in the 50's where he would lip sync to old 78 records. His body and his ability has always been his strength.

Two of the biggest family movies star Dick Van Dyke. Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang have been seen by generations of families are continue to do so. His performance of Bert in "Mary Poppins" defines what way too many American's believe to be the ultimate Cockney. All chimney sweeps should look like Bert. His characterization of the old Mr. Dawes (credited to the anagram Nackvid Keyd) is brilliant. "What was the name of his other leg?"
The Dick Van Dyke Show was his break through and possible masterpiece. He worked on camera with Mary Tyler Moore, Rose Marie and the genius of the one liners, Morey Amsterdam. This was a sitcom that has set the bar for all other sitcoms. There is nothing more to be said about the Dick Van Dyke Show other than perfect.
Dick Van Dyke has had a long television career after the original show went off the air. He starred in a second Dick Van Dyke Show in the 70's where he was married to Hope Lange. During this period Van Dyke realized he was an alcoholic and he needed to sober up. He did!
"Diagnosis Murder" brought him back to series television for 8 years. On this show Dick Van Dyke was able to work with Barry Van Dyke his son. On this show he played a doctor who solved crimes.
The stage also has been a Van Dyke venue. He starred in "Bye Bye Birdie" on Broadway and later in life starred in the "Gin Game" reuniting with Mary Tyler Moore.

He deserves to receive the SAG Lifetime Achievement Award. He in his lifetime has achieved.

Thank You For all the Laughs Phyllis Diller

"My Platex Living Bra Died"
"I wore a peek-a-boo blouse, they peeked and then they booed"

Providence's Arcade

Providence, Rhode Island is a city with a lot of American "firsts". The first Baptist church, the first diner and the first indoor shopping center. The Arcade is the first shopping center. Built in 1828 the Arcade was designed to look like a Greek temple. It is a temple of commerce. The 216 foot building that spans a lot between Westminster and Weybosset streets was designed by architects Russell Warren and James C. Bucklin and is basically symmetric except for one little difference. The buildings facades are different.

 One side has a stepped pediment the other a simpler one. The story is that the two architects couldn't agree on which was best so they each had their way. The three story building is covered with a glass roof allowing natural light to fill the open space inside. The ground floor has traditionally been filled with food stalls and restaurants the second with small shops and the third with a mixture of shops and offices. The Arcade has many times been doomed to be torn down but in 1976 it was designated a National Historic Landmark saving it eternally from the wreckers ball. This however doesn't mean it is considered a successful money maker. The Arcade has been sold dozens of times over the years. It is currently owned by Granoff Associates a Rhode Island development company. Granoff closed the Arcade in 2008 with plans to rehab the building into a single store. This did not come to be and it has recently been announced that the Arcade will once again reopen as a shopping mall.
The facades are the building's most striking feature. There are 12 massive monolithic 21 foot columns that were dragged 13 miles by oxen from a local quarry. These columns are enormous. The interior is equally beautiful. There are two upper shopping levels with bridges connecting them over the ground floor. Running along the edges of the upper levels are filagreed wrought iron rails topped with oak. The shops on these levels tradionally house non-chain jewelry and clothing stores as well as not for profit organizations.

Providence is a city with scores of architectual gems and the Arcade is the jewel in the crown.

Madonna Sued, 333 Million Rubles

Madonna the mononymous pop star and shit stirrer has been sued by a group of anti-gay Russian activists. Their suit claims they are offended by her support for gay rights. She has been sued for 333 million Rubles the equivalent of 10 and a half million dollars. Madonna just performed to sold out houses in Russia where she also supported the Russian punk band Pussy Riot.
Frankly Madonna is guilty of the charges. She does support gay rights. Let's face it her fan base is mainly gay men.  Love her or hate her Madonna speaks her mind.
There are better reasons to sue Madonna other than her support for gay rights. How about suing her for bad taste or dressing inappropriately for a fifty plus year old woman. What about her dreadful line of clothing? The list goes on but supporting gay rights is definitely not one of her faults.

Lucille van Pelt, Psychiatrist

Lucille (Lucy) van Pelt came into being in 1952. She was a creation of Charles Schultz but to generations of kids she is real. We all know Lucy the crabby, bullying, football jerking, psychiatrist and her faults and foibles. She is the older sister of Linus and Rerun and nemesis of Charlie Brown. She also has a softer romantic side; her love for Schroeder, a musician. She is bad ass.
Lucy may have seemed mean but really she was just a rocker girl. You would have to be a blockhead to mess with her. She'll slug ya! She was also an entrepreneur. How many kids did you know who had a lemonade stand? Lucy had a psychiatric help stand. For most of her career as a psychiatrist Lucy only charged a nickle it wasn't until the 80's when faced with the rising costs of hot chocolate she raised her price to 7 cents.
Sure she was vain and always wanted to be the pageant queen. Haven't we all wanted to say "You do think I'm pretty don't you." with a clinched fist. She always had her girl friends Violet and Frieda to watch her back. But as any female will tell you, keep an eye on them when they are around Schroeder. Her only real threat was from Peppermint Pattie. Both Peppermint Patti and her Alice B. Toklas, Marcie called her Lucille. Lucy knew to stay clear of those girls.
Lucy focused most her aggressive energy towards her younger brother Linus and blockhead neighbor Charlie Brown. She was known to torment them whenever she had the chance. Linus was often her servant and Charlie Brown, even though he was her patient, received the sharp end of her tongue many times.

