ACE CAFE RADIO

    Affichage des articles dont le libellé est 1970s. Afficher tous les articles
    Affichage des articles dont le libellé est 1970s. Afficher tous les articles

    vendredi 5 avril 2013

    ICONIC BRANDING OF A BUNNY KIND | THE BIRTH OF PLAYBOY MAGAZINE



    playboy bunny logo posterYoung Woman Walking on a Beach
    A
    How unlikely would it seem today, if someone were to tell you that they were planning to build one of the world’s sexiest and most recognizable brands– with a logo based on a bunny? Well, that’s exactly what Hugh Heffner did. Seriously, doesn’t it sound kind of nuts? Looking back on the vintage images of the bunnies in their heyday, there is an undeniable naivete and corniness, mixed with an overtly demeaning attitude towards women– and wow, did it work.
    Heffner was gifted with an ironic stroke of fate when the original “Stag Club” name that was going to grace his new men’s magazine was legally blocked by Stag magazine.  He needed a new handle, and the stag was soon converted to the now iconic bunny, in a historic and innuendo-laden rename.  Playboy later ran a pictorial article on Chicago’s Gaslight Club, and was overwhelmed by thousands of readers requesting to join this exclusive key members club.   Playboy execs smelled a golden opportunity, and soon plans were laid to open their own private key holder’s club.  All that was needed now was the vision.
    After many go-rounds, the decided-upon bunny custom was nipped and fluffed until it met Heffner’s critical approval.  They say he was particularly smitten with the tail– go figure.  In 1960, when the very first Playboy Club opened– the so-called icon of the sexual revolution was off and hopping.  Seems almost more like a misogynist’s ___ dream than a liberating sexual revolution if you asked me.
    Liberating for whom, exactly?
    A
    Unwilling to lose time in litigation for the "Stag Party" name, Hugh Hefner renamed his magazine "PLAYBOY" and chose a new symbol. Arv Miller transformed his original stag mascot to a rabbit. Founding Art Director Arthur (Art) Paul then created the world-famous Rabbit Head logo.
    Unwilling to lose time in litigation for the “Stag Party” name, Hugh Hefner renamed his magazine “PLAYBOY” and chose a new symbol. Arv Miller transformed his original stag mascot to a rabbit. Founding Art Director Arthur (Art) Paul then created the world-famous Rabbit Head logo.
    A
     Hugh Hefner and Playboy Bunnies at the Chicago Playboy Club  --1960.
    Hugh Hefner and Playboy Bunnies at the Chicago Playboy Club –1960.
    A
    Playboy Bunny getting ready to work her magic.
    Playboy Bunny getting ready to work her magic.
    A
    Hugh Hefner jet-setting with his Playboy Bunnies.
    Hugh Hefner jet-setting with his Playboy Bunnies.
    A
    Cover of April 1963  MagazinePlayboy Magazine Cover from March 1967
    A
    Hugh Hefner and his Playboy Bunnies at the Playboy Mansion --1966.
    Hugh Hefner and his Playboy Bunnies at the Playboy Mansion –1966.
    A
    Young Woman with Inflatable Bunny in the SurfYoung Woman in a Bunny Chair
    A
    Keith Richards and The Rolling Stones paying a visit to the Playboy Club.
    Keith Richards (background, look for it…) and The Rolling Stones paying a visit to the Playboy Club.
    A
    Vintage Playboy magazine ad
    WHAT SORT OF MAN READS PLAYBOY? Vintage ad from 1969.
    A
    Playboy magazine spoof
    “WHAT SORT OF MAN READS MAD” –Playboy magazine ad spoof.
    A
    Bunny Hostesses at New York Playboy ClubBunny Hostesses at New York Playboy Club
    A
    Playboy Club key for members only.
    Playboy Club key for members only.
    A
    New York's Playboy Club back in the day.
    New York’s Playboy Club back in the day.
    A
    Playboy Bunnies wave as Hugh Hefner's private jet lands in London-- 1970.
    Playboy Bunnies wave as Hugh Hefner’s private jet lands in London– 1970.
    A
    Playboy Bunnies Posing on Window SillPlayboy Club Waitress with Guests
    Dec 1962, Manhattan — “A View from the Rear” : A scantily clad “bunny,” of the Playboy Club, gives an interesting “rear view” as she chats with patrons during the opening of the Manhattan branch of the chain of clubs.  One of a chain normally operated as private establishments, the Playboy Club in New York reluctantly began giving its keys away to non-members in order to receive a liquor license.  The New York State Liquor Authority has ruled that the “featured” club keys may be used only as a type of credit card. — Image by © Bettmann/ Corbis

