Classic Home: vintage mechanical banks

See pictures of the largest mechanical bank auction ever at www.morphyauctions.com/steckbeck1.html.

Also see the segment on this on the CBS Sunday Morning show website (search this site for link). The auction brought in over 7 million. Some individual banks went for hundreds of thousands of dollars. This gentleman had the largest known collection.

When shopping look out for reproductions, though at least they are affordable and still fun. Just don't pay a vintage price for a repro.

Classic Entertainment: NFL vintage uniforms

The Jets and Steelers wore "throwback" uniforms this weekend which is fun. Think the Bills did last weekend.

See www.nfl.com and click on Game Center Week 4 or other week scores to see pictures.

Did you see the retro uniforms the Eagles wore last year? Whoa.

I've liked the vintage uniforms the Iowa Hawkeyes, Air Force Falcons, and Army Black Knights have worn recently.

Classic Entertainment: classic movies on Blu-ray

The Godfather, Ironman, Indiana Jones, and Disney's Sleeping Beauty are among those now out on the new Blu-ray high definition DVDs.

Classic Entertainment: The Radio City Rockettes

See the DVD on their Christmas Spectacular Show at www.timelife.com/radiocity.

Classic Home: Nostalgia Electrics

See www.nostalgiaelectrics.com for vintage styled popcorn makers, etc.

Classic Entertainment: new College Basketball Hall of Fame and experience

See http://www.collegebasketballexperience.com/halloffame.aspx for the new hall of fame in Kansas City (more final fours than any city) and the interactive "experience"...shooting stations, ESPN Studio, etc.

First inducted were Coach Naismith, Coach Wooden, Coach Smith, Oscar Robertson, and Bill Russell.

Classic Home: Barbasol shaving cream

See www.barbasol.com for The Original.

Classic Entertainment: The great Paul Newman

Paul passed on this weekend. As George Clooney said he set the bar very high for actors and all of us. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Newman.

In an interview replayed on Larry King, Mr. Newman said he was hustled on the set of The Hustler. He won $1 in each of the first three games of a pool match against Jackie Gleason, then Gleason took him for $200 in the 4th game. Funny.

I had just watched a movie with him and Julie Andrews Friday night before hearing the news Saturday. I called my mom as she was a fan. I stood next to him once at the Long Beach grand prix when a friend's uncle who was a racing executive got us into the Andretti pit before the race. Looked at the guy next to me and it was him. I was a little awed and didn't say a thing.

He was a racing fan and great philanthropist. Married to Joanne Woodward for 50 years. A WWII veteran who became an American icon.

Out of many, go watch Cool Hand Luke, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Sting, and The Verdict. Dad and I used to say "hello" to each other by pushing our noses to the side like Newman and Redford did in The Sting.

Sir, thank you. Rest in Peace.

Classic Entertainment: Miracle at St. Anna movie

See www.youtube.com/watch?v=nj4L0mqBlMc for the trailer on the Spike Lee film set in WWII.

Also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miracle_at_St._Anna for some background.

Sad that some southern U.S. restaurants would not serve black American servicemen but would serve white German prisoners.

Classic Entertainment: Flash of Genius movie

See www.flashofgenius.net about the inventor who took on an auto manufacturing giant.

Greg Kinnear is good.

Classic Travel: Historic Hotels

See www.historichotels.org for classic hotels across America, Europe, and Mexico.

Reservations made through this organization support the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

One of the first places I look when selecting a hotel.

Classic Travel: The Palmer hotel in Chicago

Another Chicago great is at http://www.palmerhouserestoration.com/.

See the virtual tour.

Classic Travel: The Drake hotel in Chicago

My favorite classic hotel because I stayed there every fall for five years with my dad when we attended the Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute fall meeting.

I am trying to remember the name of their famed seafood soup that they added sherry to.

See www.thedrakehotel.com.

Classic Clothing: Pony athletic shoes

Remember this brand? Thought they were gone but no.

See www.pony.com including the vintage page.

Classic Entertainment: American Masters on PBS

Great 3 evening show on Warner Brothers movie studios this week narrated by Clint Eastwood.

See http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/.

Classic Travel: Best Classic Hotels in NYC

See the article with links to the hotels: www.hotelchatter.com/story/2006/1/31/121047/552/hotels/NY_Post_Celebrates_Classic_NYC_Hotels

I walked in Central Park on my 40th birthday. Hope to get back soon.

