Author: Robert Kimberly

Wednesday Night Photo Post: Wolves, Safe-Cracking and Pipe Smoking Hotties- Headlines from the Houston Press, c. 1953

For those worried about the recent decline in journalism, maybe these headlines from 1953 will make you feel better about the current state of affairs in print.

Wednesday Night Photo Post: An Imagined Vision of Houston from the Past

“The City of Houston, 1868”
Courtesy of Special Collections, University of Houston Libraries

I learned about Mount Houston in April. Like much of the city’s historic sights, it too was torn down.

http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f8/716758716

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For more:
Link to original 1868 image – University of Houston Digital Library

Sexy X: Less is More

“This is great, but you know what would make it better?…”

“… much better.”

Top:
Field Guide To Wild American PULP ARTIST – Virgil Finlay Entry

Bottom:
Eizo Pin-up Calendar 2010 – more than integral nude | Ufunk.net – Orginally seen on Boing Boing

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 Also see: Neon Poisoning: High-Lighting The Sexy Mind: Folk Art In Atlanta and Modern Elsewhere

(Image from Sperone Westwater Gallery)

Wednesday Night Photo Post: A Vision of Houston's Future from the Past

Painting of futuristic view of Houston
Courtesy of Special Collections, University of Houston Libraries

While the unknown artist is no Hugh Ferriss or Norman Bel Geddes, I do find this 1920’s rendering of Houston charming. The star-topped building and oil rig skyscrapers make it a most Texan skyline.

Painting of futuristic view of Houston (Detail)
Courtesy of Special Collections, University of Houston Libraries

The curved building is just odd. Must be an early Frank Gehry.  I kid!

Painting of futuristic view of Houston (Detail)
Courtesy of Special Collections, University of Houston Libraries.

This image, and many others can be found on the University of Houston Digital Library site.

What I Got You've Got to Get It Put It In You: For Medical Use Only!

From the Houston Chronicle – Houston inventor in sex toy court battle. Originally found on Obscure Store and Reading Room.

Sadly, inventor Jiro Takashima never visited the Antique Vibrator and Quack Medical Musuem website, or he would have been aware of the pervy potential his invention had.

Plus, I’m envisioning a court room made entirely out of sex toys. Or a court that resolves only sex-toy related legal issues. I’ll stop now.

Wednesday Night Photo Post: Super Chicken

It was overcast and yet the sun was in front of me. Made for a less-than-ideal photo op, but this is the shot. I love the chicken and was happy to see it on a random drive.

Rolling With Sig: Driving "Old" Houston

One of my latest ventures has been reading the columns of Houston Press writer Sigman Byrd. Over fifty years ago, he was walking parts of the city that many would avoid if they could. He made a point of getting to know the people and places that would never make history but made for interesting tales. It was in “The Stroller” that he would recount the misfortunes and good news, the sadness and small victories of people that had the deck stacked against them.

With a map of some of the places mentioned in his columns, I drove parts of the city that I never have need to visit. And it was great. A combination of lovely evening weather, only slightly rude drivers and new neighborhoods put me in a great mood.

One thing I felt closer to was why Sig wrote about a city that was so hard on so many people. I drove unfamiliar roads, and would get to a big intersection and see the towers of Downtown. The skyline was a familiar landmark that would appear in the wide streets only to be hidden by passing trees, run down cottages, abandoned storefronts, taco trucks, churches, factories, etc. Around 7pm, the golden hour took hold, and gave the city some extra warmth. I took the one good picture of the evening, and that was good enough for me. It was the cycle of getting lost and finding a familiar and comforting sight that put me a positive spin on my often terrible sense of direction. While I won’t be going through a pair of shoes every couple of months, I hope to put some miles on the car getting acquainted with neighborhoods Sig strolled.

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Also see: Facebook | Sig Byrd’s Houston