Everyone should have one great holiday CD with songs you can listen to over and over again at Christmas each year.

Sleigh Me, the first compilation CD from ATOMIC Magazine, is just such an album, filled with musical delights from some of today’s hottest swing and big band artists that will have you lindy hoppin’ under the mistletoe all night long.

Enjoy popular Christmas standards by George Gee and The Jump Jive and Wailers, The Jive Aces, Lavay Smith, The Ray Gelato Giants, The Bill Elliott Swing Orchestra, Michael Andrew and Swingerhead, Dave’s True Story, Los Straightjackets, plus new originals by Casey MacGill and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. This timeless compilation is guaranteed to put a jingle in your step this holiday season!

Visit ATOMIC Magazine for the full track listing, audio song samples, and easy online ordering!

On December 8, The Doors’ Jim Morrison would have celebrated his 65th birthday. This year, the momentous occasion will be marked at Barney’s Beanery, the legendary West Hollywood hangout on Route 66, which served as a stomping ground and home away from home for the rock icon. Since moving to its current Santa Monica Blvd. location in 1927 from Berkeley, the historic venue has hosted a variety of counter cultural legends over the years from the worlds of avant-garde art, movies, literature and rock and roll.

Both Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger of The Doors will be on hand that evening for a special live broadcast on L.A. rock station 95.5 KLOS, hosted by famed “Last D.J.,” Jim Ladd. The three will discuss and sign copies of Live at The Matrix 1967, a live CD on The Doors’ Bright Midnight Archives and Rhino Records. The two-CD set, which was recorded in San Francisco over two nights in March ’67, will be available on November 18th. The shows took place shortly before the group broke on through with their hit Summer of Love single, “Light My Fire.” Winners of a 95.5 KLOS contest will get to meet and greet Manzarek and Krieger.

“We decided to celebrate this occasion because Barney’s is a place where Jim Morrison hung out often,” says Barney’s Beanery principal David Houston, who bought the place in 1999 from Erwin Held. He is only the third person to own the famed venue after original founder John “Barney” Anthony and Held. “Whatever point in time you go back to, whoever was making history in pop culture, they seemed to have a foot in the Beanery.”

In the late ‘60s, Morrison and Janis Joplin were regulars at Barney’s Beanery, with Jim famously barred from the dining establishment for allegedly urinating on the bar. Houston will commemorate the event with a memorial plaque to mark the exact place.

“I’m hoping Ray’s incredibly sharp memory will help us locate it,” says Houston. “Wherever he says it happened, that’s where we’ll put it up.”

The locus of The Doors’ history, notes Houston, took place largely in a one-mile radius of the Beanery, with the band’s label Elektra headquarters and Jim’s girlfriend Pam’s clothing boutique on La Cienega Blvd., the group’s offices around the corner, the Alta Cienega Hotel, where Jim often stayed, just down the street, and the Whisky-a-Go-Go, where they regularly performed, just up the block on Sunset.

After opening new Barney’s locations at the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica in 2004, and in Old Town Pasadena on Colorado Blvd. in 2006, Houston is set to launch two new Beaneries, one later this month in Burbank and another next year in Westwood.

Rhino’s Live at The Matrix 1967 is the fourth of the Bright Midnight Archives releases, and features liner notes by all three surviving members of The Doors and brand-new cover art by renowned San Francisco artist Stanley Mouse. Whereas the three previous collections documented The Doors’ final 1970 tour, this latest edition takes you back to the early days, when the band was still working out arrangements and lyrics.

“This is probably the closest we’ve come to a true document of The Doors without constraints,” says the band’s longtime producer/engineer Bruce Botnick, who worked on the reissue. “You’ve never heard the group quite like this.”

Tired of the Rockettes’ Christmas Spectacular at Radio City? Feeling ho-ho-hum about the entertainment offerings this holiday season? Well, goodfella Mickey Marchello has a year-end offer you can’t refuse, with a swingin’ musical showcase that will have you ring-a-ding-dingin’ in the holidays in style!

The former guitarist from the legendary New York rock band Good Rats has teamed up with bandleader George Gee and his 22-piece Make-Believe Ballroom Orchestra, together with a stellar cast of performers, to create “Sleigh Bells Swing”, a high-energy musical extravaganza to celebrate the Christmas season!

