ca. 1975, the original Zephyr (Z-Boys) skateboard team at the Del Mar Nationals, the first US national skateboarding competition — Shogo Kubo, Bob Biniak, Nathan Pratt, Stacy Peralta, Jim Muir, Allen Sarlo, Chris Cahill, Tony Alva, Paul Constantineau, Jay Adams, Peggy Oki, Wentzle Ruml – Image by Craig Stecyk. While the Z-Boys non-conformist style and brash behaviorContinue reading “THE UNLOCKING OF AMERICA’S CEMENT PLAYGROUND | DOGTOWN & Z-BOYS”
Category Archives: History
1954 MERCURY ROADLAMP KIT
An option for the 1954 Mercury passenger car was a roadlamp or fog light kit. These lights mounted in the front bumperettes. What makes them of interest to me is that they later became a rare option for the 1955 and 1956 Ford Thunderbird. Shown below is an NOS kit used in these cars. The switchContinue reading “1954 MERCURY ROADLAMP KIT”
Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper died a few minutes after 1 a.m. on Feb. 3, 1959.
CLEAR LAKE, Iowa–At 1 a.m. Friday, a handful of people will gather under a waxing moon on a gravel road about 5 miles north of here. As they listen to Don McLean lament “the day the music died” in his 1971 song American Pie, they’ll walk, as they do every year, to the site ofContinue reading “Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper died a few minutes after 1 a.m. on Feb. 3, 1959.”
Kenneth Howard a.k.a Von Dutch
Despite his genius and popularity, Dutch never made any money from striping. Money was something he detested. In this quote from a 1965 article Dutch explains his thoughts on money. “I make a point of staying right at the edge of poverty. I don’t have a pair ofContinue reading “Kenneth Howard a.k.a Von Dutch”
July 1st ……….On this Day
1995, DJ Wolfman Jack died of a heart attack. Was the master of ceremonies for the rock ‘n’ roll generation of the ’60s on radio, and later on television during the ’70s. 1956, Elvis Presley appeared on NBC- TV’s ‘The Steve Allen Show’ and performed ‘Hound Dog’, toContinue reading “July 1st ……….On this Day”
Studebaker Goes Bankrupt
STUDEBAKER HISTORY On this day in 1933, American automaker Studebaker, then heavily in debt, goes into receivership. The company’s president, Albert Erskine, resigned and later that year committed suicide. Studebaker eventually rebounded from its financial troubles, only to close its doors for the final time in 1966. The origins of the Studebaker Corporation date backContinue reading “Studebaker Goes Bankrupt”
Indoor Drag Racing?
Of course we know that for the most part organized drag racing started on the West Coast but not to be denied, the other states caught on quickly. When the guys back east decided to go drag racing, they really got serious. Unlike the West Coast where there was good weather almost year round, whenContinue reading “Indoor Drag Racing?”
This is the car that in 1954 could have “killed” the Corvette.
So, Chevrolet, being GM’s big sales and profit division, campaigned to GM to “kill” this car. When Chevy was coming out with its 6-cyl. sports car with its 2-speed “powerglide” transmission and side curtains, here was a sports car from Olds with a big old V-8 and power windows. GM said no to Oldsmobile on building thisContinue reading “This is the car that in 1954 could have “killed” the Corvette.”
Feb. 3 marks the anniversary of “The Day The Music Died”
February 3, 1959 was the snowy night when Buddy Holly, J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson and Ritchie Valens took off in a small plane from Clear Lake, Iowa, after playing a gig at the Surf Ballroom. They were headed to the next stop on their Winter Dance Party tour, and Holly, sick of the miserableContinue reading “Feb. 3 marks the anniversary of “The Day The Music Died””
Pin Up Model & Actress with the Peek-A-Boo hairstyle!
Constance Frances Ockleman AKA: Veronica Lake Veronica Lake was born Constance Frances Ockleman in Brooklyn, New York to a seaman father. He died in an explosion on an oil ship when Constance was five. Her mother remarried and the family was constantly on the move living in Canada, New York and Florida. She graduated fromContinue reading “Pin Up Model & Actress with the Peek-A-Boo hairstyle!”
GreaserAlley 