Some Of my costumes for "Lost In Radioland"

Now showing at the 68 Cent Theater in Hollywood.

My Five Favorite Alfred Hitchcock Films

I was just watching Hitchcock's 1946 classic "Notorious" the other day and it got me thinking about how great all his films are. I decided to list my five favorites. It was really hard to narrow it down to just five but here they are:



1. North By Northwest-Cary Grant/Eva Marie Saint. (1959)
Not just my favorite Hitchcock movie but one of the best of all time. I've watched it dozens of times and haven't tired of it yet. Best scene: The climax on Mt. Rushmore of course!


2. Rear Window-James Stewart/Grace Kelly (1954)
Absolutely fascinating and never becomes boring even after multiple views. Grace's dresses are breathtaking. Best scene: When Grace almost gets caught in Raymond Burr's apt.

3. Saboteur-Bob Cummings/Priscilla Lane (1942)
War time espionage drama at it's finest. Even includes a cross country trip with circus freaks. Best scene: Three words Statue Of Liberty.

4. Dial M For Murder-Ray Milland/Grace Kelly (1954)
The 50's was a great decade for Hitchcock and Grace Kelly. They made three films togther back to back in 1954 and 1955. This was the first one. Best scene: When Grace stabs her "killer" with the scissors.



5. Strangers On A Train-Farley Granger/Ruth Roman (1951)
Classic film noir with the Hitchcock touch. Best scene: the out of control merry go round.

Book Review-Vintage Hats & Bonnets 1770-1970

This is one of my favorite clothing reference books. It covers 200 years of women's and children's hats and bonnets. Published this year (2009) it is quite up to date. Each decade is covered in a seperate chapter and is illustrated with period photos, ads and lavish color photos of existing vintage pieces.

Very useful book for dating your vintage hats A+

Fake Radio-Stage Coach

I've been very very busy lately working costuming. Besides my usual "Fake Radio" I'm also working on a show called "Lost In Radioland". Just wanted to share some pictures from Wednesday night's show. It was the 1949 radio version of Stage Coach with special guest star Fred Willard. We did kind of a mixture of old west and 1940's costumes. Enjoy!

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Fred Willard with Fake Radio at Comedy Central

I will be working with Fred Willard again Wed Aug 26 at Comedy Central. It's absolutely free so come on out!

Fred and I taken during our last Fake Radio show.

Great Vintage Disneyland Page

If you are a Disneyland freak like me you'll enjoy this link I came across http://www.yesterland.com/. It highlights all of the old Disneyland attractions that have closed during the years going back to when the park first opened in 1955. There are lots of other Disney history related articles too. Check it out!

Book Review: Vanishing Orange County

I just finished this fascinating little book, Vanishing Orange County. It highlights old pictures of Orange County from the 1800's to 1980's. It was surprising to see just how much had changed even since the 80's let alone a hundred years ago! I loved the pictures of the old roads and freeways with no traffic and undeveloped land as far as the eye could see.

I also enjoyed the pictures of the old amusement parks that are no longer there, like the old Buffalo Ranch and Lion Country Safari. The latter was located where Wild Rivers is now and the former was located in Newport Beach off of Bison St. Get it? Now you know why there is a Bison St. in Newport Beach! After the park closed the buffalo were shipped out to Catalina Island where their ancestors still roam to this day.

Anyway, If you are interested in O.C. history like me check it out on Amazon.

Next Fake Radio

Facebook Fake Radio: "Our next show will be Wednesday, August 26th at the COMEDY CENTRAL THEATRE
We'll be performing, 'Stagecoach'

Comedy Central Stage at the Hudson
6539 Santa Monica Boulevard
cross street Hudson Avenue between Highland and Vine
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Show begins at 8:00pm, doors open at 7:45
Absolutely Free
Reservations Required
To RSVP, please call 323.960.5519
Street and Lot Parking Available

For a map please see the 'photo' section of this page.

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Fake Radio's 2009 Season Includes:

March 8th: 'Stage Door' with Phil Proctor!
April 4th: Super Condensed Version of 'Superman' at Harmonic Convergence Festival
April 5th: 'The Big Story' 2 episodes!
April 23rd: Comedy Central Stage Presents 'Dangerous Assignment'
May 17th: 'Stage Door' with Phil Proctor!
June 21st: 'Father Knows Best' with Fred Willard
July 19th: 'Richard Diamond, Private Investigator'
Sept 13st: TBA
October: our first theatrical run in Los Angeles with 12 shows!
Nov 15th: 'The Wizard Of Oz' Sing-A-Long
Dec 13: 'It's A Wonderful Life'

when: All shows are on Sunday nights (except for October)
time: doors open @ 6:30pm, shows runs from 7:30-9pm
spot: bang comedy theatre
maps: http://is.gd/kjaj
park: free, on the street or in paid lot on corner of oakwood. see the map.
rsvp: 877-460-9774 and reservations are mandatory!
site: http://www.fakeradio.net
kids: our shows are family safe for ages 8 and up"

Lady Of Style: Ginger Rogers

Today I want to continue my Lady Of Style series. The subject: Ginger Rogers. Ginger is probably best known as Fred Astaire's lovely dance partner in the 30's but was also a great actress. She won an Oscar for 1940's Kitty Foyle. So lets take a look at some of her best outfits.

