I grew up in the 1950s in the small town of Spencer, Iowa. I often think of our Main Street with it's surprising number of diners, bars, pool halls, and numerous other businesses that were a part of mid-century mid-America.
Every September Spencer hosted the Clay County Fair. My favorite section of the Fair was the Art B. Thomas traveling Midway, complete with rides, ten-in-one shows, carnival games, and concession stands.
We spent our summers in nearby Okoboji, Iowa, a typical lake summer resort with its tourist cabins, boat houses, bait shops, souvenir stands, and lakeside amusement parks. Fireworks never look better to me than those 4th of July exhibitions at Arnolds Park on the shores of Okoboji.
Our family took numerous winter road trip to California via Route 66, often concluding with our attendance at the Rose Bowl Parade and Game in Pasadena. Route 66 was a dreamland drive for a kid from Iowa, filled with exotic exhibits and
eateries, roadside attractions and concessions, neon meccas and motels, and endless hand painted signs offering even greater treasures miles ahead.
Many years ago I received a mail order catalog from a company offering a wide variety of reproduction nostalgia and memorabilia., much of which was reminiscent of my own childhood. I was both fascinated and disappointed by the offerings. While the objects looked somewhat inviting, they lacked luster, magic, and soul. Upon reflection I came to the conclusion that what was offered were merely failed three-dimensional objects that were totally devoid of the patina of time. I thought how wonderful it would be if the catalog had genuine vintage items for sale. I think of such objects as four-dimensional in that they exist in the context of time.
We offer such items on our website (www.shinegallery.com) and in our Los Angeles retail store. We do NOT sell reproductions. We spend a great deal of time and effort searching old stores, dusty warehouses, and closed factories in pursuit of bona fide period items. We even surprise ourselves as what wonderful things we are able to find without the benefit of a time machine. We are very selective in what we buy. Each item must be vintage, unused, found in quantity, and wonderful!
I hope you enjoy these objects from another place and time. Whether you are a collector or dealer, here is your opportunity to purchase a piece of history from the popular culture . . . at popular prices!
Every September Spencer hosted the Clay County Fair. My favorite section of the Fair was the Art B. Thomas traveling Midway, complete with rides, ten-in-one shows, carnival games, and concession stands.
We spent our summers in nearby Okoboji, Iowa, a typical lake summer resort with its tourist cabins, boat houses, bait shops, souvenir stands, and lakeside amusement parks. Fireworks never look better to me than those 4th of July exhibitions at Arnolds Park on the shores of Okoboji.
Our family took numerous winter road trip to California via Route 66, often concluding with our attendance at the Rose Bowl Parade and Game in Pasadena. Route 66 was a dreamland drive for a kid from Iowa, filled with exotic exhibits and
eateries, roadside attractions and concessions, neon meccas and motels, and endless hand painted signs offering even greater treasures miles ahead.
Many years ago I received a mail order catalog from a company offering a wide variety of reproduction nostalgia and memorabilia., much of which was reminiscent of my own childhood. I was both fascinated and disappointed by the offerings. While the objects looked somewhat inviting, they lacked luster, magic, and soul. Upon reflection I came to the conclusion that what was offered were merely failed three-dimensional objects that were totally devoid of the patina of time. I thought how wonderful it would be if the catalog had genuine vintage items for sale. I think of such objects as four-dimensional in that they exist in the context of time.
We offer such items on our website (www.shinegallery.com) and in our Los Angeles retail store. We do NOT sell reproductions. We spend a great deal of time and effort searching old stores, dusty warehouses, and closed factories in pursuit of bona fide period items. We even surprise ourselves as what wonderful things we are able to find without the benefit of a time machine. We are very selective in what we buy. Each item must be vintage, unused, found in quantity, and wonderful!
I hope you enjoy these objects from another place and time. Whether you are a collector or dealer, here is your opportunity to purchase a piece of history from the popular culture . . . at popular prices!
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