Classic Brand: Adidas shoes

See http://www.adidas.com/. Note the Originals page for the classic shoes like the Superstar... once worn at the substate high school basketball tourney at the vintage fieldhouse Vets Auditorium by a certain Dragon and pictured in the Des Moines Register the next day with his best man also sporting the Superstar.

Classic Brand: Hot Wheels and Matchbox toys

I especially like the Hot Wheels Classics line which are the replicas (with the red lines on the tires) of those we had in the '60s and '70s.

See www.hotwheels.com

Classic Restaurant: This week's ESPN Taste of the Town

In Auburn, Alabama: http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/video/videopage?videoId=3600182

Classic Restaurant: Fair Oaks Pharmacy

See the nostalgic soda and ice cream fountain at this pharmacy in Pasadena along with other "Ice Cream Paradise" recommendations at:

http://www.travelchannel.com/Travel_Ideas/Food_and_Wine/ci.Ice_Cream_Paradise.artTravelIdeasFmt?vgnextfmt=artTravelIdeasFmt

Classic Entertainment: WGN Retro Sundays

See classic shows on television channel WGN not to mention James Bond and other classic movies and the Chicago Cubs and Bulls.

See www.wgnamerica.com/retro-sundays.html

Classic Brand: Champion clothing

See www.championusa.com for classic look T-shirts etc. with the little C on the sleeve.

Classic Brand: Wrigley's gum

Mom loved Doublemint and I loved Juicy Fruit.

See www.wrigley.com and www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmFXQEKpcA&feature=related for a vintage commercial.

Double Your Pleasure.

Classic Brand: Baskin Robbins

This was always a real treat...Dad taking us to Baskin Robbins where I always got Oregon Blackberry and Robin always got Daiquiry Ice.

See www.baskinrobbins.com and note the history under the About Us page.

Classic Brand: Old Spice

For the classic after shave, deoderant, and other see www.oldspice.com.

Also see a vintage Old Spice commercial at www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMoyCvThViQ.

Though the one I remember is the one with the sailor.

Classic Entertainment: Spain on the Road Again

See details on another fine PBS show with classic recipes, architecture, scenery, etc., not to mention two good looking actresses, at www.spainontheroadagain.com.

I caught some of it after American Experience last night. Gwenyth Paltrow speaks fluent Spanish and I expect we'll see more of the actress from Spain...I hope so!

It is always amazing when you hear of European cathedrals that took 500 years to build...10 plus generations in those times.

Classic Brand and Classic Sport: Dr. Pepper and Dr. J

See the TV ad for this classic soda with the great basketball player Julius Erving or "Dr. J" under Entertainment at www.drpepper.com.

Classic Entertainment: Cloris Leachman on Dancing with the Stars

Must see video from last night's show of this classic Oscar-winning actress and classic sport:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JYQ5DVd_6M

I believe she is from Des Moines.

See show info at http://abc.go.com/primetime/dancingwiththestars/index?pn=index.

Classic Entertainment: The American Experience show

See http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/. Tonight is the second part of the show on Ronald Reagan. It is a great series.

Look for the vintage book Printer from Udells sp? This is the book that inspired him to politics as a child.

Classic Entertainment: New on DVD

Leatherheads is the movie led by George Clooney set around vintage football. The big guy in the movie played for KU.

Speed Racer is the movie based on the classic cartoon I remember watching as a child.

See www.redbox.com. Redboxes are the DVD machines you see at McDonald's, the grocery store, etc.

Classic Brand: Louisville Slugger

Congrats to the US pro golf team in bringing home the Ryder Cup in Louisville KY this weekend!

The broadcast did a piece on Louisville Slugger, the baseball bat company.

See www.slugger.com and note the link to the museum.

I'd love to tour both the factory and museum sometime.

Classic Entertainment: Don Rickles

Don Rickles won an Emmy last night for his variety special, Mr. Warmth.

Talk about a classic talent.

See http://www.thehockeypuck.com/ for info and his schedule. There is a link there if you wish to buy the DVD of the special.

Classic Entertainment: Two great authors

Speaking of the movie John Adams it was written by David McCullough, one of our great authors and gentlemen. If you rent the miniseries, watch the biography about the author that comes with it. His other books include those about Harry Truman and the Brooklyn Bridge.

See www.davidmccullough.com

Another I like is W.E.B. Griffin who writes great WWII and other novels.

See www.webgriffin.com

Classic Entertainment: Emmys and Oscars Memoriam

The Emmys were on last night. Alot of attention was given to classic shows including an honorary Emmy to Tommy Smothers of the great The Smothers Brothers Show. The miniseries John Adams about our great second president also won. Rent it. It is very good.

