Check out this great 1950′s Lone Ranger Bandana found on eBay! Keep an eye on this one with six more days of bidding to go:

Vintage 1950′s Lone Ranger Bandana, Item #270470283400

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We know this clip from Goodbye, Columbus has absolutely nothing to do with Columbus Day….but Ali McGraw. Sigh.

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Not only is Rushmore one of my favorite movies, but the city of Houston had the honor of having most (if not all) of the film captured right here. Simply driving through the city you can’t miss many of the places where scenes were shot….or perhaps my familiarity is due to the embarrassing fact that I’ve watched the movie a million times.  Anyway, I’ve put together a “Rushmore” guide to some of the places that you can visit here in town– they look pretty much exactly as they do in the film.

First location is director Wes Andersons alma mater, St. John’s High School located at 2401 Claremont Lane (right off Westheimer). According to Anderson “We always planned to film in New England, during autumn, with the leaves falling. I was waiting for the one school campus where I would say, ‘Here it is’. There was one in England, but then we decided not to shoot in England. Then my mother sent pictures of my own school and I realized that’s what I was trying to find all along.”

Second is Lamar High School at 3325 Westheimer, which stand directly across the street from St. Johns, exactly the way Grover Cleveland is located directly across from Rushmore in the movie.

Lamar High School

The Kite Flying Society meets in the parking lot of the Delmar Stadium, 220 Magnum Road.

The cemetery where Max’s mother Eloise Fischer is laid to rest is located at the appropriately named Hollywood Cemetery, located at 3506 N. Main Street.

Next is Doug & Don’s Barber Shop which stands in for Berts Barber Shop, located at 219 East 11th Street.

Doug and Dons Barber Shop

The hotel that Mr. Blume, played by Bill Murray, goes to after being sued for divorce is the Warwick Hotel which unfortunately has been now renamed the Hotel ZaZa, located at 5701 Main Street.

The Warwick Hotel, 1928

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Scheduled for early November is the 2009 Cinema Arts Festival of Houston sponsored by the Cinema Arts Society. The local non-profit group will work with local museums, theaters, and cultural organizations to showcase new films by and about artists working in the visual, performing, or literary arts. The festival will run for five days starting on November 11th.

One of the films included that we are excited about seeing is the premiere of Laura Harrison’s documentary “Ant Farm 1969 – 1971: Early Underground Adventures with Space, Land and Time.” The film co-presented by Aurora Picture Show and the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center for the Arts will be accompanied by artworks inspired by Ant Farm and created by University of Houston architecture and media art students. Ant Farm was a very influential group of architects that produced experimental work that commented on social and political mores of America, media, and technology. Best known for “Cadillac Ranch” the work consists of vintage Cadillac’s buried nose first (seen here) with their recognizable tail fins looking towards the sun in a field in Amarillo, Texas.

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Houston’s own native son, Wes Anderson, is a new American style icon who goes his own way.  He is the perfect example of a well dressed man that understands the benefits of custom made clothing.  Knowing what looks good on his slight build, and by playing with proportion, Wes creates a simple and classic individual style.  Mr. Anderson seems to have wisely selected the single perfect suit style for his narrow frame, and he has the suit made up in many different seasonal fabrics.  He always seems to be wearing a basic two button single breasted jacket with cropped flat front trousers, and its a look that really flatters him.  Reportedly made for him by the New York tailor, Mr.Ned , these suits have helped place Mr. Anderson on many international best dressed lists.

Opening November 13th, Wes Anderson’s newest feature film, Fantastic Mr. Fox, looks to be the perfect holiday fare.  Taking his trademark creative vision to a new level, the entirely animated film is based on the novel for children by Roald Dahl.  With the talents of George Clooney, Meryl Streep, and Bill Murray, how could it be anything but fantastic?

(more…)

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If you haven’t seen the film Dodsworth, go out and buy it immediately.  Starring Walter Huston as an American automobile executive, and Ruth Chatterton as his younger and more free spirited wife, the movie is one of the best films from the 1930′s era.  The themes of the film still resonate today, while also imparting some very moving and valuable life lessons.  The basic plot of the film tells the story of a retiring executive and his wife embarking on a second honeymoon to Europe, and the values and importance of a well lived and well loved life.

