End of the school year... alumni visits...
Hey Riley!
JUDY! JUDY! JUDY!
1966 Andy Willams Tour Program
1968 Andy Williams Tour Program
New eBay Score: This is a VERY rare scalloped 1960s postcard of the lobby of The Cosmic Age Lodge in Anaheim, California. It was dubbed “the motel of tomorrow” and overlooked Disneyland and The Magic Kingdom. Zoom in and you’ll see flying elephants with space helmets and a row of Kit Kat clocks behind the front desk indicating the time in various cities of the world. One of the most striking features of the lobby is seen at left near the stairs: the first commercial video game called Computer Space. I couldn’t imagine hoteliers (or in this case, “moteliers”) curating what is essentially a whimsically unhinged art installation in their establishments today. Two more postcards from this magical spot below...
A James Dean scrapbook magazine (1956)
New eBay Score: Asbury Casino Photos (1978)
These two photos of the Asbury Park boardwalk and Casino (which was a ballroom / concert venue and not a gambling hall) just arrived at my house. The ballroom (seen at left) was demolished in 2006 however I was able to secure a number of pieces of the structure (some stone, some with copper flashing and some glass) before the wrecking ball hit. Over the years I’ve collected photos and postcards of the building, some showing the grand interior and its ornate chandeliers. These fixtures were visible in all their ragged glory through the Casino’s broken windows up until demolition time. Full trees had sprouted up through the disused ballroom floor and the light and rain that entered through the collapsed roof provided the perfect ecosystem for them to grow through the cracked tiles. After the site was razed, I was able to “walk the floor” of what was once the ballroom and grab some tiles as well. These artifacts and photos are all that remain of the original Warren and Wetmore design of the late 1920s.
Tikiyaki & The Hawaiiana Brass - Weekend In Waikiki (2026) • This beautiful album with pink swirl vinyl and illustrations by Shag was a surprise gift from my friend Kelly and is very much appreciated. Also appreciated is the last line in the album’s liner notes, which reads: No Aloha for fascists. I couldn’t agree more. Mahalo, Kelly!
For what it's worth
That thing when your car ceiling is leaking water for the second time in two months and you take it back to the dealer to get it repaired again and arrange for yet another rental vehicle and the place has either a brand new bright green Jeep Rubicon with 1000 miles on it or a white minivan and you take the green machine even though it’s like driving a tool shed with windows and then take a selfie in front of said Jeep and realize that you’re a 53 year old gay guy taking a Jeep selfie in your workplace parking lot and oh yeah, by the way HAPPY PRIDE MONTH AND I LOVE YOU ALL. Thanks for coming to my TED Talk. 
All this and the scent of honeysuckle...
I had a nice visit with these two bright lights who came back from their first year in college to participate in an alumni panel. Keep making us proud, Yolanda and Dustin! Thanks to both of you for being who you are in the world.
Fireworks have been legal in New Jersey for quite a while
but I'm still not used to seeing them in ShopRite. By the way, if
anyone dropped a match that fire extinguisher would be shrapnel.
And that's a wrap on school year 26...
Happy summer to ALL.
Time for a break. XO - CDM