Love her or hate her Lucy is one part of us. If you were born in the later half of the 20th century in the USA you know Lucy.

San Francisco's Brown Twins

Marian and Vivian Brown are San Francisco icons. The 85 year old twin sisters originally from Kalamazoo Michigan have lived in San Francisco since the 1970's. They were trained as teachers but when they moved to San Francisco they worked as secretaries one for a bank the other for an insurance company. Now retired and until recently they were seen around town in their snappy matching outfits posing for photos with tourists. Marian is now living alone in their Nob Hill apartment as Vivian who is suffering from Alzheimer's is in an area hospital.
The Brown twins became media stars after their retirement appearing in television commercials and on talk shows both local and national. Now that Vivian is in the hospital Marian is alone and rather lonely. She is only able to see her sister once a week as the cab ride costs her $30 and she lives on social security because the commercial residuals have dried up. Former Mayor Willie Brown has promised to help the sisters out as well as Jewish Family and Children's Services. Marian and Vivian would ideally like to be in an assisted living center but the cost is out of their reach. Donations for the ladies can be made through San Francisco Emergency Assistance Fund their website is: www.jfcs.org . Uncle Vito's Pizza the restaurant where the Brown sisters have eaten everyday for years now accepts donations to pay for Marian's evening meal. Marian enjoys a mini pizza, glass of wine and slice of cake at the cost of $20.

This is the time for San Franciscan's to stand up and support the Brown sisters. Marian and Vivian Brown are part of what makes San Francisco the great city it is.

Give it up for Ruth Buzzi

Ruth Buzzi needs to be given more respect! She was a riot and frankly still is. Ruth Buzzi was an comic actress most famous for her stint on "Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In" and her most famous of character's Gladys Ormphby, spinster. Buzzi was a fixture on Laugh-In after making her mark on  The Steve Allen and  Gary Moore Shows.

Born in Westerly, Rhode Island and raised a minute away in Stonington, Connecticut Ruth Buzzi studied acting at the Pasadena Playhouse. She appeared on Broadway and did a lot of TV appearances.One of her first big roles was on "That Girl" playing Marlo Thomas' friend. After Laugh-In she went on to do a Sid and Marty Kroft show co-starring with Jim Nabors. Buzzi has notably made appearances on The Muppet Show and Sesame Street where she played Ruthie on many episodes.

Despite all of her later work she will forever be remembered as an original Laugh-in cast member. She along with Joanne Worley, Goldie Hawn, Atre Johnson and Lily Tomlin and many others went on to be stars because of that short run show but ground breaking show.

Welcome to the World of the Unemployed

In an economy that is not so hot you would think Los Angeles would want to keep the marijuana dispensaries open. They employ a lot of people. When the ban takes effect there is going to be a wave of out of work dudes and cool chicks; never mind all those Kush Doctors! It isn't like the Kushe Dr.s can just shut down and go into general practice. Umm; if they could the wouldn't be kush doctors. The people I feel sorry for are the folks behind the counters. They are just doing their jobs and trying to pay their rent. It isn't like they can now get get a job for some big corporate business. Where was your last job? "A pot store". It just doesn't say hire me to many an employer because of the stigma.
There how how many pot store in LA? Lets low ball it and say 200. Each of those stores has at least a handful, if not more, employees. When you multiply that and then add in the kush Dr's and their kush receptionists you are talking thousands of people unemployed for no good reason. You still see bars and liquor store open don't you? What's the difference?

Kenny the Clown in Hot Water

Children's party and Street performer Kenny the Clown is in trouble of sorts. He was visited by the police who told him he was in possession of a stolen iPad. Not only was the iPad stolen it was stolen in a break in at the home of the late Steve Jobs in Palo Alto.

Kenny the Clown who's real name is Kenneth Kahn is a street performer and one time candidate for mayor of the city of San Francisco. He was given the iPad by his friend Kariem McFarlin. McFarlin has been arrested for the break in at Jobs home when several iPads along with jewelry were stolen. Mr. McFarlin gave an iPad to Kenny the Clown and Kenny downloaded music onto it. He downloaded "The Pink Panther Theme" and some Michael Jackson songs to use while entertaining kids at parties.

This is not the first time Kenny has had a run in with the law. He was arrested by the San Francisco police for juggling flames whilst skate boarding in Fisherman's Wharf. He was brought in and had his mug shot taken in full make up. This time Kenny could be in real hot water as he has received stolen goods.

Googie is so LA

If you love modern architecture you love Googie. What is Googie? If you have seen a sweeping arch or building shaped like a space ship you have seen a Googie building. The modern style known now as Googie was more or less created by John Lautner when he designed a coffee shop in West Hollywood called Googie's. Built looking like a Jetson's building Googie's inspired Lautner and his contemporaries to create spaces fit for the space age. Angles were re-thought and skewed, soaring lines and dramatic cantilevers replaced the Bauhaus box. Drive-in restaurants favored the style and made it popular. It was a new world and it was time for a new architecture.
Los Angeles embraced this new form of architecture and made it its own. To this day it is impossible to drive through LA without passing a Googie building. Made to be looked at from the seat of a convertible car Googie buildings are always a delight to the eye.