    mercredi 3 avril 2013

    OLD SCHOOL HURST GIRLS GONE WILD | GENTLEMEN, START YOUR ENGINES


    *
    Linda Vaughn, the legendary “Miss Hurst Golden Shifter”
    *
    Linda Vaughn, the lovely, leggy, legend of the auto racing scene from the 60′s through the early 80′s was better known as– Miss Hurst Golden Shifter. She was a trophy queen whose voluptuous looks and charm often stole the show at auto racing events she attended– SCCA, NASCAR, Indy & Formula One, among others.  Linda has been knocked by many for setting Women’s Lib back with her busty displays, but her passion for the sport ran deep and she had a major impact– not just in promoting the sponsors, but also in advancing women’s racing.  Vaughn earned her SCCA competition license at the Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving and then got behind the wheel and raced.
    __________________________________________________________________
    *
    Linda Vaughn, the legendary “Miss Hurst Golden Shifter”
    *
    *
    Linda Vaughn, the legendary “Miss Hurst Golden Shifter”
    *
    *
    The Legendary Hurst Girls–  Marsha on left, Linda Vaughn in center & Nikki on right
    *
    *
    Linda Vaughn, the legendary “Miss Hurst Golden Shifter”
    *
    *
    Linda Vaughn, the legendary “Miss Hurst Golden Shifter”
    *
    *
    The legendary Linda Vaughn takes a ride prior to the start of a race at Road Atlanta in 1971.  via
    *
    *
    Billy Scott & the legendary “Miss Hurst Golden Shifter” Linda Vaughn
    *
    *
    Hurst Girls
    *
    *
    Linda Vaughn, the legendary “Miss Hurst Golden Shifter” driving the Hurst golf cart
    *
    *
    The legendary “Miss Hurst Golden Shifter” Linda Vaughn, 1971
    *
    *
    The legendary “Miss Hurst Golden Shifter” Linda Vaughn, 1971
    *
    *
    Hurst Girl, Nikki (nice Olds)
    *
    *
    The Legendary Hurst Girls, Marsha on left, Linda Vaughn in center & Nikki on right
    *
    *
    Linda Vaughn, the legendary “Miss Hurst Golden Shifter”
    *
    *
    Linda Vaughn, the legendary “Miss Hurst Golden Shifter”
    *
    *
    The Hurst Girls
    *
    *
    Linda Vaughn, the legendary “Miss Hurst Golden Shifter”
    *
    *
    Linda Vaughn, the legendary “Miss Hurst Golden Shifter”
    *
    *
    Linda Vaughn, the legendary “Miss Hurst Golden Shifter”
    *
    *
    Linda Vaughn, the legendary “Miss Hurst Golden Shifter”
    *
    Jalopy Journal has an excellent Linda Vaughn thread that produced most of these incredible images