Here are the greats who have passed on this past year: www.emmys.org/inmemoriam/imemoriam60list.php

And here is the In Memoriam video from the 2008 Oscars:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyeuPtuAgYU

Classic Sport: Cubs Win!

Central Division champs!

This classic team has been looking for a World Series title for 100 years.

See http://www.cubs.mlb.com/.

Classic Sport: The Ryder Cup

Watch the US battle the Europeans this weekend. The best golfers in the world.

See http://www.rydercup.com/.

Along with Mr. Weiskopf, four of my all time favorite golfers are named Burns, Carlson, Willcockson, and Mullaney.

A guy named Couples is OK too. Reading a book about him. He didn't like to answer the phone because someone might be calling. A way of saying he was shy. He didn't have a drivers license in high school or college. One of his teammates and best friends at the U. of Houston was Jim Nance, the sportscaster.

KC's own, the great Tom Watson, is another. Met him at the free clinic he gives in KC for kids.

Met the great Arnold Palmer in Des Moines during the US Senior Open.

Classic Sport: Goodbye Yankee Stadium

I salute you...http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1145451/index.htm.

Made it there once by myself while on business.

The one I wish most I had visited but is now gone is Boston Garden.

My first pro venue was the Kansas City Kings (Dad took me to see Oscar Robertson.) when they played in Municipal Arena in KC, now the home of the Missouri Kansas City Kangaroos Division I basketball teams. Municipal has hosted more NCAA Final Fours than any other arena. The Sprint Center has joined Kemper Arena and Municipal Arena in KC. Kansas City hopes to get another NBA (and or NHL) team to follow the Kings and Scouts (now NJ Devils) but I don't think it's going to happen soon.

My second pro venue was the Minnesota Twins in their old outdoor ballfield. They played the Orioles and manager Earl Weaver sure liked to chew on the umpire.

Classic Entertainment: Charles Phoenix vintage tour hits KC

The aforementioned Mr. Phoenix brings his vintage tour to Kansas City. See https://www.acteva.com/booking.cfm?bevaID=166860 and http://www.charlesphoenix.com/.

I think it would be fun to go on these. He's a character.

Classic Home: Hallmark ornaments

Many classic things in their ornament lines at http://www.hallmark.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/article1000110051/HallmarkSite/KeepsakeOrnaments/2008/Series%20Ornaments/Continuing_Seriesstores. Note the '70 Chevelle and '60 Ford pickup among others.

Hallmark is based in Kansas City, Missouri. There is a Hallmark Visitors Center at Crown Center which Hallmark developed, hence the Crown name.

Classic Travel: Disney parks free on birthdays

See info http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/disneyparks/en_US/WhatWillYouCelebrate/index?name=FreeOnYourBirthdayPage&bhcp=1.

Hard to beat a Disney vacation not including the lines. We went to Disney World when it opened in 1975. I remember liking the monorail best and the way it went through the Contemporary Resort where we stayed. Space Mountain wasn't built yet.

Classic Entertainment: The best actor

I'm for Jimmy Stewart, who was also an Air Force pilot and general officer. Here he is with Iowan Donna Reed in It's a Wonderful Life:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qf6e6dY1F0E

Classic Sport: THE BIG O

This is THE athlete who is framed above my son's bed:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CXzjhIthms

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOBkjAb1k4g&NR=1

Once AVERAGED a triple double.

Classic Entertainment: Favorite Television

My favorites have been, some of which I'll deem instant classics, are X-Files, The Andy Griffith Show, Law & Order, Seinfeld, Everybody Loves Raymond, Cheers, and King of Queens. I'm sure I'm forgeting some in these lists.

Here's one of the first shows I remember watching (and liking): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CF_49tWPNWA.

Classic Entertainment: My favorite movies

Scrooge (the 1951 version with Alistair Sim), Patton, Hoosiers, The Sound of Music, Hunt for Red October, Rear Window, and the James Bond movies are the ones which first come to mind.

If you are a Scrooge/A Christmas Carol fan another good one you don't run into very often is An American Christmas Carol with Henry Winkler.

"Bond, James Bond.": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFZtMWs31oo

And I liked this montage too for some reason:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8BxNz1ineE&feature=related

Classic Sport: My favorites

OK it's all about me today. Someone is now in his late 40s.

My favorite teams while growing up in the '60s and '70s...Drake University basketball, Iowa State U. football, Boston Celtics basketball, Pittsburgh Steelers football, and Miami Dolphins football are the definate top five.