Guests will feel they are being swept into a fantasy world of 1930s/1940s retro era glitz and glamour as the interactive, multimedia floor show with the full swing orchestra and cast is performed during a delectable four-course dinner at the Edison Ballroom, a stunning Art Deco edifice in midtown Manhattan. George Gee and his 22 tuxedoed musicians, captivating singers, gravity-defying lindyhoppers punctuated by a bandstand complete the look of this elegant evening. After the show, the dance floor will be open for dancing to the swingin’ Big Band sounds of George Gee and his orchestra.

Edison Ballroom’s “Sleigh Bells Swing” runs from December 20th, 2008 through January 3rd, 2009, including a very special performance on Christmas Day (no performances on Dec. 24, and Dec. 31). Tickets for the floor show and gourmet dinner are $190.00 per person, which also includes all drinks and dancing. General admission tickets cost $75 per person (post-dinner and floor show), which will include open bar and hors d’oeuvres.

For ticket information, visit EdisonBallroom.com, or check out the fabulous Sleigh Bells Swing MySpace page!

Voodoo Vacation on Zombie Island

Tiki lovers, retro-fanatics, and lovers of pop culture kitsch can experience a full weekend of live exotica and classic surf tunes, peruse art and imbibe tropical cocktails poolside at the eighth annual Tiki Oasis extravaganza, happening August 14th-17th in sunny San Diego.

The festivities kick off on Friday night with live music performances and a special Tiki fashion show. For the rest of the weekend, guests can mingle with live Tiki carvers, shop for art and decorative home accessories in the

Painting by Brad Parker (www.tikishark.com)

A family produced event by Otto and Baby Doe von Stroheim of Tiki News Magazine, Tiki Oasis is the largest and longest running Tiki event in the world, and a place where the Tiki community from across the U.S. gathers for its annual reunion. Limited access tickets and deluxe passes for this year’s event are on sale now, and advanced room reservations are recommended. For the full scoop, visit www.TikiOasis.com.

American Cinematheque to Host “Enchanted Tiki Luau Blowout”

Tiki lovers from across southern California will descend on The American Cinemateque’s famed Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood from July 25-26 for an Enchanted Tiki Luau Blow-Out, featuring old-school island adventure pics FAIR WIND TO JAVA (1953), ALOMA OF THE SOUTH SEAS (1941) and HER JUNGLE LOVE (1938), all in gorgeously saturated color. The two-day event will also feature artist Kevin Kidney’s collection of rare, island-themed TV surprises, a bountiful luau dinner, exotic musical entertainment from King Kukelele and his Friki Tikis and the Polynesian Paradise Dancers, and a number of Tiki vendors hawking exotic wares.

Founded in 1981, The American Cinematheque is a non-profit, viewer-supported cultural organization dedicated exclusively to the public presentation of the Moving Picture in all its forms. Tickets for the Enchanted Tiki Luau Blow-Out are available for the movie program only, or the movie program and luau dinner. Advanced purchase is recommended, and discounts are available for seniors and students. Learn more about the classic movies featured in the Tiki triple-bill and see photos from last year’s event on the Tiki Weekend webpage.

Love the look of classic pin-ups from the 1930s, ’40s and ’50s? Ever wondered what makeup tricks they use to get that perfectly flawless finish, those sultry bedroom eyes and those ruby red lips? Learn to do it yourself in this quick video tutorial from ItsJudyTime, and you can look like a retro pin-up model, too!

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxwvGeZsWNA]

Swing House Promises Summer Sizzle
Fans of big band music, hot jazz and ragtime, lindy hoppers, hepcat hipsters and lovers of all that is retro cool are invited to the last Swing House vintage dance party of the season on July 26th at Public Assembly (the erstwhile Galapagos Art Space) in Brooklyn, NY.

Billed as a mixture of modern and vintage entertainment, the next installment of the popular monthly happening will feature free a swing dance lesson, live music from the Neon Swing X-perience and the Big Bang Big Band, DJs spinning the best in remixed early jazz and vintage bass, firebreathers, aerialists, and stunning burlesque and dance performances. Guests are encouraged to wear their full-on vintage best, circa 1920s-40s. For more details and to RSVP, visit the Swing House website.

The Timeless Appeal of Retro Red Lipstick
By Jodi McNarland

Some staples to a woman’s wardrobe simply cannot be ignored. A little black dress may catch a fella’s eye, and strappy heels may turn a gentleman’s head, but nothing puts the shine on the apple like luscious red lips.

