Palm Springs, California

If you're a mid-century-modern nut like me, you'll love this city. The Kaufmann House from 1946, pictured above, was commissioned by Edgar Kaufmann. He also commissioned Fallingwater in 1935.

I've never seen such a collection of 50s/60s homes. I smell meatloaf.

Palm Springs has a terrific modern art museum and oodles of mid-century furniture stores containing objects to drool over.

A gigantic sculpture of Marilyn Monroe overlooks the main drag.

The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway takes you to the top of the San Jacinto Mountains for the most incredible view of the desert. Scroll through this scene for movie footage of the tram from 1967.

Sonny Bono was mayor of Palm Springs from 1988-92.

Palm Springs is a two-hour drive from Los Angeles and San Diego.

bring your records

I really dug a recent show by a guest dj on WMBR's Lost and Found who spun his childhood 45s from the 50s and 60s. Still in their original cases, the records were a fantastic musical glimpse into his life and I loved his anecdotes. I put many of the songs in the "I would've bought that 45" category. Here are some of my favorites....


Three Cool Cats, The Coasters, 1959 (Beatles' version)


The Honeydripper, The Kirby Stone Four, 1960
This tune reminds me of the early 60s Hanna-Barbera
cartoon themes composed by this guy.


The Honeydripper, Joe Liggins, 1945


Stop, Baby, The Four Preps, 1958


Sebastian, The Big Sound of Don Balke, 1959

Click Clack, Dickey Doo and the Don'ts, 1958
I love their name. This is the type of song the whole family sang along with while driving on vacation in the car. Whoooooaaaaahhh!

roller rinks

During my early teens, the roller rink in the next town was one of my favorite haunts. Rollerskating AND blasting music? Okay.

My aunt and uncle met at The Wal-Lex in Waltham, Massachusetts in the early 1950s. At that time, organists supplied the music.

Jones Beach on Long Island, NY had an outdoor rink in the 50s.



I find the above video very soothing – like looking at a fish tank. Now I'm jonesing to put on some skates and head to Boogie Wonderland.

driving around in the 50s

Check out the cool cars cruising around L.A. on a smoggy day.