Players? Oscar Robertson, John Havlicek, Otis Taylor, Larry Bird, Roman Gabriel, Paul Warfield, Lynn Swann, George Amundson, and Wayne Kreklow. Anyone know who the last two are?

Some of my dad's favorites were Roger Maris, Ted Williams, and Jesse Owens. Along with Oscar and Larry of course. Like them Dad is a native of Indiana and he refereed some of Oscar's high school games. Like Oscar after him, Dad was All City in Indianapolis.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_Kreklow (man Wikipedia has it all!)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iowa_State_Cyclones_football

Classic Home: Avon collecting

Here is some info on my other new collecting hobby, Avon cologne bottles. They have perfume bottles too but as a guy I like the cologne bottles. What is neat is they are inexpensive, found in thrift stores, mostly from the 70s, and there are many different ones. I look for things that represent things I've done, etc. like the baseball glove, football, and track shoe...the army jeep, the eagle, the quill and inkwell (I'm a Whittier College Poet.)...the red VW Bug (my mom drove one when I was little), the German Shepherd (my middle name is Sheppard, my mother's maiden name), the Eiffel Tower (we honeymooned in Paris), the Indy car, the Cardinal (Indiana state bird)...you get the picture.

See http://www.miniatures-and-collectibles.com/avon-collectibles.html.

Classic Home: vintage collecting in Martha Stewart

Martha Stewart's magazine and television show often have collecting ideas. I admit I look for them. The recent one I took up is vintage tourist souvenirs including the state and tourist site plates which we use. I like to find places we've visited. I also look for ash trays, boxes, glasses, pictures, etc. and I've found most of my things at thrift stores for a few dollars each.

See www.marthastewart.com.

Classic Sport: Original Six NHL hockey

As we approach another season on the ice here is some info on the original pro teams: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Original_Six.

Classic Home: vintage look appliances from Elmira

See these great new refrigerators and other at http://www.elmirastoveworks.com/.

Classic Entertainment: new movie about Ernie Davis, the football player

See www.theexpressmovie.com. The film will be in theatres next month.

He was the first black Heisman Trophy winner who died of leukemia before he could play in the pros.

Classic Brand: Oreo cookies

And here is some info on that great classic treat:

http://www.nabiscoworld.com/oreo/memories/.

I once left a big one on my bed in the middle of the night.

They can also be used as dangerous weapons, though don't try this at home. Right my favorite center and linebacker? Yes, the night of the Sasquatch. (To those not in the know, several high school football players camped on a river beach one night, after seeing a "bigfoot" enroute, and an Oreo cookie fight ensued. The center got the worst of it.)

Classic Entertainment: The Andy Griffith Show

I can't believe I've gone this far into this blog before mentioning The Andy Griffith Show.

Is it the best show ever? Many think so.

I just discovered you can watch entire episodes on TV Land's web site: http://www.tvland.com/fullepisodes/andygriffith/.

A sad day when we lost actor Don Knotts not long ago.

Classic Entertainment: TV Land

See cable station TV Land for great classic television, music, and other.

Their website: http://www.tvland.com/.

What I remember most from my after school TV watching days in the '70s are The Flinstones, The Beverly Hill Billies, The Munsters, The Jetsons, Adam 12, Leave it to Beaver, and especially The Andy Griffith Show and Gilligan's Island. Not to mention Oreo cookies!

Classic Entertainment: Top Song '82 Video Jack and Diane

Here's our Hoosier, Mr. Mellencamp: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcJz-x6idd8.

Is this the original video? I didn't remember it.

Classic Entertainment: Top Songs since 1950

From The Billboard: http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/yradish/26198/greatest-number-one-hits. Satisfaction, Good Vibrations, The Dock of the Bay, and Jack and Diane are my top picks at first take.

Classic Entertainment: The Drive-In Theater

See this site for history and a list of theaters still running: http://www.driveintheater.com/index.htm. Only 5% or so are left. What are you favorite drive-in memories? Keep it clean!

Classic Entertainment: "CBS Sunday Morning" television show

This great show is full of classic things, biographies, art, sports, history, entertainment, travel, etc. See http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/sunday/main3445.shtml. Yesterday it included a segment on the fall movies which include three set in WWII. The piece said such movies are popular as people are nostalgic for these times when the world and America and right and wrong seemed simpler and clearer. When you meet a serviceman or woman from WWII or other, tell them thank you.

Classic Entertainment: Indianapolis 500 auto race

For more on THE race see http://www.indy500.com/. "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing" is the largest single day sporting event in the world in terms of number of spectators which I believe has been as high as 400,000. My father used to have a parking spot on the outside of the rear strait away right next to the track...you could back in and pull out your chairs, grill, football, etc. and nap in the car before race time. The cars went by so fast...Dad loved bringing people for their first time as they often turned and ran when the cars initially went by.

