Wednesday, 20 March 2013


Peggy Lee singing 'Is That All There Is?' on the Dean Martin Show, 1969.

Grab a gin and it and brood over this little number...




Saturday, 16 March 2013

Boxing clever

I've been busy getting some packaging together for the opening of Shanghai Lil & The Scarlet Fez.  Here's a peek:


Tuesday, 12 March 2013

Laura

The gloriously sweeping theme tune to Laura (1944), which starred bad boy Dana Andrews and the impossibly beautiful Gene Tierney.  Composed by David Raksin.  Lyrics later added by Johnny Mercer.  Compare the instrumental from the movie with the 1952 Billy Eckstine version below.   Dreamy.







Laura by Johnny Mercer & Billy Eckstine on Grooveshark

Monday, 11 March 2013

A taste of Sydney life in the 1950s - Milk Bars and Espresso Bars

Located on the corner of New South Head Road and Cross Street in Double Bay, the One Two Three Milk Bar was designed by F.J. Zipfinger and catered to the teens of well-heeled Sydneysiders.  The ceiling was multi-coloured and the counter and fittings were in pink and black.


While the kids enjoyed the pink and black fun of the One Two Three, their parents may have slinked into the risque venue, The Latin Quarter.  Located at 250 Pitt Street, The Latin Quarter was designed by Henry Kurzer in the 1950s.   The espresso bar featured a mural by M. Pretzel and had a very special ivory coloured acoustic ceiling, recessed with star lights. 


The Latin Quarter also had a restaurant - you can see the entrance at the rear of the espresso bar in the above photo.  The restaurant/supper club had floor shows nightly.  The restaurant was one of the businesses owned and operated by the colourful Sydney identity, Sammy Lee in conjunction with Reg Boom.   The pair also opened a restaurant in the 60s in Kings Cross called "Les Girls Restaurant".  I bet you'd never guess what went on there!

Here is a photo souvenir of The Latin Quarter from the 1960s.  It shows the front cover of the folder advertising The Latin Quarter, the photo within of a couple being entertained in the restaurant, and on the rear, an advertisement for the Les Girls Restaurant, "where every night is New Year's Eve"!




Photos of One Two Three Milk Bar and The Latin Quarter from "Impact of Design" by Clive Carney (1959).  The photo souvenir is from the collection of Shanghai Lil & The Scarlet Fez.



The cool change is coming!


Unidentified German postcard from the 1930s. From the collection of Shanghai Lil & The Scarlet Fez

Sunday, 3 March 2013

Fabric design from the 1940s - in colour!

These distinctly sophisticated and playful designs are a treat to see in full colour.







 A "Top left, Celanese satin, screen printed in a design by Margaret Moore. Top right, 'Shiraz' - a cotton and rayon fadeless tapestry designed by John Tandy.  Bottom, 'Bird' design by E. Winning Reed on an art silk and cotton material" from "30s 40s Decorative Art" - a source book edited by Charlotte & Peter Fiell, (Tashchen). 

B "Furnishing fabrics designed by Jacqueline Groag, M.S.I.A., the top two for Hill Brown Ltd and the lower for F.W.Grafton & Co. Ltd." ibid.

C "Bonbonniere of faience, designed by Stig Lindberg and made by Gustavsberg's Studio, on a background of hand-printed glass-cloth named 'Maytime' by the same artist, printed by Textil Kammaren, Nordiska Kompaniet, Stokholm." ibid.

D "Textiles designed by Margaret Simeon.  Left: Screen-printed linen and Right: Screen-printed furnishing satin, both produced by John Lewis & Co Ltd. Centre: Block-printed muslin printed by the designer. Vase designed by Nils Thorsson with 'Clair de Lune' glaze created by the late H. Madslund for The Royal Copenhagen Porcelain Co. Ltd." ibid.

E "Top and centre: 'Burntwood/Moorfield' rayon designed by Jane Edgar and 'Hurstwood/Alvis' cotton fabric designed by D.M. Batty, both made by Helios Ltd.  Lower: Cotton damask by Old Bleach Linen Co. Ltd." ibid.

F "Corner of a lounge in a London flat by Ian Henderson.  The fire-surround is in Australian walnut, the opening itself being framed in Japanese chestnut.  Curtains printed in two shades of red with a line of [black] on a cream ground, and upholstery in a rough textured weave.  Occasional table in Australian walnut with a cane shelf which doubles its utility without adding to its weight."  from Decorative Art 1943-48 The Studio Year Book.  (The Studio Year Books were the source for the illustrations in the Tashchen publication referred to above.)

G "Two curtain fabrics designed by Margaret Simeon; the floral pattern is a cotton textile with block-printed motif, made for John Lewis & Co Ltd.  The pink and white design is a screen-printed linen, made by Allan Walton Textiles Ltd." ibid. 

H An extract from an advertisement for the 'Old Glamis' range of fabrics by Donald Bros Ltd.  The fabric design is named "Goodwood" and is a 50 inch screen-printed linen in 5 colours. ibid.

Further resources: 
"Furniture & Interiors of the 1940s" - Anne Bony (Flammarion)
"Ponti" - Graziella Roccella (Taschen)

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...