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Nostalgia
Tuesday, May 26, 2020
John Henry's Bar Pays Hommage to Beloved Gordo's Commercial
Posted By Austin Counts on Tue, May 26, 2020 at 8:12 AM
Do you love chimichangas? I mean do you really love chimichangas?
If you grew up in Tucson during the late ’80s to early ’90s, there's no doubt you saw commercials for the beloved all-you-can-eat Mexican restaurant of yesteryear: Gordo's Mexicateria.
John Henry's Bar in downtown Tucson played tribute to Gordo's famed commercials by recreating one to announce the limited-capacity reopening over Memorial Day weekend.
"I've always had an affinity for TV ads and radio jingles growing up. Being a Tucson kid, I can still remember the Golf 'n Stuff song in its entirety," John Henry's Bar co-owner Sean Humphrey said. "Gordo's whole line of, "Do you like chimichangas?" has such a super-Tucson feel and I fell in love with it."
Humphrey said he wanted to remind Tucsonans of a "happier times pre-COVID." Tyler Lidwell of Tyler Lidwell Videography LLC, who shot the Tips For Tucson video last month at John Henry's, signed on to film the commercial.
"I wanted to do an ad for my spot, something that was retro and pay homage to another Tucson establishment to remind people of happier times Pre-COVID," Humphrey said. "Tyler and I talked about filming it for a week and then shot it one day in about an hour-and-a-half."
If you grew up in Tucson during the late ’80s to early ’90s, there's no doubt you saw commercials for the beloved all-you-can-eat Mexican restaurant of yesteryear: Gordo's Mexicateria.
John Henry's Bar in downtown Tucson played tribute to Gordo's famed commercials by recreating one to announce the limited-capacity reopening over Memorial Day weekend.
"I've always had an affinity for TV ads and radio jingles growing up. Being a Tucson kid, I can still remember the Golf 'n Stuff song in its entirety," John Henry's Bar co-owner Sean Humphrey said. "Gordo's whole line of, "Do you like chimichangas?" has such a super-Tucson feel and I fell in love with it."
Humphrey said he wanted to remind Tucsonans of a "happier times pre-COVID." Tyler Lidwell of Tyler Lidwell Videography LLC, who shot the Tips For Tucson video last month at John Henry's, signed on to film the commercial.
"I wanted to do an ad for my spot, something that was retro and pay homage to another Tucson establishment to remind people of happier times Pre-COVID," Humphrey said. "Tyler and I talked about filming it for a week and then shot it one day in about an hour-and-a-half."
Wednesday, July 17, 2019
Laser Stranger Things at the Flandrau Planetarium
Posted By Meredith O'Neil on Wed, Jul 17, 2019 at 1:07 PM
If you've been watching the third season of Stranger Things, you should know that the Flandrau Planetarium is doing a laser Stranger Things show. Like in Freaks and Geeks when Lindsay and her friends go to a Pink Floyd themed laser show in the episode "The Garage Door."
It might seems strange that the Flandrau Planetarium would be hosting a Stranger Things show, but laser shows have been popularly shown in planetariums since the 70s, frequented by psych and prog rock fans. A laser show is then well-paired with the retro stylings of Stranger Things.
Lay back in the reclining seats to become part of an immersive laser show experience, surrounded by colorful lights and hypnotic sound. Maybe they'll even play "Should I Stay or Should I Go" by the Clash.
Tickets are $16 for adults, $12 for kids 4-17, and free for kids 3 and under.
It might seems strange that the Flandrau Planetarium would be hosting a Stranger Things show, but laser shows have been popularly shown in planetariums since the 70s, frequented by psych and prog rock fans. A laser show is then well-paired with the retro stylings of Stranger Things.
Lay back in the reclining seats to become part of an immersive laser show experience, surrounded by colorful lights and hypnotic sound. Maybe they'll even play "Should I Stay or Should I Go" by the Clash.
Tickets are $16 for adults, $12 for kids 4-17, and free for kids 3 and under.
Friday, July 5, 2019
Collage Artist Tony Kuchar hangs his kaleidoscopic art at Tiny Town
Posted By Meredith O'Neil on Fri, Jul 5, 2019 at 3:09 PM
Tony Kuchar sequesters himself among piles of vintage magazines from the 1940s through the 1980s in his studio, a pair of scissors in hand. He sifts through the pages, looking for an image he likes.