Classic Brand: Wonder Bread

Wonder Classic is the bread I grew up on and I recently learned the spots on the bag represent the balloons that are let go at the start of every Indianapolis 500 race. My parents are natives of Indy and I grew up going to the race. My grandfather engraved the Borg Warner trophy which goes to the winner. See the hisory page at http://www.wonderbread.com/index.asp.

Classic Eatery: Seattle's Chinook's

Here's ESPN's latest Taste of the Town with Todd Blackledge:

http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/video/videopage?videoId=3586219

Classic Travel: Classic Hotels Change Hands

I was going to direct you to the Park Hyatt San Francisco and the Ritz Carlton Huntington Hotel in Pasadena but in looking for the websites I discovered both have changed ownership since my last visits. I used to visit both every month on business and they were my two classic favorites. The older greener setting in Old Pasadena was wonderful at the Huntington and they greeted you by name at this great hotel in San Francisco. I met former Texas Governor Ann Richards in the bar. No matter your leanings, she was another great classic. These hotels are now part of the Starwood Le Meridien and Langham groups. I hope the new owners keep up the great service. For you service men and women, both had significant government/military discounts. They best keep those up too!

http://www.starwoodhotels.com/lemeridien/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=1957

http://pasadena.langhamhotels.com/

Classic Clothing: Mitchell and Ness sports jerseys

The cadillac in vintage-look sports jerseys, but as you can see from the example, they're not inexpensive: http://www.mitchellandness.com/Products/Boston-Celtics-1986-Road-Jersey---Larry-Bird__7226-340-85LBIRD.aspx.

Classic Entertainment: I Love the '80s

The '70s made me think of the '80s, my two favorite decades because I grew up in them.

See the great series, one show for each year of the decade, on VH1 http://www.vh1.com/shows/dyn/i_love_the_80s/series.jhtml, and the I Love the '80s Strikes Back that followed this series.

Classic Entertainment: That '70s Show

Funny sitcom set in the '70s. Star Ashton Kutcher is an Iowan. Always have to point that out of course.

See http://www.that70sshow.com/.

Classic Entertainment: Another Great Football Rivalry

Near and dear to my heart is the Iowa State v. Iowa game which happens again tomorrow. I grew up a Cyclone fan and married a Hawkeye. My dad was an ISU supporter and his best friend was an Iowa guy. Very goood friends of mine went on to both schools. The underdog often wins. My first sports spectating memories are of the old Cyclone stadium in Ames. I remember waiting outside of the locker room one time to get autographs of some of the Oklahoma Sooner greats like the Selmon brothers.

I went looking for video of the old Jim Walden (Iowa State football coach) and Johnny Orr (Iowa State basketball coach) commercials for ISU that were copying the old Bartles and James wine cooler guys but instead I found this great one with Coach Orr, Coach Valvano, and Coach Vitale: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SfWN1AleyI.

Johnny Orr...now there's a classic.

Classic Brand: LaCoste clothing

I saw that Andy Roddick was sporting LaCoste at the US Open tennis tourney and I have seen this great classic 75 year old brand showing up in stores again. See http://www.lacoste.com/usa/main.html.

Gotta like the 'gator. Did we wear anything else in the '70s? This was before Polo hit in the '80s.

Classic Entertainment: Two great college football rivalries

Look for War as They Knew It by Rosenberg, a new book about the Michigan v. Ohio State rivalry.

Also look for A Civil War by Feinstein about the Army v. Navy games. I haven't read Mr. Rosenberg but I have enjoyed all of Mr. Feinstein's sports books.

The two greatest sports rivalries in my opinion.

I used to live in Los Angeles and UCLA v. Southern Cal has to be in the top three. Friends in Oklahoma and Nebraska may disagree.

Classic Entertainment: Ghostbusters and Spiderman

News reports said yesterday that Ghostbusters III and Spiderman IV are in creation. My favorite scene from Ghostbusters: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kueFW3sDgxY.

Many Shuubs and Zuuls died that day I can tell you.

Classic Entertainment: World War II trilogies

I am really enjoying the books from these two great authors. Each are writing a WWII trilogy and each has the first two currently in book stores. Mr. Atkinson's is a Pulitzer prize winning history that is easy and fun to read. I had the privilege of meeting him at the Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Jeff Shaara picked up where his late father left off after writing the great Killer Angels (Gettysburg movie in the post below is based on this book). Like his father's, his books are novels based on history and are wonderful.