    dimanche 6 janvier 2013

    STEVE MCQUEEN’S DUNE BUGGY DAYS


    Steve McQueen enjoying a cigar behind the wheel of the "TCA" dune buggy.
    Steve McQueen-- rockin' the Aran sweater & enjoying a smoky treat, behind the wheel of his dune buggy from "The Thomas Crown Affair."
    A
    Steve McQueen & Faye Dunaway with the dune buggy from The Thomas Crown Affair.
    Steve McQueen & Faye Dunaway with the dune buggy from "The Thomas Crown Affair."
    A
    Steve McQueen's highly customized, Corvair powered, Meyers Manx dune buggy.
    Steve McQueen's highly-customized, Corvair-powered, Meyers Manx dune buggy from "The Thomas Crown Affair."
    A
    “Crown lives at the beach, and he has a sand Dune Buggy.  I helped them design it, so I’m kind of proud of that.  What it is, it’s set on a Volkswagen chassis, with great old wide weenies – big wide tires on it with mag wheels. Corvair engine stuffed in the back, and a semi reclining position, somewhat like my formula 1 car.  It’s very light, you know, I think we are around about 230 horses, and the vehicle weighs about 1000 pounds.”
    A
    All the Dune Buggy stunt scenes from The Thomas Crown Affair were performed by Steve McQueen himself– with actress Faye Dunaway bravely sitting by McQueen’s side like a true sport.  Man, how I love the howl of that souped-up Corvair engine in the clip below–
    AA
    steve mcqueen dune buggysteve mcqueen dune buggy
    A
    A
    A
    A
    Next up, A Steve McQueen dune buggy on some serious steroids– the Legendary Hurst Baja Boot.
    The Hurst Baja Boot was envisioned by Vic Hickey who was regarded as one of General Motors top engineers of the time. GM had a “no racing” policy in place that initially stopped any plans of producing the Baja. But under the shadow of darkness, Hickey and Drino Miller completed the Baja Boot in 26 days at the Hurst facility in Michigan. The chassis was constructed out of SAE- 1010 13/4-inch steel tubing that weighed 3,450 pounds. The suspension system included parts from a Corvette rear drive assemblies and a Dana transfer case to support the 112 inch long hybrid four-wheel-drive buggy. The Baja Boot could operate from a Front wheel drive platform through an inverted drive assembly that allowed the driver to disengage the transfer case. Other Innovative features included a collapsible steering column, 11-inch Hurst-Airheart disc brakes, a 20-inch-diameter six-blade fan with reversed pitch, and a 350ci V-8 engine that was installed backwards.
    A
    Steve McQueen and his legendary Baja Boot, only 2 were ever made.
    Steve McQueen, Bud Ekins and the legendary Chevy-powered Hurst Baja Boot, only 2 were ever made.
    A
    Steve first raced the Baja Boot in the ‘Stardust 7-11′ off-road race in June 1968. A gruelling 320 mile odyssey for both cars and motorbikes, the race started at the Stardust raceway in Las Vegas, Nevada, and ran across the potentially lethal Amargosa desert. Friend and fellow racer Bud Ekins was also with Steve in the Baja Boot in the role of rider-navigator.
    In the lead up to the race Steve told the media - “I’ve lined me up a sweet machine for this one called the ‘Baja Boot.’ Chevy powered. Four hundred and fifty horses under the bonnet. Space frame construction. Four-wheel drive. Independant suspension. And ‘smooth’! I can notch close to a hundred over a sand wash and you better believe that’s moving.”
    Steve and Bud were performing well in the race, until, in Steve’s own words, as related to writer William F Nolan– “We were really battin’ along, feeling good about the car and our chances with it, when we see this big fat wheel rolling along beside us. It’s our wheel!  The axle had popped.  Well, that did it. We just sat on our tails in the desert ’till help came.”
    A
    Steve McQueen and the Hurst Baja Boot 1968
    Steve McQueen and the Hurst Baja Boot 1968
    A
    McQueen also took the Baja Boot for a spin in 1969′s ‘Baja 1000′, which as the name suggests, is a 1000 mile long off-road race.  Set on Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula, also known as ‘The Devils Playground’, the Baja 1000 is the longest off road race in the world.  It is also arguably the toughest and most dangerous– 1969′s event claiming two lives.
    Steve McQueen was accompanied by co-driver Harold Daigh this time out, and the pair were travelling well, but, with just 237 miles completed, disaster struck when a broken transmission put them out of the race.
    McQueen later told William Nolan– “In the fast sections, it was not unusual for us to get airborn for 50 to 70 feet over road dips.  The Boot rides so smooth you can overdo things.  Even in bad, choppy sections it’ll do 60 or so, and if you slam into a big rock at that speed you can crack an axle or worse.”
    *
    Steve McQuen Bud Ekins Baja Boot
    Steve McQuen and Bud Ekins in the legendary 450 HP Chevy beast-- the Baja Boot.

    *
    Thee Hurst Baja Boot driven by Steve McQueen.
    Thee Hurst Baja Boot driven by Steve McQueen.
    A
    Restored McQueen Baja Boot with correct Hurst decals and red paint.
    Restored McQueen Baja Boot with correct Hurst decals and red paint.
    A
    Interior of the off-road Hurst Baja Boot
    Interior of the off-road Hurst Baja Boot
    A
    The Legendary Hurst Baja Boot off-road monster
    The Legendary Hurst Baja Boot off-road monster
    from theselvedgeyard