Sometimes a post just falls into one's lap...at least it does for me. This one, for example. I was on boingboing.net and ran across something called a Scopitone. This really threw me, because I'm old enough to remember these machines. But, I don't. Supposedly they were popular in the 60's, and were offshoots of a similar Italian machine. Don't ask me the particulars, cuz I'm too damn lazy to look them up. Not to mention, I am interested in the bloody things only as objects d'post.
Simply put, Scopitones were invented in France (the Italians and the Mafia will argue this point, however---I insert this here for obvious reasons---my mama didn't raise no fool---actually my mama didn't exactly raise me---but that's another, more complicated and not as amusing post). They---Scopitones, not the Mafia---were made from surplus War War II airplane parts. They were basically juke boxes with videos...so to speak. Now don't take me to task because I didn't do proper research before inserting peds into oral places. I use the term video, generically. Films, I don't know. People singing...and such. Scopitones are considered the forerunners to music videos.
So being the thorough and professional blogger maven that I am, I went looking for examples...and Great Mediocrity did I find some. So many that I found it difficult to choose one. But I did. No, I chose two. If the first one doesn't grab you, then try the second...they are close in quality and...sexual content. And, as intelliwench points out, highly sexist. However, the props are top drawer...ahem.
First somebody named Joi Lansing (get it? Joi...a play on JOY...clever huh?) singing "Web of Love":
And now, January Jones in, count them, 5 Bikinis and one full, singing "Up A Lazy River" (with several bimbos and no oar):
If this peaks your interest and you find the subject scintillating, you can find more here: http://scopitones.com/
Me, I'm fini with it (that's Italian, Tony...as in Soprano).
15 comments:
I have been there before, and saved some of the flash files. I even converted a few to put on my iPod. The smaller the screen, the better they look :-)
Gee, thanks for sharing those. I think.
Doug---aha, a scopitones fan...I knew there had to be at least one. Funny, I can see your logic regards the smaller screen.
intell---wha? This is Monday. You can't comment on Mondays. Is it because of Prez day?
Anyway, I really wrote this entire piece for you...knew you'd like it...OK, and for Doug too.
JJ, I prefer to go to www.bedazzledblue.com and download the sexploitation movie trailers from the 50s 60s and 70s...
You should check it out :-)
j, I couldn't NOT comment to this post. "Web of Love" is so visually bizarre and racist and misogynistic and, well, it's just everything I want in a musical number.
Oh, and intellikid is watching "House," so I get to use the computer for a change.
Doug---children still awake here...have to be cautious. Manana sans the little squiggly thing over the "n".
intell---hence the reason I made fun of it. It was another time, and I hope, another thought process.
My eleven year old loves House. It is too full of orifice squirting liquids for me. For sure, if I start to erupt through the ears, or some such, I DO NOT want to go to THAT New Jersey, vaguely veiled, Princeton Hospital. Although, Dr. Cuddy does have a beautiful...ahem...er, well...never mind.
That was interesting. I never heard of them and I am definitely old enough to remember them.
fragile---I don't know if it is good or bad that we don't remember this particular piece of the past. Nah, it's good.
Thanks for this. Quite entertaining. I havent been on that site either. And I wish I could shake my hips as well as those fit ladies dancing next to the lady caught in the web of love. Beautiful post and thanbks for the beautiful comment. I'm going definitely to watch it again before visiting that site. It makes me want to dance too. This is very therapeutic so much for the depression brought about by the current global financial meltdown. Thanks
OO---thanks again for visiting. Glad you liked it.
Americans tend to think of the financial crisis as peculiarly American. But, as you state...it is global.
I am trying not to dwell on it and maintain a positive attitude. There's no where to go but up.
You do realise I would not have watched the clips if you had not mentioned 'sexual content' and boy was i pleased with my choice!!
Also I like you labels at the end of the post 'bikini, breasts, fishnets, hornyness' i'm gonna steal that idea, i like it alot.
Gavin---like you, I spent many studious years in higher education, and I know sexual content when I see it. My grandfather was correct, that's one of the advantages of literacy.
Steal away. Take whatever you want. In fact, why don't I give you my pass word and you can have the blog. That's the kinda guy I yam.
Oh, Gavin---I didn't properly thank you for stopping by. There, got that out of the way.
Man she can move those hips!
Love it.
Dr---Wait'll you see July.
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