As I was reading your essay, my memory bank started flashing — knowing ‘Jenna knows of Wildwood, NJ’ and the contemporary political rallies held on its beaches. I wondered — does Jenna know of Wildwood’s illustrious architecture. I continued reading…
When the ride ended I drove further on to Dan’s excellent comment — BAMB, Dan nailed it — Wildwood is Doo Wop! And it isn’t paved over or ‘painted beige.’ Even the local Mickey D’s has ‘the vibe.’
You had me at “We’re always reinventing ourselves, pushing the boundaries of possibilities.” Another great essay of America’s continuing imagination.
Thank you for sharing your imaginative neon writing & please don’t keep your keyboard idling — ‘great stories must be told…’
Yes! It’s wonderful. My husband spent some time there on free weekends serving with the Coast Guard. Unfortunately, I can’t include everything in my posts, don’t want to be a complete bore, but this is an important part of Googie goodness. Thank you for the kind words and encouragement!!
Much has been written about the Fabulous ‘50’s and its unique cultural quirks. World War II had crushed and erased mich of the American culture Everyone wanted a fresh start.
What made this cultural revival different was the influence of teen-agers. We were the first generation with allowances, thanks to the post-war economic boom. Millions of us had weekly cash-flows looking for entertainment; we had no financial obligations Drive-up diners, bowling alleys, drive-in movies popped up with new architectural designs to attract this emerging market. The money we earned raking leaves, shoveling snow was converted into French fries and Cokes at alarming rates.
Rock ‘n’ Roll came along and blew the doors open and completed the remaking of our culture. Thank you, Chuck Berry.
You're absolutely right about teenage culture. It really flipped the switch in America. Disney's introduction of Davy Crockett and the incredible demand for consumer goods centered around kids/teens is a good example. What a time to be alive! Thank you for such thoughtful, insightful, beautiful comments. I appreciate it!
What a great hook, too..."Big things ahead, ladies and gentlemen, Big Things Ahead! Eighty-eight miles-per-hour on a collision course with The Future. Starbursts and neon lights. The American Dream sent to space with a blast of rocket-fueled Rock & Roll and diner doo-wop, leaving behind that old-timey Razzmataz." Perfect!
I loved this article and the whole "Googie" aesthetic, though I never knew there was a name for it—I always just thought of it as "Space Age" or something. As a kid, I’d pass the remnants of the '64 World's Fair in Flushing Meadows on my way to Shea to watch my Mets, which, I wonder if that is a Googie Mecca?
The World's Fair in NY and also Chicago were architectural wonders. There was always an eye to the future, which Googie embodies. Also -- the Space Needle is another example and another World's Fair construct. Thank you for great comments and for reading!
SOLID GOLD "But what happens when we’ve been shaking that bottle of Coca-Cola and some pasty-faced guy comes around the corner with his badge and rule book, shakes his untouched finger at you..."
I love the "shaking that bottle of Coca-Cola" metaphor—how we keep our ideas and excitement "bottled-up" inside. It's also great how you highlight the movie connections. It brings back a lot of memories of growing up with small-town diners, etc. Thanks!
I love this, and although Googie likely followed me in remnants through my early days and then fizzled, I didn’t know it had a name! Wow, kazow! You’ve invented and synthesized some golden terms here. “Southern California climate allowing for the lines between the outdoors and the sky and inside functionality and purpose to blur.” This is great synthesis.
And then, “Googie was outmoded by achieving its dream. Isn't that a life well lived? As a comet blazing through the sky. A fireball of fantastic dreams burned out by reaching earth. Dreams, realized.”
Brilliant constructions.
And yet when I saw this, I kept pronouncing, “Bougie.” Ha! Nice work.
Yeah! Dan this is so cool that you know these places. Googie design had its start in SoCal, but it made its way across and through the country. Chicago has some well-known spots, as does Georgia at the Alma Exchange Bank https://vanishinggeorgia.com/2016/05/10/alma-exchange-bank-1966/. There has been a preservation movement, but unfortunately, too many Googies have felt the wrath of the wrecking ball. I think in NJ, Googie is also known as Doo Wop style design?? Thanks for reading, Dan!!
It sounds like you're due for a Googie tour of New Jersey to brush up on the old haunts. Thank you for the kindness, Dan. It's not hard to "do the work" when the subject is as great as Googie.