Briefest history? Babylonians used ground jewel powder (expensive, no staying power), Cleopatra used ground beetles (yuck and yes, I know we’re still doing it, but we hide it well and let’s leave it at that, shall we?), less affluent Egyptians used henna and ground leaves (poisonous mercury-based plants no less).

The long and the short of it: Women figured out thousands of years ago that red lips look lovely, and who are we to go against tradition? Time has marched on, however, and there are almost as many styles and brands as there are women to wear them. Glossy, matte, pearly, metallic–have a little fun with it. I’m here to talk about the color.

THE MAGIC OF THE RIGHT RED

Photo by Melai Parcon Lopez

Picture it: You’re in your sweetest frock, smartest suit, or slinkiest strapless number. Your hair is a masterpiece and your eyes sparkle, shine or smolder. Your beau is waiting at the door, but you’re still missing that certain je ne sais quoi. Jewelry? Right where it belongs. Shoes? Perfect match (and comfortable to boot–after all, it’s your fantasy). What could it be? The right red on your lips brings your face to life. You’re still you, just more so. Paint on a little glamour and prepare to get noticed.

MAC Dubonnet. Chanel Barcelona Red. Cover Girl Really Red. Lancome Red Desire. Anna Sui Rouge Chine. Mary Kay Red Salsa. Elizabeth Arden Slink. See what catches your eye. Just between us, I can’t tell you which brand I use–no endorsements, darling–but I don’t leave the house without it.

So, put on a little lipstick dear. The whole world is waiting for you to make your appearance.

Moss Lamps Add That Special Twist
By Donald-Brian Johnson, Contributing Writer
Photos by Leslie Pina

Here’s the situation: It’s your turn to play host. You want the gang to be impressed, and you’ve done your best with the decor. It’s OK. But you want more than OK. You want a focal point. You want that one, wonderful object that will leave them gasping. You want a Moss lamp.

This Moss floor lamp with a revolving

A new material demanded new designs, and Smith’s early lamps took full advantage of plexi’s adaptability: angled pieces not only formed the lamp bodies, but also jutted out in every direction imaginable. More variety was soon on the way, thanks to the non-stop imagination of company co-owner Thelma Moss. An entrepreneur extraordinaire, Thelma made it her mission in life to inspire her designers. What Thelma Moss imagined, Moss designers brought to life, and Thelma imagined plenty.

This Moss table lamp features the

“But wait,” as the ads say, “there’s more!” Buoyed by the success of the spinners, Thelma lobbied for further embellishments. Under the direction of Duke Smith, and later designer John Disney, the basic plexiglas shapes served as launching pads for an endless variety of Thelma-inspired innovations. Soon, the revolving platforms became mini-stages, lit by separate bulbs both above and below. Plexiglas planters were added, as were figurines that actually seemed to interact with their plexi environments: young girls perched on motorized swings, Oriental figures peering around oversize gongs, dancers extending their arms to the strains of tinkling music boxes. Clocks, radios, and even walkie-talkies were also eventually incorporated into the lamp designs. Topping things off were those signature Moss shades: gargantuan (at times up to two feet square), and often fashioned of the Moss secret formula for “spun glass”–an angel hair/adhesive mixture cured in a metal mold to form a hard shell.

Pushing the Envelope of Design

This Moss clock lamp has a revolving

Before Moss arrived on the scene, lamps were regarded by furniture dealers as “deal-sweeteners.” Buy a sofa, and a lamp pair was thrown in as a bonus. But, Moss lamps were different. Expensive for the time, (ranging from $29-$79 for a single lamp, while designer pairs were retailing at $40), the lamps became stars in their own right. As one dealer remarked, “With Moss lamps, we usually end up throwing in the sofa!”

For a time, Thelma’s dreams seemed in sync with the dreams of every young householder seeking to embrace the thoroughly modern. But with the onset of unified decor schemes in the 1960s, consumer interest shifted to lamps that were lamps, rather than conversation pieces. Lamp production at Moss Manufacturing ceased in 1968.

Thelma Moss (right), creative spark of Moss Manufacturing, models a

But, one thing’s for certain: whether you select a single lamp or a multitude, you (and your guests) will definitely find Moss “the light fantastic.”