"Making collage art is a very meditative experience for me," Kuchar says. "Which his probably why I enjoy it so much. I don't think or plan any piece in advance, I just find a scrap that I like and start building off of it with other scraps. No expectations, no destination. I turn my brain off and just make an art piece that I find pleasing to look at or that speaks to me in some way. It's very therapeutic."
His recent work plays on recurring images - hands, eyes, a face. It's fragmented and kaleidoscopic.
This month, he will be hanging his work at the Tiny Town Gallery on 4th Ave. The small gallery space will host about 20 collages, all framed and for sale. The works range in size from 2"x3" to 15" by 16".
He will also be hosting a live collaging station in the space on July 12 during his art show reception. The station will be full of magazines, paper, glue, scissors, knives, etc., to collage along with Kuchar while he works through his creative process.
Tiny Town is located at 408 N. 4th Ave.
The reception and the store are open to the public, free of charge.
View Kuchar's art on Instagram at instagram.com/iamtonykuchar
His recent work plays on recurring images - hands, eyes, a face. It's fragmented and kaleidoscopic.
This month, he will be hanging his work at the Tiny Town Gallery on 4th Ave. The small gallery space will host about 20 collages, all framed and for sale. The works range in size from 2"x3" to 15" by 16".
He will also be hosting a live collaging station in the space on July 12 during his art show reception. The station will be full of magazines, paper, glue, scissors, knives, etc., to collage along with Kuchar while he works through his creative process.
Tiny Town is located at 408 N. 4th Ave.
The reception and the store are open to the public, free of charge.
View Kuchar's art on Instagram at instagram.com/iamtonykuchar
Friday, May 31, 2019
Arts and Culture / Books / Media / Nostalgia
Views from Tucson, Issue 2 Captures the City with Lo-fi Nostalgia
Posted By Meredith O'Neil on Fri, May 31, 2019 at 1:30 PM
Smartphones may take sharp pictures, but there's nothing quite like analog film. Kikie Wilkins, local film photographer, uses his film cameras loaded with new and expired film to capture ordinary and candid moments in Tucson. His new zine, Views from Tucson, Issue 2 is out now.
"I decided to use the Hawkeye to take these photographs as a personal challenge to see what results could obtain from such a basic camera."
The combination of Wilkins' use of the Hawkeye and old film creates a sun bleached, dreamy image. The colors drift into dusty pastels and feel like they're from a different time. He photographs familiar landmarks, old cars, images of childhood.
This issue features views of the flooded Rillito river at the Camino de la Tierra crossing, the downtown jazz fiesta, some cars of Tucson and neighborhood views in a self-published book. The 44-page issue is printed in high quality color and black & white on gloss paper.
Issues can be picked up for $15 at Wooden Tooth Records at 426 E 7th Street, Tucson, AZ 85705, or ordered directly from Kikie for $12.
Contact: info@kikiewilkins.com
Instagram: @kikiewilkins
The photos in Issue 2 are all taken using his Kodak Brownie Hawkeye box camera. He described the camera as being meant for the amateur photographer "who was more interested in taking pictures of the family vacation or a child's birthday party."
"I decided to use the Hawkeye to take these photographs as a personal challenge to see what results could obtain from such a basic camera."
The combination of Wilkins' use of the Hawkeye and old film creates a sun bleached, dreamy image. The colors drift into dusty pastels and feel like they're from a different time. He photographs familiar landmarks, old cars, images of childhood.
This issue features views of the flooded Rillito river at the Camino de la Tierra crossing, the downtown jazz fiesta, some cars of Tucson and neighborhood views in a self-published book. The 44-page issue is printed in high quality color and black & white on gloss paper.
Issues can be picked up for $15 at Wooden Tooth Records at 426 E 7th Street, Tucson, AZ 85705, or ordered directly from Kikie for $12.
Contact: info@kikiewilkins.com
Instagram: @kikiewilkins
Monday, May 13, 2019
Old Tucson Props Being Auctioned
Posted By Jeff Gardner on Mon, May 13, 2019 at 2:49 PM
Online previews are currently available for the 75-piece “Robert Shelton ‘Old Tucson Collection’” as part of a 600-piece Hollywood Auction run by RR Auction. Highlights of the selection include a rifle gifted to Shelton by John Wayne, a collection of Old Tucson film scripts, and multiple wardrobe and set pieces. Estimated auction prices of these items run from $200 to $8,000.