Jenna,
As I was reading your essay, my memory bank started flashing — knowing ‘Jenna knows of Wildwood, NJ’ and the contemporary political rallies held on its beaches. I wondered — does Jenna know of Wildwood’s illustrious architecture. I continued reading…
When the ride ended I drove further on to Dan’s excellent comment — BAMB, Dan nailed it — Wildwood is Doo Wop! And it isn’t paved over or ‘painted beige.’ Even the local Mickey D’s has ‘the vibe.’
You had me at “We’re always reinventing ourselves, pushing the boundaries of possibilities.” Another great essay of America’s continuing imagination.
Thank you for sharing your imaginative neon writing & please don’t keep your keyboard idling — ‘great stories must be told…’
Yes! It’s wonderful. My husband spent some time there on free weekends serving with the Coast Guard. Unfortunately, I can’t include everything in my posts, don’t want to be a complete bore, but this is an important part of Googie goodness. Thank you for the kind words and encouragement!!
Much has been written about the Fabulous ‘50’s and its unique cultural quirks. World War II had crushed and erased mich of the American culture Everyone wanted a fresh start.
What made this cultural revival different was the influence of teen-agers. We were the first generation with allowances, thanks to the post-war economic boom. Millions of us had weekly cash-flows looking for entertainment; we had no financial obligations Drive-up diners, bowling alleys, drive-in movies popped up with new architectural designs to attract this emerging market. The money we earned raking leaves, shoveling snow was converted into French fries and Cokes at alarming rates.
Rock ‘n’ Roll came along and blew the doors open and completed the remaking of our culture. Thank you, Chuck Berry.
You're absolutely right about teenage culture. It really flipped the switch in America. Disney's introduction of Davy Crockett and the incredible demand for consumer goods centered around kids/teens is a good example. What a time to be alive! Thank you for such thoughtful, insightful, beautiful comments. I appreciate it!
I liked your line "retro-futurism"!
Thanks, Jim!
What a great hook, too..."Big things ahead, ladies and gentlemen, Big Things Ahead! Eighty-eight miles-per-hour on a collision course with The Future. Starbursts and neon lights. The American Dream sent to space with a blast of rocket-fueled Rock & Roll and diner doo-wop, leaving behind that old-timey Razzmataz." Perfect!
I loved this article and the whole "Googie" aesthetic, though I never knew there was a name for it—I always just thought of it as "Space Age" or something. As a kid, I’d pass the remnants of the '64 World's Fair in Flushing Meadows on my way to Shea to watch my Mets, which, I wonder if that is a Googie Mecca?
The World's Fair in NY and also Chicago were architectural wonders. There was always an eye to the future, which Googie embodies. Also -- the Space Needle is another example and another World's Fair construct. Thank you for great comments and for reading!
SOLID GOLD "But what happens when we’ve been shaking that bottle of Coca-Cola and some pasty-faced guy comes around the corner with his badge and rule book, shakes his untouched finger at you..."
I love the "shaking that bottle of Coca-Cola" metaphor—how we keep our ideas and excitement "bottled-up" inside. It's also great how you highlight the movie connections. It brings back a lot of memories of growing up with small-town diners, etc. Thanks!
Thank you so much, Mark. I appreciate your taking the time to keep reading and subscribing. It means a lot -- especially your comments!
I love this, and although Googie likely followed me in remnants through my early days and then fizzled, I didn’t know it had a name! Wow, kazow! You’ve invented and synthesized some golden terms here. “Southern California climate allowing for the lines between the outdoors and the sky and inside functionality and purpose to blur.” This is great synthesis.
And then, “Googie was outmoded by achieving its dream. Isn't that a life well lived? As a comet blazing through the sky. A fireball of fantastic dreams burned out by reaching earth. Dreams, realized.”
Brilliant constructions.
And yet when I saw this, I kept pronouncing, “Bougie.” Ha! Nice work.
Yeah! Dan this is so cool that you know these places. Googie design had its start in SoCal, but it made its way across and through the country. Chicago has some well-known spots, as does Georgia at the Alma Exchange Bank https://vanishinggeorgia.com/2016/05/10/alma-exchange-bank-1966/. There has been a preservation movement, but unfortunately, too many Googies have felt the wrath of the wrecking ball. I think in NJ, Googie is also known as Doo Wop style design?? Thanks for reading, Dan!!
It sounds like you're due for a Googie tour of New Jersey to brush up on the old haunts. Thank you for the kindness, Dan. It's not hard to "do the work" when the subject is as great as Googie.