Some funny Army lingo from The Day of Battle, Rick Atkinson's second book in the trilogy about Sicily and Italy: SNAFU (situation normal, all f'd up), SUSFU (situation unchanged, still f'd up), SAFU (self-adjusting f-up), TARFU (things are really f'd up), FUMTU (f'd up more than usual), JANFU (joint army navy f-up), JAAFU(joint anglo-american f-up), FUAFUP (f'd up and f'd up proper), and FUBAR (f'd up beyond all recognition).

In Tribute...Classic Entertainment: Stripes

On this solemn day I salute our troops by adding a little levity. Thank you to all our service men and women, including fire, police, emergency and health professionals, and their families. We must also remember those who were not in uniform who have died in the attacks and the ensuing war on terror.

See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hyy5xZkwsMA.

Classic Entertainment: Wikipedia

For all of your classic, vintage, nostalgic, traditional, and historical reference http://www.wikipedia.org/ is great great great. When I looked for Teem soda I noted the list of all sodas in U.S. history and when I looked for Golden Guides they had a list of every one. Wow.

Classic Entertainment: Little Nature Guides

And also from Golden Books from Western Publishing and then St. Martin's Press are these reference books now called Golden Guides. I loved these as well as a kid and still do. I bought a couple new copies at one of our National Park visitor centers.

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Guide.

Wikipedia.org is WONDERFUL.

Classic Entertainment: Little Golden Books

Didn't you love these books as a kid and don't you still for your kids? I like to collect the older ones. They are now 65 years strong. See http://www.randomhouse.com/golden/lgb/.

Classic Restaurant: B's Barbecue in Greenville NC

Here's the Chase Taste of the Town on ESPN on ABC college football from last weekend:

http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/video/videopage?videoId=3572710.

NC bbq with it's vinegary sauce is different from that of KC, or Texas, or Tennessee, etc. but they are all very very good.

I'll try to bring these videos to you every week.

Classic Restaurant: The Apple Pan in Los Angeles

Note the Taste of the Town segments with Todd Blackledge on the ESPN on ABC college football games:

http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/video/videopage?videoId=3564227.

I used to live in Hermosa Beach in the LA area. Worked in El Segundo for the Air Force and went to law school at Whittier. My favorite part of the LA eating experience was all the great breakfast places near the beach. Sadly I never made it to The Apple Pan...I love places like this.

Classic Food: Teem soda

Today is one of our namesake's birthdays, that of my little sister Robin.

I remember going to the grill near the pool (where Robin was a star swimmer...her name appears on a plaque on the outside wall next to this grill, along with another good friend named Robin whose family had the aforementioned Camaro next door) at our country club while growing up where I usually ordered a Teem to drink.

I wondered what happened to this tasty treat. It is explained here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teem.

Robin, happy birthday. I tip an imaginary Teem to you.

Classic Car: Chevrolet Camaro

See the coming new retro Camaro at http://www.chevrolet.com/camaro/.

This is the main classic car for me probably because I grew up next to a '60s version which was red with the two broad white stripes front to back.

I first saw the new one in the movie Transformers last year which is based on the classic cartoon series.

Classic Dog: French Bulldog

I am a proud owner of this classic comical lovable breed who always wants to be with you. He is our second.

I had never heard of one until meeting a friend's in Newport Beach CA. They look like some kind of cross of a small pig, large frog, and large bat. When a friend saw mine for the first time he said "What kind of mutant is that?"

I see them pictured more often in old books and sheet music. They were popular with the affluent city dweller.

See http://www.frenchbulldogclub.org/.

Classic Food: Toblerone chocolate

And as to the aforementioned Toblerone chocolate of Switzerland see www.toblerone.com which includes some history.

It is very very good and was introduced to me in Europe by an Italian from Pennsylvania named Luch85.

Classic Food: Lingonberries

Speaking of the great lingonberry of Sweden see www.felixlingonberries.com.

I bought some at Super Target.

Similar to cranberries, lingonberries are wonderful on meat too...I'd say even better.

Classic Travel: Travel Channel's Samantha Brown

I learned about Mr. Borg and his underwear while watching a favorite travel show. Samantha Brown and her Passport to Europe show was in Sweden.

This is a great show full of classic hotels, restaurants, museums, theaters, stores, etc.

