Tag Archives: mid-century

LIVE

Hell Factory


After spending the morning packing up the POD with furniture and stuff from my grandpap’s estate, my aunt accompanied me to The Shell Factory – a nearing 50-year old tourist trap in the northern outskirts of Fort Meyers.

My father tells me that in the early 60’s this place was basically a couple of quonset huts stuck together. Now it’s an entire compound complete with glass blower, bumper boats, waltzing water show, and more.

The place always has had a certain run-down forgotten vibe to it… It had this in the late 70’s when I was just a boy… It has it now as a middle-aged man.

Regardless…. it was the only destination I wanted to see… so we did.

My aunt says that in the last batch of hurricanes the “S” blew off of their big sign. I don’t know if I believe her – it sounds like one of those jokes my grandpa used to tell… He was a master of dry wit word-game.

Nonetheless – I giggled… got a few souvenirs and we were off.

Nonetheless – this still isn’t a blog.

OBSESS

wagon


relust

It was a while ago that a film from the Netflix cue came in.. I think it was called “The Fabulous 50’s” – Midway through the film I had to jump up off the sofa and scream for Chad to rewind and pause.

“whhhhaaaat is THAT!?!?!” – “OH MY GOD IT’S BEAUTIFUL”

Come to find out it was a 1953 Chevy Nomad.

Ironic… A car built the same year as our home would tickle me silly.

So – for the last few weeks when bored I google for it.

I discovered later that Chevy has released an update of this design as a 2004 concept car. (seen here). Yet another annoying example of how I can’t seem to have an obsession that isn’t eventually mainstreamed – further proving I’m not the eccentric individual I fancy myself to be; just a damn brick in the wall with mild pre-cognative hipdar.

It “is” cool to see mainstream auto design embracing “the station wagon”. Like that new Dodge named, (I suspect intentionally), after the condoms made for full figured men.

I still probably woudn’t buy an American car though… I keep hoping for a supped up Passat Wagon to come out which resembles it’s cousin – the whomped out Audi A4 Avant Wagon.

I probably wouldn’t blog about this either.

OBSESS

scenic gratuity


relic

chrisglass is obsessed with car taillights. I think I’m obsessed with retro, structural signage.

I decided to take the scenic route from downtown to south county to pick Kevin up at my Dad’s. The route was along a street called Broadway which hugs the Mississippi River and winds through the economically depressed south-city before opening up into suburbia.

Traveling south, you can’t see the river from the chemical processing plants and warehouses… On the right are hundred-years old dirty storefronts and a sea of tiny, ill-maintained shack-houses.

The reality check was really good for my head since I’ve been so frustrated with business being so slow.

Who am I to sit around and bitch and complain… I had just clocked three billable hours that day.. Which, is more money than someone working a full time minimum wage job makes in a week of hard work. Granted my numbers are “before taxes” and expenses… but still.

“Oh boo fucking whooo”… the poor x-yuppie is belly aching as he drives home with his three thousand dollar laptop in a fairly new car to his house in the sleepy-safe suburbs.

I’m an ass-face.

Grateful-therapy aside, it was a nostalgia trip to travel that route. I remember venturing on this stretch of road this side of the suburbs as a child going to the chiropractor with my grandma. I assume because of the depressed state of this part of town, very little growth has occurred. Many of the same buildings are still there… Including an old Steak & Shake “mee-honk” would take me to as a reward for my patience in the waiting room.

Primarily a midwestern phenomena, Steak & Shake has gone through the requisite “brand updating” over the decades. (albeit not as nasty as seen by places like Taco Bell and White Castle). Nonetheless, the new restaurants smack of the sameness which prevails contemporary commercial architecture.

Except for this one which seems to have been forgotten or overlooked by the brand police.

Seeing the old joint along with the powerful memory triggers of steakburgers and chili smells wafting through the air damn near made me wreck the car.. I stopped to take some photos…

Who knows how much longer the place will be there.

Who knows how long I’ll deny keeping a blog.