Rockin' Relics and a 1938 Wurlitzer

While on a trip to visit the folks, we stopped into Rockin' Relics café in downtown Rugby.  This particular café used to be an old hardware store, and the owners have put many hours of work into the old place to create one of the most fun and creative cafes I've ever visited.  You can check out their progress and daily specials on their Rockin' Relics Facebook page. 

 

Here is the café back in 2012 during our first visit.

 

 

That's my daughter (way back in 2012) with her jaw practically on the floor as she spies an antique jukebox.  She has a thing for jukeboxes just like her Momma.

 

A "real" soda from the soda fountain!

Not only is the food delicious (this last time, I had a cheese burger and baked curly fries), you get to eat it at a 1950s chrome and formica table!  The ambiance is wonderful, and it's like stepping back in time to the late 40s or 50s.  There are tin ceilings, and antique shelves full of fun little collectables, most for sale.

 

 

But the one thing I LOVE the most is this 1938 Wurlitzer Jukebox. (1938...No wonder I love it.) 

 

What a beauty!

This is not your typical "chome and bubbles" jukebox, much like you see from the 1950s.  No sir, this one is special.  I like the antique wood look this one has.  And take a look at the songs inside!  Songs like "Ole Buttermilk Sky" (one of my favorites) and "When the Lights Go On Again" (another one of my favorites) "A String of Pearls", and "Alexander's Ragtime Band".

 

 

It's SO cool!  I would love to know where it came from and if it still works. I'm sure needles for playing the old 78s are getting hard to come by, much like the Victrola needles.

 

 

Apparently, after a bit of digging on the internet, I found out that this is a 1938 Wurlitzer 500 Multi Select.  There were around 12,000 of them made, and they are a favorite among Jukebox collectors.

 

Here is a YouTube of one that is in tip-top shape, playing Life is A Dream.

 

 

Look at those amazing lights on the side!  Can you just imagine this beauty in a small, dimly lit canteen in the early 40s, ladies with victory rolls and pretty dresses and shoes, gentlemen in uniforms, dancing to a slow tune.

 

In closing, I'll leave you with one of my favorite tunes from the 1940s, Vera Lynn singing "When the Lights Go On Again".  Have a box of tissues handy. 

 

 

I can't wait to return to Rockin' Relics, this time for a malt, and to visit my favorite little Jukebox.

Until next time, have a happy, vintage day!

 

 

 

Spanish Flea

Spanish Flea by Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass Band.

I had no idea this was a "real song". 

Enjoy the memories.

 

Well, that's all this crazy kid has got for you today.  Have a happy vintage day!

The Orphan, The Poet, Ed Sheeran, Rupert Grint, and Lindsay Stirling Have All Invaded My Brain!

And the award for the longest blog post TITLE goes to.....

This post isn't about crafting.
I'm kind of sad to say the crafting, quilting, embroidery bug hasn't bitten me lately.
I've been busy reading, enjoying time at our beautiful library, listening to music and have been drawing again. 

There is a new band I've been listening to.  Or is it musical group?  I don't know what we call them now-a-days.  The group itself isn't new, but they are new to me.  I may be a couple of years late, but better late than never!

The Orphan, The Poet with their song, Sleeping Giants (acoustic)

 

         https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VS8Tebobtvs

 

Also, for some reason, I cannot get Lego House by Ed Sheeran out of my head!  I know it's a couple of years old but it's an excellent tune!  The video stars Rupert Grint, who played Ron in the Harry Potter movies (you can't go wrong there, can you?).  And the video has a great twist near the end (also very cool).

Excellent earworm, Mr. Sheeran. 

 

And finally I've been listening to a lot of violinist, Lindsay Stirling.  Below is her song Crystallize.  Awesome, imaginative music, great for doing housework or for falling back into a pile of pillows, with a sketchbook and some pencils.
 

That's all for this cold winter's day.  Until another time, wherever you are, stop and listen to the music.
 

Love This Song

A Neat Video of 1940's Billboards

Ever since I heard the song "Watch the Birdie" by Gene Krupa and Anita O' Day on Bomb Girls, I've been looking for it online.  I found this excellent clip on You Tube and just had to share!  It combines two things I love...Vintage Advertising, and vintage music.  And just being able to see the people walking about and going about their daily lives is interesting.  Everyone looked like they dressed up just to walk to the grocery store!

Enjoy!

Have a Happy Vintage Day everyone!