Three Coins in the Fountain
Price-wise, a good rule of thumb in estimating the cost of a Moss lamp is: the more bells and whistles, the higher the price tag. Early non-figural lamps can range from $100-$125 for table models, $175-$200 for floor versions (fluorescent panels will add about $50-$75 to the cost). Lamps with figurines by “name” designers fall into the category of dual collectibles, and their prices will reflect this. A table lamp with a Hedi Schoop figurine can run $250-$275, while one with a figure by the less-in-demand Decoramic Kilns may sell for only $150-$175. Revolving-platform lamps will start at about $200 for table models, $400 for floor versions. From there, prices escalate. The relatively affordable, such as music box lamps, average $275-300; seldom-seen, and therefore pricier rarities, include fountain lamps ($1200-1300) and bars ($2200-2400).

Where to find the lamps, or more info about them? Online auction sites, such as eBay, often prove a good source for Moss lamps, as do shops and shows specializing in mid-century memorabilia. Interested collectors share comments and photos on the msn.com group site MossLampsofCalifornia, and Moss in all its glory is captured in our book Moss Lamps: Lighting the ‘50s (Schiffer Publishing, 2000, $49.95). For “the lamps that spin”, popular taste has spun full circle.

The Landing Pad is a new recurring column on retro decor by Donald-Brian Johnson, who writes and lectures frequently on mid-20th Century decorative arts. In addition to his book on Moss lamps, Johnson is also the co-author of such titles as Higgins: Adventures in Glass; Higgins: Poetry in Glass; Ceramic Arts Studio: The Legacy of Betty Harrington, and Specs Appeal: Extravagant 1950s & 1960s Eyewear. All are published by Schiffer Publishing, Ltd.

I’m certainly not the first pundit to note the striking similarity between modern day cinema vixen Angelina Jolie and the beautiful Sophia Loren, classic star of the silver screen. But, the uncanny resemblance between the two celluloid goddesses is even more apparent on the cover of the new issue of Vanity Fair, hitting newsstands this week. Jolie’s naturally chiseled cheekbones and pillow-plush lips are glamorously enhanced by classic matte makeup remniscent of the 1950s pin-up style. The good news is, you can recreate this look at home, and enhance your own natural beauty with fabulous retro flair. All it takes is the right tools and a little patience. Here, our YouTube tutor kuuipo1207 shares her trade secrets to recreate a fabulous Fifties pin-up style that will have you looking like a classic Hollywood star!

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ULBx4Kcb2o]

Love vintage pin-ups? Have a taste for classic cheesecake? Dig the glamour gals of the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s? Well then, you’re in the right place! Or…well, you will be. Just as soon as we’re done with these pesky renovations.

We’re in the process of moving four years’ worth of accumulated pin-up pictures (both classic celebs and modern retro vixens) from our old server into our nifty new digs. We need a couple of weeks, because those pictures are too precious and must be handled with care. So, in the meantime, here are a few recommended distractions…

The Vintage Pin-Up Archive
The Pin-Up Files
The Pin-Up Portal
The Art of Art Frahm
Alberto Vargas
Gil Elvgren
Pin-Up Girls of America
Cheesecake & Pin-up Model Bernie Dexter
Pin-Up Model Lana Landis
The Pin-Up Page
Shannanigan’s Rockin’ Art

Higgins is “A Glass Act”
By Donald-Brian Johnson, Contributing Writer
Photos by Leslie Piña

Vintage glass adds retro panache to any decor

These fused glass pieces from the fabulous ’50s combine an arresting mix of geometric and curved lines with a bold use of colors. Whatever your decorating scheme calls for–from eye-popping oranges to cool blues–the vast and vivid Higgins inventory is guaranteed to have what you’re looking for.

The Higgins saga began in 1948, with the opening of a Chicago-area studio by newlyweds Michael and Frances Higgins. The Higgins, both with extensive previous artistic experience, took it as their mission to revive the ancient art of glass fusing. Although popular in the past, fused glass had, by the mid-20th century, been abandoned in favor of blown glass.

Grouping of Higgins bowls, produced at Dearborn Glass Company circa 1961. Country Garden, $550-$600; Arabesque Apple, $225-$275; Sunburst, $175-$200; and Buttercup, $125-$150.

Off Like a Rocket
The Higgins quickly learned what the early ’50s market wanted and turned their fusing technique to the production of such useful objects as bowls, plates, assorted serving dishes, lamps, clocks, and–a trend of the times–smoking accessories, particularly ashtrays of every shape and size.

Pi Plate by Michael Higgins

At Dearborn, the Higgins adapted their handcrafted procedures to the demands of mass production, churning out endless houseware items in patterns with such vibrant, instantly enticing names as “Stardust”, “Barbaric Jewels”, “Arabesque” and “Mandarin”. As Dearborn’s promotional postcards of the time indicate, it was literally possible to set an entire table (except for the silver) with Higgins glass. Frances Higgins later recalled that the goal set for Higginsware at Dearborn was “a new line every six months”. If a particular pattern sold well, the couple were urged to adapt it to every size and shape imaginable. Soon, for example, simple serving plates gave way to “two-tier servers”, followed by “three-tier servers”. If the public might possibly buy it, the Higgins would create it.

Going Their Own Way

Dropout vase by Frances Higgins, 1967. $5000-$5500.

Michael Higgins died in 1999, Frances Higgins in 2004. The Higgins Studio is now under the ownership and direction of their longtime design associates Louise and Jonathan Wimmer. Pieces created today honor and expand on the traditions and of the past. This direct line of continuity means that glass objects in the distinctive Higgins style will continue to enchant collectors for many years to come.

Michael and Frances Higgins at their Riverside studio in the 1980s.

A Dash of Glass Panache
The trick in using Higgins to accent a retro decor is, in some cases, to see beyond the original use of an object, to its use as you envision it. Perhaps your home has no need for a whopping 15″ freeform ashtray, no matter how brilliant its color scheme. That same ashtray, however, re-imagined as a generously-sized chip dish, will definitely brighten up the buffet line. Oversize vintage chargers, while perhaps too valuable for actual dining use, make wonderful place-markers when setting a period table. And Higgins cigarette boxes have a multitude of uses in addition to their original one, from change holders, to dresser vanities, to candy dishes.

Bubbles sculpture by Frances Higgins, 13 inches, $1500-$1700.

The Higgins Studio was initially hailed as the home of “modern miracles with everyday glass”. Today, collectors continue to discover that “modern miracle”: the excitingly eye-catching appeal Higgins glass, both old and new, brings to any environment.

“We just try to make what looks good, anytime, in any place. Things that are lasting, and can be enjoyed for years to come.”
-Frances Higgins

The Higgins Glass Studio is located at 33 East Quincy Street, Riverside, IL 60546; Ph: (708) 447-2787. www.higginsglass.com.

The Landing Pad is a recurring column on retro decor by Donald-Brian Johnson, who writes and lectures frequently on mid-20th century decorative arts. With photographer Leslie Piña, he is co-author of Higgins: Poetry in Glass (Schiffer Publishing), as well as Higgins: Adventures in Glass, and numerous other books on mid-century modern. He can be contacted at www.ceramicartsstudio.com.

Thanks for the Mammaries
By Dixie Feldman, Contributing Writer

The fabulously flat-chested Myrna Loy

Today when you’re graded on your curves no one wants an A , cup, that is. We live in a world where a D-plus means you’re far from failing, and perfectly adorable little bosoms are wilting under waves of public apathy and their owner’s own self-loathing. While many men will quote the great Will Rogers by proclaiming they’ve ‘never met a breast they didn’t like,’ the truth is we’ve all lately been schooled to believe chests must be super-sized to make the grade.

Nowadays there are humungous boobies everywhere you turn. They bob in and out of blouses like two bald men on a raft, they protrude from billboards, and they say a fuzzy, pixilated hello every time robotically wild girls dutifully lift their shirts from the streets of New Orleans to the sands of Ft. Lauderdale.

It’s almost impossible to tell the women’s magazines from the men’s magazines, or from those on photography, music, fitness or motorcycles. Periodicals of every description have at least one pair of breasts pushing up, peeking out, or playfully handheld by their coy celebrity owner. So why are newsstands hawking the hardly newsworthy, secondary sex characteristics found on half the populace? Why do movie posters bludgeon us senseless with hefty preternatural chests that stretch credulity as much as sweaters? (Remember the poster for I Still Know What You Did Last Summer? I still don’t know how Jennifer Love Hewitt was able to stand erect, much less fend off a psychotic killer.) Why do physicians who presumably champion healthy physiognomy place ad after ad suggesting your average-sized breasts are in desperate need of slicing open? Just when did such big boobies become such big business?

Classic starlets from Mansfield to Hepburn prove beautiful women come in all cup sizes.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I like bosoms as much as the next guy. (Some of my best friends are breasts.) I recognize that sex sells. I even understand that our economy is built on building up insecurities and seducing us to purchase what we don’t have and now desperately need. Fine. Breasts good. No problem. My problem is not with bosoms but with the domination of these large, largely fake, manufactured mock mammaries. Mass media and the proliferation of pornography on VCRs and the Web have acclimated the population to see and expect a fabrication of female form that rarely really exists. Slim women with two mammoth mounds of fat protruding from their svelte carbo-scoffing bodies are no stranger to the scalpel. Big ole tetherballs tethered fixed and firm on otherwise pliable God-given frames inundate us day in and out, so much so that when a real bosom sheepishly rears its silicone-free heads it appears inadequate and even weird.

Most television ta-tas are cantilevered into Wonderbras or so surgically amplified that there’s nary a flat chest left on the flat screen. In shows like Baywatch and their ilk, there’s likely more saline on the beach than in the ocean. Pamela Anderson and her V.I.T.s have left us thinking the caricature is the norm. Now lovely ladies from nine to ninety are wanting breasts up to snuff, padding themselves with those flesh-colored, chicken cutlet-y inserts you buy at drugstores or disfiguring their figures with sacs with a twenty-year shelf life.

While it’s fitting that breasts be appreciated, even celebrated, that celebration turns sour when respect is replaced by an irreverent drive to build a better mantrap. These features great and small are wonderful even when they’re Wonderbra-less. Breasts are fantastic just the way they are. The real miracle is not to be found in a Miracle Bra, but in the gorgeous, genuine variety of fabulous flesh in the mammary mosaic.

Dixie Feldman is a writer and public speaker, television personality, and die-hard retrophile. She is currently working on a book about The Lost Art of Being a Dame.

Slippers Guaranteed to Attract a Prince
By Jody McNarland

Picture it: Hollywood 1950. You’re lounging in your penthouse flat waiting for your gentleman caller. You’re wearing the most delicious peignoir set, filmy, flowing and feminine. There’s a knock at the door and you pad barefoot across the carpet.

Wait a minute, that’s not right. Look down, what’s wrong with this picture? Your feet, love. They look so…naked.

You need mules. Marabou mules to be precise. Those princess-like vintage slippers with the delicate tuft of feathers highlighting a perfect pedicure.

A Walk Through Time
Briefest history? They’ve been around a lot longer than you may think. Mules showed up in the 19th century French courts, where a glimpse of a girl’s foot was an event to remember (and, really, is it any different today).

No one knows who added the stork feathers, but isn’t it wonderful they did? Mules reached their peak in the early 1950s, when any sex kitten worth her whiskers had a pair tucked away for special occasions. Dainty and delicate but, most importantly, fluffy. Like the best lingerie, they hint at what’s underneath but don’t give away the whole story.

Now, I hear you asking: What about my pumps? My ballerina flats? Well, there’s a time and a place for everything, love. Most women save their marabou mules for more private times, but if you have a hankering to strut into the dentist’s office or the daycare, who am I to argue? I can tell you personally that feathers on your feet will definitely spice up your next trip to the grocery store.

Simple and sexy, Maribou mules come in all sorts of fanciful colors!

So, figure out your favorite color and take those first few steps toward your next adventure. With a crossed leg and that little powder puff dangling just so carefully off of your toes, you are a force to be reckoned with.

And, when you hear that knock, get off your chaise lounge and sashay over to the door in a pair of marabou mules. Let your inner bombshell out to play because, darlin’, company’s coming and he’ll never know what hit him.

Life is a Game
Review by Doug Boynton

The Jive Aces can play. And play they do, both figuratively and literally. Based out of the U.K., they’ll perform more than 300 gigs this year, across several countries. Their musical talents and passion for up-tempo swing are delightfully evident on their latest release, Life Is a Game (Right Recordings). With just a couple of exceptions, the disc jumps from beginning to end.

Ian Clarkson’s vocals remind me of a young Louis Prima. In fact, the band’s whole sound reminded me of classic Prima and Sam Butera. It’s an image they’ve polished very well. The arrangements are first-rate, and 10 of the 14 cuts on Life is a Game are home-grown by the group itself. Highlights include the band’s theme song, “Jive, Jive, Jive Aces,” penned by bass player Ken Smith; “Long Distance Love Affair,” co-written by drummer Peter Howell; and an arrangement of “Singin’ in the Rain” that is simply aces. You’ll also want to hear the winning tune, “I’ve Got Affinity for You.”

Then, in the middle of the disc, there’s this three-cut…um…thing.

Think of it as a commercial break. First, there’s “High Energy Jive,” an ode to…well, high energy. The track is followed by “Only Mugs Take Drugs,” and really, how can you argue with that? Coming in at number three is “Clear Body, Clear Mind.”

That’s the one that sent me to their website.

Ah. I get it now. There’s a religious undertone to it all. Remember the guy who would come to some gathering when you were a kid, and he’d do a magic show, except you had to sit through five or ten minutes about Jesus somewhere in the middle? Same idea here, except the Jive Aces are Scientologists.

Ideological leanings aside, the disc is top-notch, even the advertorials really swing. Precision is this band’s long suit; every piece sounds hand-crafted, and fits well. My advice? Roll up the rug. Play this loud.

Doug Boynton is the bartender at www.girlsingers.org.

Pin-Up Contest Winner
Janet – Palm Bay, FL

The vote tallies were neck-and-neck (and neck) between three of our lovely contestants for our August 2006 pinup contest, as we closed out the summer in true bombshell fashion. (Always leave them wanting more, dahlings.) The battle between Danni, Janet and Mia continued down to the very end, calling for a near tie-breaker. The vote from the Fedora Lounge went to Mia, while the staff of RetroRadar was partial to Danni. But in the polls, the majority ruled, and the delicious Miss Janet took the crown. Congratulations to this hot tamale from the sunny Florida shores, whose alluring curves are sure to bring any sailor to attention! (Missed this month’s action? You can still see any girls’ photos and profile by clicking on the thumbnails below.)

Danni Lakewood, CA	Janet Palm Bay, FL	Kimberly San Diego, CA
Lola Melbourne, Australia	Diana Toronto, Canada	Mia Los Angeles, CA

Want to see more lovely pin-up beauties?
Click the photo below to view last month’s contest!

Although she originally started as a glamour model, 24-year-old Mia found it boring and unfulfilling–until she stumbled across some photos of a modern-day model emulating the popular pinup styles of the past. “I realized my body was something that, in that era, would have been appreciated–like Bettie Page and Marilyn Monroe,” says Mia, adding, “I love cheesecake!” A recent transplant to LA from the Big Apple, Mia has guest starred on shows such as The Sopranos and As the World Turns. We look forward to seeing more of this little vixen on the small screen!

Proof that the Aussies have far more to offer than shrimp on the barbie, the lovely Miss Lola delivers curves in all the right places. (Okay, she’s originally from New Zealand, but for many of us, “Down Under” just means the other half of the planet.) “I’m obsessed with cheesecake photography–the cheesier the better,” says Lola of her passion for retro pop culture. She adds, “Other loves of mine include music, cowboys, leopard print everything, polka dot dresses, bangs, bellys, british bulldogs, travelling, and neo-pinups.” In her spare time, Lola likes to hang out with her pooch, Sharpie, her fat british blue cat, Buick, and her beautiful boyfriend, Guy Le Guy. Hmmm, maybe we can ween her off that last one…

This 24-year-old fun-loving artistic girl is a bartender by day, and aspiring pinup model by night. (Or maybe it’s the other way around…) “I was just charmed by the innocent sexiness of the ’40s and ’50s pinups,” says Danni. “They were some of the most beautiful women that I’d ever seen, without really showing anthing.” In addition to posing for the camera, this California cutie loves to draw, sing, dance, and make costumes. Adds the delicious Danni, “I also love to model ice cream, and anything shiny.” Anyone care for a scoop, fellas?

This 27-year-old aspiring performer and pinup model counts two classic blonde bombshells among her idols: “May West for her insatiable appetite for men and Marilyn Monroe for her classic, sex-kitten beauty with a touch of innocence,” explains Kimberly. “I try to portray a combination of both women and add my own personality in my pictures and on stage,” she says. When not posing for the camera or shimmying her way through a steamy dance routine, Kimberly enjoys horror flicks and consuming men. We love a woman with a healthy appetite!