Here she is in one of her most spectacular ballgowns from the 30's. Note the huge matching cape!

Here, Ginger wears a sexy 30's siren number. Notice the sheer sleeves and sequins.

The last picture is Ginger as a 1940's pin up girl. I love the fuzzy halter top! Also check out those shoes!

For more Ginger and other classic movie actresses go to http://www.moviemaidens.com/.

Historic Diestlehorst Bridge

Diestlehorst Bridge in the 1920's

Lately I've been researching the history of my hometown, Redding, Ca. I lived there for the first 19 years of my life. My heritage there goes all the way back to my great great Grandpa who was born in England but came to Redding at the age of 10 in the 1880's.

Anyway, one of my favorite historic sites there is Diestlehorst Bridge. Built in 1915, it was the first auto bridge over the Sacramento River in Northern California. It is rumored that my great Grandpa helped build it. He was an engineer so it is entirely possible.

The bridge was the center of summertime activities during the first half of the 20th century. A grandstand and swimming hole were built nearby and were the site of many swim contests, boat racing competitions and beauty pageants.

Today Diestlehorst Bridge is closed to automobiles but is enjoyed by pedestrians and bicyclists.

Diestlehorst Bridge Today

My Favorite Vintage Restaurants

If you like retro style dining I have three suggestions for you in the Southern California area.

1. Musso And Frank

Hollywood Blvd. Hollywood

Started in 1919, this place hasn't changed since the 1930's! It has rich dark brown paneling with coat racks at each table. It was a favorite hang out of Charlie Chaplin's during the silent movie era. William Frawley would visit the bar for a drink with the boys during his I Love Lucy days.

The food is fabulous. I suggest the mushroom ravioli.

2. Canter's Deli

Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles

An L.A. landmark since the 50's. If you love mid century modern this is the place for you. The establishment consists of three parts. The deli area which dates from 1953, the dining room from 1959 and the cocktail lounge from 1961.

Wonderful food, the menu is kosher. Their bakery items are the best ever. Try the brownie!

3. Watson's Drugstore

On the Orange Circle in Old Town Orange

Wonderful old soda fountain and drug store dates to the 1890's. Authentic counter with stools, booths or tables. Vintage style jukebox plays music from the 40's to 60's. "That Thing You Do" starring Tom Hanks was filmed here.

The regular food is nothing special but the ice cream is too die for. Also recommended is the retro soda pop served out of glass bottles.

My latest Costuming Endeavor

I costumed my first TV show today. It is called Rewind and is on JCTV. It is kind of a retrospective of Christian music videos. The theme was 40's and 50's style videos.

I dressed the girl, Daisha, in a 1950's little black dress by Suzy Perette, black gloves, vintage jewelry and 50's style rhinestone glasses.

I dressed the guy, Ryan, in a 50's pair of slacks, a 40's or 50's vintage vest, bowtie and fedora.

My next project will be the 1940's radio play Night Stories coming up in September and October.

Fake Radio 7-19-09

I just got done costuming the latest Fake Radio show http://www.fakeradio.net/ last night. We did two episodes of Richard Diamond Private Detective that originally aired in 1949 and 1951. Hope you enjoy the pictures!

I just wanted to share the oldest item in my collection. It's this dress from the 1830's. It's about 170 years old! I found it in a very old general store in the Maryland countryside. The store has sense been converted to an antique shop. There were so many beautiful things there that I wanted to buy everything! If I were rich maybe I would of :). Anyway when I saw this I just had to have it!

Woman Of Style-Katherine Hepburn

From time to time I will be commenting on style icons of the past. Today's icon is Katherine Hepburn. She was a trendsetter in her time, being one of the first women to popularize wearing pants as everyday attire.

Katherine also had a feminine side as evidenced by this 1930's photo.

Katherine in a rare pin up pose.

I love Katherine and Cary together. Here they are in the 1938 classic Holiday.

If you enjoy classic movies as much as I do check out moviemaidens.com.

Not Much Has Changed

I was looking through the October 1949 issue of McCall's magazine today in preparation for costuming Fake Radio this weekend. To be reading some of the letters and articles you'd think that you had picked up today's newspaper.

For example there was a small piece about how fat men were getting! It was called "Our Men Are Getting Fatter" Before the war a size 38 or 39 suit was the norm. Now the average man was up to a size 40 or 42! (that's fat?)

There was a letter written to Eleanor Roosevelt's advice column deploring the children of today. They are so rude to their elders!

There was also an article about women's equality in the work force.

Just shows that the more things change the more they stay the same.

Ladies Victorian Clothing

I find the Victorian era (1837-1901) fascinating. How were those women able to function in those dresses? They seemed like they would be so hard to sit in never mind other day to day activities. For example here are ladies in the 1870's playing tennis. Look at how tight and long the dresses were.

Here are some ladies in the 1890's riding bicycles.

How About these 1880's bathing beauties? They are wearing fancy hats with their bathing suits.

I have some fabulous Victorian items in my own collection. I often like to think about the ladies that wore them. What was thier lives like?

This is an 1880's red wool burgandy dress.

This is one of my favorite pieces. It is a bodice from 1900. Look closely at the small framed picture. That is the same bodice with it's original skirt worn by the original owner. It is dated 1900 on the back.

I'll be sharing some more of my Victorian clothing in the near future. See you all later!