The 1936 film is based on a satirical novel of the same name by the esteemed writer Sinclair Lewis.  Sam Dodsworth, has to be one of the finest characters ever written, he is someone that every American gentleman should aspire to be.

Get your DVD copy of Dodsworth here; or in our Trading Post.

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The history of the original rhinestone cowboy is attributed to Nudie, The Rodeo Tailor.  Born in Russia, and emigrating to Minnesota in the 1930′s, this classically trained tailor started his glittering career making clothes for showgirls in New York City.  Contacted by a group of country musicians including Tex Williams to make clothing for a tour, Nudie and his wife Bobbie found their true calling.  Scraping together savings and with additional help from friends, Nudie and Bobbie moved out to California and opened a store in North Hollywood, California.  Befriending Roy Rogers and Dale Evans in the 1950′s Nudie also became their personal tailor and dressed the couple for all their public appearances.  Nudie had found his fortune and his name was made.

Roy Rogers & Dale Evans

Nudie went on to dress such diverse celebrities such as John Wayne, Ronald Reagan, Gene Autry, Glen Campbell, Elton John and even Cher.  Nudies most famous client was Elvis Presley, who even ordered a custom made gold lamé suit that cost then the outrageous sum of $10,000.00.

Nudie with Elvis Presley

In addition to the incredible workmanship, the garments often have great provenance from being worn by some of entertainments most famous celebritites.  Today, vintage Nudie items are extremely rare and highly collectible.   A really terrific book about Nudie with tons of great photos has been published, and is available here in our Trading Post.

Nudie

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Born into slavery in 1843, Bose Ikard overcame many terrible hardships to become one of the most celebrated black cowboys in Texas history.  When Bose was a young boy born in Tennessee, he was taken from his family directly into bondage to live and work in Texas.  Trained to rope and ride on a cattle ranch, Bose became highly skilled and highly respected.  When slavery was finally abolished, Bose stayed on in Texas to continue his life as a cowboy.  After his first boss, Oliver Loving was killed by Comanches, Bose went on to work for Charles Goodnight.  Loving & Goodnight were the namesakes of the “Loving & Goodnight Cattle Trail” a 2,000 mile trail that ran from Youngs County,Texas all the way to Cheyenne,Wyoming.

Bose Ikard

There exists a quote about Bose Ikard from Charles Goodnight “Bose surpassed any man I had in endurance and stamina.  There was a dignity, a cleanliness and reliability about him that was wonderful.  His behavior was very good in a fight and he was probably the most devoted man to me that I ever knew.  I have trusted him farther than any man.  He was my banker, my detective, and everything else in Colorado, New Mexico and the other wild country.  The nearest and only bank was in Denver, and when we carried money, I gave it to Bose, for a thief would never think of robbing him.”

The fictionalized character, Joshua Deets, played by Danny Glover in the movie “Lonesome Dove” is partly based on Bose Ikard.  “Lonesome Dove” is based to some degree on the lives of Goodnight and Loving.

The gravestone belonging to Bose Ikard reads “Bose Ikard served with me four years on the Goodnight-Loving Trail, never shirked a duty or disobeyed an order, rode with me in many stampedes, participated in three engagements with Comanches, splendid behavior.”

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Now here is a summer event that is right up my alley. Tonight the Menil (favorite museum) is hosting free Summer Movies in the Park, with this weeks feature “High Noon” (favorite movie). I know, I’ve got a lot of favorites- and a lot of movie posts this week…weird!  Starting at 8pm and ending generally about 11pm- the movie is shown outside on the Menil Collection lawn.  The museum is also providing free popcorn and refreshments.

Here is a great description of the movie from the Menil Facebook events page  “Director Fred Zinnemann’s 1952 classic, starring Gary Cooper and Grace Kelly, tells the story of a town marshal who is forced to face a gang of killers by himself. Somewhat controversial upon its release in 1952, High Noon has been described as an “existential Western”. Written as an allegory of the contemporary failure of intellectuals to combat the rise of McCarthyism, as well as how people in Hollywood had remained silent while their peers were blacklisted, High Noon defies the traditional Western archetype.”

An “existentialist western”? Look for me in my Hamilton Shirt. I WILL SEE YOU THERE! -SW

The Menil Collection , 1515 Sul Ross St.  Houston, Texas.  Become a member while you are there!

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