I had a great time in Sweden with a good friend back in 1985 after graduating from the Air Force Academy. Upon arrival we immediately went looking for lingonberry pancakes. On the 24 hour! train ride back to Frankfurt, Germany we ran out of money and had to split a Toblerone candy bar and a beer for our last meal. The rest of the ride was spent waxing nostalgic about our mother's Thanksgiving dinners.

For more on Samantha Brown and her Travel Channel show see http://www.travelchannel.com/TV_Shows/Samantha_Brown.

Classic Entertainment: Tennis star Bjorn Borg

Speaking of the '80s, foreign accents, classic tennis, and those scantily clad see the great Bjorn Borg at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsT_b_cPgAY. I admired his quiet professionalism in this great great sport.

I say scantily clad as Bjorn now has an underwear line including a store in Sweden and maybe elsewhere. Search for Bjorn Borg underwear and you'll find multiple retailers.

Classic Entertainment: Olivia Newton-John song video

The aforementioned women's aerobics made me think of this video. Olivia was one of my favorites: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQXECBdPgEA. Note the classic metal tennis racquets.

Let's Get Physical!

Classic Clothing: Gridiron Classic by Reebok

Reebok has some great, classic styled t-shirts, sweat shirts, and other cool clothing in this line. Speaking of Reebok, remember when their shoes first came out in the '80s? Seems their white high top was the "in" shoe for women's aerobics.

Classic Brand: Prell shampoo

I hadn't used this classic shampoo (even the container says "Classic Prell") for ever until my wife purchased it and it showed up on the shelf in my shower.

It has a great fragrance that took me back. I'm hooked.

See http://www.prestigebrands.com/.

Classic Entertainment: Sports and War Movies

Well I am hooked on movie talk today. Another good sports film is Remember the Titans, starring Denzel Washington, also based on a true story. Full of good classic music too. A scene below at their training camp in Pennsylvania:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_HFCYz4x6o

And on the subject of the Gettysburg battle you must see this speech by Joshua Chamberlain as played by Jeff Daniels in the movie Gettysburg, based on the book Killer Angels, by Michael Shaara, a great great book.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aw8Tm550SJ0&feature=related

Have a great weekend.

Classic Entertainment: Rudy and Hoosiers video.

Had to look for some video after the mentions below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vR2wOHwJ-Jo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3E3bEH1Ov8&feature=related

You have to like http://www.youtube.com/.

Classic Entertainment: Sports Movies

Three of my favorite movies are hard to beat. As we enter high school and college sports season there is an excuse to watch them all once again. For football, the movie is Rudy, the true story about the Notre Dame walkon. For basketball, it is Hoosiers, the true story about the 1951 small town Indiana team. It still gets me when he is down to five players but plays with just four to teach the fifth boy a lesson. And for baseball, not so much of a sports story and not based on a true story, but a baseball setting in Fields of Dreams. This was Burt Lancaster's last movie. People still come to small town Dyersville, Iowa (also the home of Ertl toys/collectibles mentioned below) to see the baseball field in the corn field. Hoosiers stars Gene Hackman, another of my favorite actors. I think it is neat that these three movies, that are the top three on most best sports movies lists, are set in Indiana and Iowa where my parents and I are from. Speaking of Iowa, Sean Astin, who stars in Rudy, also stars in The Final Season, a true story about a small town Iowa baseball team. And for hockey fans another good one is Miracle on Ice about the 1980 USA gold medal hockey team. I can still remember sitting in the stands at my high school while watching my sister's varsity basketball game, which came before mine, when they announced the US win over the favored Russians. USA!

Classic Travel: Our National Parks

I love traveling to these places. I am always amazed at how beautiful our national parks are. See http://www.nps.gov/ for all U.S. parks which include monuments, battlefields, lakeshores, etc.

Classic Entertainment: The Public Library

Support your local library. Libraries have long been one of the centers of our communities and statistics show their use is on the upswing as people turn to them for less expensive summer and other entertainment...books, movies, music, computers, educational programs, newspapers, magazines, reference materials, etc. I remember enjoying the library when I was little, especially the old Carnegie library in Clear Lake IA where we spent some summers. I still enjoy going to any library.

Classic Movie: A Christmas Carol

Speaking of classic movies based on classic stories all must read and see A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. His book was first published in 1843 and what a writer he was. Ebeneezer Scrooge is the main character who becomes a good person with the help of four spirits. There have been several movies but the best is Scrooge from 1951 with Alistair Sim. Another I like is from 1979, An American Christmas Carol with The Fonz, Henry Winkler, as the Scrooge character. One you rarely see replayed that is good is Ms. Scrooge from 1979 with Cicely Tyson. My favorite story to this day.