Bidding begins Friday, May 17 and ends Thursday, May 23.
Originally a country club developer, in 1959 Shelton leased the Old Tucson property from Pima County and began to restore the facility originally built by Columbia Pictures in 1939 for the movie Arizona. Shelton was involved with Old Tucson production for decades, working when classic Westerns such as Gunfight at the OK Corral, Cimarron, and Rio Lobo were filmed at the studios.
The props are especially rare considering they survived the 1995 fire that destroyed much of the Old Tucson studios.
RR Auction worked with Shelton's widow, Carolyn Olson Shelton, to properly place "these rare relics in the hands of people who will treasure them."
For more information and to see the collection, visit RR Auction’s website.
Thursday, May 9, 2019
D-Day Doll Visits Tucson on Commemorative World Tour
Posted By Jeff Gardner on Thu, May 9, 2019 at 10:38 AM
“Oh my, here it comes,” said World War II veteran Gwen Niemi, who, even at 99-years-old, could hardly contain her excitement as the C-53D Skytrooper airplane landed at the Tucson International Airport.
The historic aircraft, nicknamed the “D-Day Doll” flew in the Normandy Invasion of France in 1944, dropping paratroopers, delivering supplies and evacuating the wounded. Now, 75 years later, it is flying across the U.S. for a seven-week, 12,000 mile journey back to France. The plane is returning to Europe as part of a commemorative gathering of World War II aircraft honoring veterans. This June, the C-53D will join 250 other historically significant aircraft for the “largest gathering of war birds since WWII.”
The C-53D can hold 26 paratroopers, plus two pilots. But now instead of troops, the plane holds cargo to take the pilots on their historic tour from the states to Greenland, Iceland, England and finally France. In total, only 380 C-53 Skytroopers were ever constructed.
Starting its tour in Riverside, California, the C-53D was not originally planned to stop in Tucson. But support and interest from the Tucson aerospace community brought this historic aircraft into town the afternoon of Wednesday, May 8.
“There was a lot of interest and help for this program out of Tucson,” said D-Day Doll pilot Bill Prosser. “And we’re here to thank them for supporting us.”
The historic aircraft, nicknamed the “D-Day Doll” flew in the Normandy Invasion of France in 1944, dropping paratroopers, delivering supplies and evacuating the wounded. Now, 75 years later, it is flying across the U.S. for a seven-week, 12,000 mile journey back to France. The plane is returning to Europe as part of a commemorative gathering of World War II aircraft honoring veterans. This June, the C-53D will join 250 other historically significant aircraft for the “largest gathering of war birds since WWII.”
The C-53D can hold 26 paratroopers, plus two pilots. But now instead of troops, the plane holds cargo to take the pilots on their historic tour from the states to Greenland, Iceland, England and finally France. In total, only 380 C-53 Skytroopers were ever constructed.
Starting its tour in Riverside, California, the C-53D was not originally planned to stop in Tucson. But support and interest from the Tucson aerospace community brought this historic aircraft into town the afternoon of Wednesday, May 8.
“There was a lot of interest and help for this program out of Tucson,” said D-Day Doll pilot Bill Prosser. “And we’re here to thank them for supporting us.”
Monday, February 25, 2019
This is Your Last Week to Visit Tucson's Final Kmart!
Posted By Jeff Gardner on Mon, Feb 25, 2019 at 10:33 AM
Tucson's final Kmart, located on 7055 E. Broadway Blvd, is closing for good Sunday, March 3.
While there are no more blue light specials happening, a good majority of the inventory is already sold, and it's basically abandoned already, this is your last chance to take a stroll through the aisles and hang out at the (now closed) Little Caesar's within.
And if you're feeling extra nostalgic, you can even purchase the store's sales racks, display cases and furniture. Truly everything must go!
While there are no more blue light specials happening, a good majority of the inventory is already sold, and it's basically abandoned already, this is your last chance to take a stroll through the aisles and hang out at the (now closed) Little Caesar's within.
And if you're feeling extra nostalgic, you can even purchase the store's sales racks, display cases and furniture. Truly everything must go!
Friday, January 25, 2019
Dear Letters: Oh, How We Love You
Posted By TW Fun & Games Desk on Fri, Jan 25, 2019 at 4:00 PM
Occasionally the age of technology is forgotten for the woebegone era of paper letters. Recently we received this four page tirade that we thought worthy of sharing:
