What's Gotten Into You, Baxter?

September 16th marked the 50th anniversary of the release of Billy Wilder's iconic, Oscar-winning film, The Apartment. This picture encapsulates the elegance of the early 1960's and bears an aesthetic that, despite the passing of fifty years, still remains contemporary. Wilder's charming tale exemplifies the ambience of the era and imbues the film with an air of sophistication.

Jerome Robbins' NY Export: Opus Jazz

Last night I caught the last 30 minutes of Opus Jazz on WHYY. Truly inspiring.

In 1958, Jerome Robbins’ “ballet in sneakers,” NY Export: Opus Jazz, became a smash hit when it was broadcast on The Ed Sullivan Show and toured around the world. Set to an evocative jazz score by Robert Prince and abstract urban backdrops by Ben Shahn, the dance told the story of disaffected urban youth through movement that blended ballet, jazz and ballroom dancing with Latin, African and American rhythms to create a powerfully expressive, sexy and contemporary style. Now, the work comes full circle in a vibrant new scripted film adaptation, conceived by New York City Ballet soloists Ellen Bar and Sean Suozzi, and shot on location around New York City. This feature length film will premiere at the 2010 South by Southwest Film Festival, and have it’s broadcast premiere March 24 on PBS’ Great Performances.

See the trailer and learn more here.

Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles will be preserved

It's always good news when moves are made to preserve history.

The Los Angeles hotel that hosted a welcome-home party for the Apollo 11 astronauts and other historic events will remain standing under a deal reached between the mid-century landmark's owners and preservation groups that sought to stave off the structure's demolition.

Michael Rosenfeld, who leads the partnership that owns the glass and aluminum Century Plaza Hotel, said his group has agreed to preserve the crescent-shaped building, which it previously planned to replace with two soaring towers. The deal allows building on other parts of the nearly six-acre property.

"I think we found an opportunity to do something unique and special on this site," he said.

– LA Times, Jacob Adelman, Associated Press Writer, February 11, 2010

Read more here and here.

The American Look (1958)

I apologize for the new year neglect. Hope this makes up for it:

A Single Man

Tom Ford's directorial debut, A Single Man, looks absolutely amazing! With the help of the design crew from Mad Men he has created a 1962 I long to live in (without all the isolation, of course.) Can't wait until February to see it!

Summary of the Christopher Isherwood novel upon which the flick is based:

Set in Los Angeles in 1962, at the height of the Cuban missile crisis, A Single Man is the story of George Falconer, a 52 year old British college professor (Colin Firth) who is struggling to find meaning to his life after the death of his long time partner, Jim (Matthew Goode). George dwells on the past and cannot see his future as we follow him through a single day, where a series of events and encounters ultimately leads him to decide if there is a meaning to life after Jim. George is consoled by his closest friend Charley (Julianne Moore), a 48 year old beauty who is wrestling with her own questions about the future. A young student of George, Kenny (Nicholas Hoult), who is coming to terms with his true nature, stalks George as he feels in him a kindred spirit. A Single Man is a romantic tale of love interrupted, the isolation that is an inherent part of the human condition, and ultimately the importance of the seemingly smaller moments in life.

Kodachrome Christmas by Jeff Altman

Found this video posted by Jeff Altman. It features his grandparents, aunts, mother and their neighbors in the mid to late 1950s. No sound, but beautiful color.

Kodachrome Christmas from Jeff Altman on Vimeo.

YouTube Holiday Find

An Apologetic Offering

Sorry for neglecting the blog for the past week—the real job got a bit busy. I promise to make it up to you over the next few weeks as Shag prepares for the holidays.

First up: Thanksgiving. Check out this commercial for Kaiser Foil I found on YouTube.