Phil's Diner

Phil's Diner must have at one point been a local landmark, but by the time I found it, many years ago, it was already half gone. Physically it was still there, closed, but still standing on a scraggly, barbed wire fence spotted side street between Lankershim and Vineland. The neighborhood has gone under a transformation since the NoHo metrolink station opened nearby. The somewhat rough looking streets have been gradually been taken over new development.

The actual structure of Phil's have stayed around for a while, moved off the street to a yet undeveloped yard. Eventually it just disappeared, and now all that's left of Phil's Diner is this mural on Chandler Blvd.

There is good news however according to the Los Angeles Times, the diner will be restored and relocated to a nearby spot. Undoubtedly it will be a hipster place, still I'm looking forward to it.

Smoked

I've been driving all over San Fernando Valley today, but didn't stop once to take pictures. No inspiration. So I was just driving around listening to Prairie Home Companion, and then some finance nitwit giving unsound advice to listeners. I'm convinced that most of these "experts" don't have the foggiest clue what they are talking about, or have any common sense even. I decided that the only people I'll be listening to are those who have seen this mess coming years ago.

When I found the picture of the burning care I picked it for its visual appeal and because there is a mystery to it. It's a frame from a narrative.

Mish-Mash

Snorkel

The Big Chill

I shot these pictures a few weeks ago, South of the Glendale part of San Fernando Road. I'm not sure what that area is called. There is a huge Levitz furniture store there that closed recently. Now it's just a big white building and a huge empty parking lot. There are a row of small furniture stores right next though.

Behind them, there is a bit of an abandoned railroad with overgrown grass.

I walked down to the end where I found what seemed to be a homeless person's encampment.

It could have been a pile of rags or someone sleeping. I stopped and turned around. I figured it's rude to walk into somebody's bedroom, even if it's outdoors.

I have not been out photographing the past few weeks. I've been fighting a cold and obsessing over the economy. I spent the weekends drinking chamomile tea, and scouring the web trying to figure out which financial analyst is right and how much I should be worrying.

The weather has turned, the nice gloominess offers a welcome break from the relentlessly blaring sun. I should go out tomorrow and take advantage of this light. Unless if it's raining.

Blushing Melons

I picked up these old fruit crate labels at an antique store. I don't collect them, but couldn't resist.

Apparently in the 30's, 40's pinups and fruit went hand in hand.

Well...


How could anyone not buy Mother brand anything?

Sad

Coincidences are odd sometimes. It was just a week ago that I snatched up this on-location photo of Paul Newman. Today's sad news: Paul Newman is dead at 83. Go read his obituary in the New York Times.

Square America: People Being People

Old Man and the Sea

I was originally collecting BW photos, and there was a bit of a nostalgia factor to it, among other things. I have recently came across these square color photos that were apparently very popular in the sixties and early seventies.

Kodak Moment

They retained their color relatively well. The edge of the photos are more peach colored than white, but color photographs are notorious about their archival issues.

The Bride Was Silent

Sometimes I pick them just for sheer kookiness.

Old Man, Big Hat

Like, why is the old guy wearing a giant paper top hat? With greeting cards glued to it? And what is the religious connection? It's a mystery.

Grandma, Papers, Bombs

Other times I'm drawn in by the elements that firmly anchor them in a period. Here grandma is reading the paper, the headlines of which remind of the Vietnam war era. The one about the NASA strike doesn't mean much to me, but there is another one about LBJ, and can read fragment of the third: "...Carrier Planes Bomb Haiphong Depot."

Girl with Submarine

From there it is a short jump to the girl in red on the submarine.

Buckets of Old photos

I spent close to five hours going through trays and trays of unsorted photos at the paper fair. I picked up a bunch of interesting stuff, including what I believe to be a picture of Paul Newman on the set of his 1972 movie, The Life And Times Of Judge Roy Bean. Nifty, eh?

There were many other photos too, I need to scan them in still.

I met with three nice ladies, artists and fellow collectors. We chatted about photography and our obsession of collecting these pictures. It was a good day.

Collectors Rejoice!

The Vintage Paper Fair is back to Glendale this weekend.

I hope to find the man with the buckets of old photos again.