The East Cut, San Francisco: When a PR Agency Renames Your Neighborhood

Imagine that the name of your neighborhood, which has been established for over a century, doesn’t sit well with a local business association. To drum up more interest in the area–to clean things up and make it spiffy–they change the name. That’s what has happened in San Francisco, where an area was recently rebranded “The East… Continue reading The East Cut, San Francisco: When a PR Agency Renames Your Neighborhood

Incredibly High Guiyang City Skyscraper Fake Waterfall

A new waterfall cascading down the side of a skyscraper in China’s Guiyang City falls an amazing 108 meters (or 354 feet). This is nearly the same height as Zambia’s famous Victoria Falls (354 feet) and higher than Lower Yosemite Falls (320 feet) and Yosemite’s Vernal Fall (318 feet). Costing about 800 yuan ($118) per… Continue reading Incredibly High Guiyang City Skyscraper Fake Waterfall

Sands Hotel and Casino Sign in Las Vegas Was Mid-Century Perfection

When the Sands opened on December 15, 1952, it represented Las Vegas’ introduction to modern casino and hotel design. But the world wasn’t ready for it yet, as 1952 was a tender year for mid-century modern architecture: the Korean War was still being fought, Truman was still U.S. President. Few of the familiar signifiers of… Continue reading Sands Hotel and Casino Sign in Las Vegas Was Mid-Century Perfection

Midcentury Modern Lovefest with 1961’s “Bachelor in Paradise”

If you love midcentury modern style and you’re feeling down, few things are better than screening 1961’s Bachelor in Paradise, with Bob Hope and Lana Turner. This is not a witty movie; it is not important or classic at all. But it is a film that oozes delightful MCM-ness from every crack and pore. In fact, so… Continue reading Midcentury Modern Lovefest with 1961’s “Bachelor in Paradise”

Christopher Morley in the Age of Evil Cross-Dressing Men in Film

  It was the period when you could shoot, stab, punch, and humiliate cross-dressing men with complete abandon and glee. It was the 1970s. If the 1960s were all about peace, love, and understanding, many identity groups were still excluded going into the Seventies. A man who dressed like a woman in Seventies film and TV… Continue reading Christopher Morley in the Age of Evil Cross-Dressing Men in Film