Here’s the American Dream looking pretty Hungover by the 1970s

I would have liked to see America during its in-between period– somewhere in the seventies when the whole “Stepford Wives” thing and censorship and social compliance was over with (more or less), but they hadn’t yet starting tearing down all those wonderful and whimsical buildings. Sure, they might have been looking a little sorry for…

Time Capsule Diner Hiding in a New Orleans Record Store

I‘m having a very ‘Americana nostalgia’ day here at MessyNessyChic HQ for some reason (see previous post on all things stuck in the 1950s), which segue-ways into today’s second time travelling discovery. I first spotted this retired mid-century diner in the archives of the instagram account American Squares. “A junk store built around an old…

Discovering Hollywood’s Secret “Palm Springs” of Arizona

While everyone and their mother went to Palm Springs during Hollywood’s Golden Age, the real stars snuck away to Scottsdale, Arizona. Basking under the Sonoran Desert sun in America’s Southwest, Scottsdale has long been a hushed hideaway for Hollywood weekend runaways ever since its first hotels quietly rose up from the desert like a mirage…

Pink Satin Romance at Elvis and Priscilla’s Honeymoon Hideaway

This is a mandatory visit when passing through Palm Springs. You can bounce on Elvis’ pink satin marital bed for heaven’s sake. Sleep in the damn thing if you so desire. They’ll even let you pose for photos inside his honeymoon tub…and UPDATE! It’s now for sale. In May 1967, Elvis returned from Las Vegas on…

These 1950s Jersey Shore Motels Sure Do Look Lonely in the Off Season

It never really occurred to me to visit the Jersey Shore, not until I saw it in the dead of winter, through the lens of American photographer Tyler Haughey. His serene series Ebb Tide makes me want to check into a room at one of the lonely mid-century motels, stay awhile in limbo, maybe write a short…

Oh to have Eaten at the Automat, Just Once

For those who remember the Automat, the mere mention of the word taps into a wellspring of nostalgic, pungent memories. Clutching a handful of fat nickels, peering into the little glass doors framed in brass, choosing from the chicken pot pies, the cream cheese & chopped pecan sandwiches , pumpkin or lemon meringue pie, seemingly untouched by…

For Sale! Kitschy Time Capsule Pad, Perfect for Drinking Martinis All Day Long

Nancy Sinatra is playing on the record machine, there’s half a can of hairspray holding her chignon in place, the sound of kitten heels echo as she walks out of the kitchen with a fresh Martini in hand, swaying her hips in those tight, brightly patterned capri pants, heading outside where she lights a cigarette and…

One Guy’s Quest to Save the 1960s Time Capsule Homes of America

Miles McDermott might just be the youngest person to restore a time capsule home. An award-winning designer, local tastemaker and fellow old soul living in Phoenix, Arizona, he’s just spent the last few years transforming his own mid-century style home– which he found looking worse for wear on Craigslist– into a virtual museum of 1960s interior…

Fill in the Blanks of these Untold Time-Travelling Detective Stories

Each one of Blaise Arnold’s characters are highly suspicious. The Parisian photographer takes us on a journey back in time through the 20th century, discovering scenes of untold mystery, expertly composed to fully immerse us in the past. Despite his French scenery, there’s Hollywood quality to Arnold’s series called “Stories“and a desire to know more of the story…

For Sale: The Perfect Bond Villain’s Lair Atop a Desert Volcano

Dr. No’s luxurious mountain lair was of course blown to smithereens by Bond before it could ever go on the market, but should the supervillain have somehow escaped 007, I imagine we would likely find him hiding away in a place that looks exactly like this… What do you look for when you’re house hunting? A great view,…