Out of the Frame

Been thinking a little bit about train travel today.
If I am ever able to travel by train (and I hope that someday that I will), this is one of the songs I would listen to.

I love this song and it is easily in my to ten picks for best songs of all time. 
Call me crazy, but the rhythm of the song reminds me of a train. 
And suddenly, I'm in a passenger car rolling over the Montana plains (Philip Aaberg is from Montana, so it only makes sense that the train would be there also).  We passengers would see grassland, fence lines, and maybe a pickup hauling a horse trailer.
As the train rolls through a small town we glimpse for just a second a view down main street and busy people going about their lives.  Perhaps we see a man stopping by the post office to get his mail, another man stepping out of a blue pickup, and a woman watering some storefront flowers.  It is a moment, a tiny slice of someone else's life that passes by our eyes so quickly.
Then at about 5:20 (in the song) the train begins to slow and then stop.  People on the platform below look up at us through the window and wonder where we've come from.  We folks in the cars have seen miles of country in just a few hours, while those standing still on the platform have seen only their everyday routine of morning donuts, coffee and the two block trip to the railway station.  
I myself am getting off at this station.  This looks like a quiet little town.  As I stand on the platform, I turn around to look at the train that brought me here and the people who are now sitting in my seat.  Their adventure is just beginning.  Soon they will be moving quickly and I will be the one left standing still. 
Steadily, the train begins to pick up speed.  I watch as it continues on it's journey across the prairie until, like the music, it slowly fades away.

Yep.  I like that song.

Where Can't You Rollerskate?

Just a quick post today.  I came across this funny song, "You Can't Rollerskate In A Buffalo Herd"  by Roger Miller and just had to share.

The pictures in the video are a little goofy...the song is goofy enough without the pictures.
You can read all about Roger Miller HERE.

Until another day,
Keep Your Toes a Tappin'

Gene Autry Christmas Album? Yes, Please!

Saturday, I had to make a trip over to Walmart.  I'm not a fan of discount stores.  I'd much rather find what I need at the cute little shops downtown.  But, this is the real world...it isn't 1950, or Garrison ND, and the idea of finding everything we need downtown just doesn't always work here in the city...sometimes ya just gotta go to Walmart.  *sigh*
So, in an attempt to cheer myself up over the idea of having to be there, I decide to just peek at the cheezy, plastic, glittered Christmas ornaments.  I soon found myself in front of a large bin full of unorganized Christmas CDs strewn in all directions.  You know the type of bin...you have to dig for 5 minutes to find something recognizable?  Well, my persistence paid off because at the bottom of the bin I found this!!  And wouldn't you know it was the only one!

Gene Autry Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer and other Christmas Classics!  YeeHaw!
All of the songs are sung by Gene Autry and friends and all of the songs are from the late 40s, early 50s (1947-1953) with just a couple from 1956.  It will be a fun CD to listen too as the holidays approach.

Now, I know that it's not even Thanksgiving yet, and I am usually a stickler about not listening to any Christmas music until Thanksgiving is over, but I just have to share one little song.  This song is NOT on the album shown above but it is on Youtube and I like it very much!

Have a happy day!

Blackberry Boogie

Just a song for today.  I've been so busy this past week, I haven't had time to post!  But I'll be back real soon!

Tennesse Ernie Ford's Blackberry Boogie from 1952.  I first heard it on Woodchucky.com and it's a great song for unloading the dishwasher. Ha!

Patsy Cline

A couple weeks ago I bought a Patsy Cline CD.  I know, I know...CDs are a thing of the past and I'm not sure they are even producing them anymore.  But I like to have a good CD in my car for those rare occasions that I forget my ipod. 

Until this summer, I hadn't really listened to much Patsy Cline.  A few of her songs were familiar to me but there are so many good ones I'd never heard before.  My favorites are "Leaving On Your Mind" and "She's Got You".  There are certain days when her music just fits my mood.  Sometimes they play softly during nap time as I go about my business of doing dishes or folding the laundry.
Later on, I'll have to do some research.  It's a shame that I don't know more about Patsy or other female country singers of that time such as Kitty Wells and Brenda Lee.

So, click the link below and enjoy a little Patsy Cline to start off the week. (I just love woodchucky.com and upchucky.com as well.  I can find just about any song I could want to here AND they have 1940's tunes as well!)

http://woodchucky.com/12packs/PatsyCline/index.html

Until tomorrow,
Have a Happy, Vintage Day!