Classic Movie: Sleepy Hollow

Halloween approaches and Sleepy Hollow is a great movie based on a classic story. Not too scary for the older kids and Johnny Depp and Christopher Walken are always good.

Classic Sport: High School Football

I am a former high school quarterback who continues to love the sport. Support your local junior and senior high school teams by attending their games. Always a good time. Go Broad Ripple, Go Indy Tech, go Saydel, go Des Moines Hoover, go Johnston*, go Des Moines Roosevelt, go Shawnee Mission Northwest...!

*Our helmets were gold like Notre Dame's. To Johnston Schools, bring 'em back!

Classic Travel: Holiday Inn

When I think of '60s and '70s hotel and motel travel with my parents and sister I think of Holiday Inn. A young friend once got ill after ordering king crab legs at one in Nebraska (why there?!) but fun times all the same. My wife and boys and I continue to look for the vintage "Holidomes", the large Holiday Inns with indoor pools, ping pong, miniture golf, etc. The one near our home has replaced the miniture golf with a badminton court! Some of these large hotels or motels are no longer under the Holiday Inn label. Somewhere on the site, though I'm not seeing it today, is/was a list of these Holidome Holiday Inns including those that are now Ramadas or whatever. See www.holidayinn.com.

Jack Daniels

America's classic whiskey. I remember my father telling me how much he enjoyed touring the plant in Lynchburg TN which I later did as well and enjoyed very much. I've mentioned our classic soft drink Coca Cola and of course Coke and Jack Daniels, otherwise known as a Jack and Coke, go very very well together. You couldn't have a more classic drink. See www.jackdaniels.com. They don't know for sure where the "Old No. 7" in the logo comes from...some theories are on the site.

Ferris Bueller's Day Off

Can't get enough of Ferris Bueller, the great classic movie from 1986. Here's another video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1Q4njFYbjc.

Ferrari California

Test drive the 2009 Ferrari California, albeit virtually, at http://www.ferraricalifornia.com/. This is the second rendition of the California...less than 100 were made of the 1961 original which was featured in the movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off...(see movie video of the car at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MxPoxxt7n0). See also http://www.ferrariusa.com/ and http://www.ferrariworld.com/. My 12 year old has announced that the '09 is his favorite car.

Classic Denim

Speaking of Levi's see this page on their site for some Levi Strauss history: http://www.levistrauss.com/Heritage/ForStudentsAndTeachers.aspx. Also note the "For the Collector" link and the story about the denim tuxedo for Bing Crosby.

Antiques Roadshow

I've mentioned before the great classic things on PBS. One of their most popular shows is Antiques Roadshow (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/roadshow/index.html), the show which appraises antiques and collectibles. Antiques are 100 years old or more. Most collectibles on the show will be 25 years old or more. The show I saw today valued a pair of vintage pre 1971 Levi's cinch back jeans at $1200-1500!

Supertramp's The Logical Song

See The Logical Song lyrics at http://www.nomorelyrics.net/supertramp-lyrics/130891-the_logical_song-lyrics.html. One of those songs that sticks in my mind. I can picture myself as a teenaged clerk at The Tower Shop mens clothing store (owned by the great Ron Burns) in Des Moines' Merle Hay (first Iowan killed in WWI) Mall listening to this song on the store's music system. Friends would stop by. I met comedian Red Skelton next door in the book store.

The Best in Classic Music

See the classic music sets at http://www.timelife.com/. You've seen the commercials with the great videos. I have one of the sets and it is wonderful stuff. Re the '80s I can still remember listening to the Supertramp Breakfast in America album and The Logical Song...more in next post.

Great Classic Christmas Ornaments and Other

Speaking of Christmas see wonderful classic look things at www.bronners.com. I like the ornaments of symbols, traditions, and legends. Or buy one to memorialize your event such as an Eiffel Tower ornament after a Paris vacation.

Die Cast Collectible Cars, Tractors, etc.

See the leader in die cast collectibles at http://www.ertl.com/. An Iowa company, so good things there!

I also noted today http://www.48pickup.com/ which is currently marketing die cast '48 and '56 pickup collectibles for the price of $10 plus shipping. Do some Christmas shopping.

Classic Movies and other on Cable TV

See Turner Classic Movies and American Movie Classics channels on your local cable and look for schedules at http://www.tcm.com/ and http://www.amctv.com/. Great movies and other like the Katherine Hepburn interview on a Dick Cavett Show replay on TCM I saw over the weekend and the Emmy Award winning Mad Men series about the '60s era advertising business on AMC. On the sites note also shopping, trivia, etc.