Cheesy Photo Goodness
March 17, 2006 9:39 PM Subscribe
8 X 10 glossies of a bygone era. Stacks of professionally taken promotional photos of early 1970s performers (mostly from the cocktail lounge circuit, it appears) were found in an alley and rescued. You can almost hear the tinkly piano music in the background as you look at these hopeful showbiz faces. (via Sharpeworld)
Hold the phone! Kathie King! Va-va-voom!
posted by potsmokinghippieoverlord at 9:47 PM on March 17, 2006
posted by potsmokinghippieoverlord at 9:47 PM on March 17, 2006
Actually, I found this very sad. All of these people were probably bitterly disappointed with how things turned out. None of them really look that happy in the publicity shots, even.
Show business is really nasty if you don't make it.
I did note Kathie King's rather prominent figure even from the thumbnails...
posted by lupus_yonderboy at 10:03 PM on March 17, 2006
Show business is really nasty if you don't make it.
I did note Kathie King's rather prominent figure even from the thumbnails...
posted by lupus_yonderboy at 10:03 PM on March 17, 2006
Can I just say that this will probably be one of my all-time favorite posts? Thank you.
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 10:10 PM on March 17, 2006
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 10:10 PM on March 17, 2006
Anyone from the 70s' remember when THIS was cool? Sadly, I do.
Oh, and for all your insurance needs, there's this guy.
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 10:13 PM on March 17, 2006
Oh, and for all your insurance needs, there's this guy.
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 10:13 PM on March 17, 2006
Do you suppose 'Class' act number 3 got ejected from the group when he shaved the 'Stache?
Oh, Ms. Kay, your streamlined hair takes my breath away.
You know, it's a bad sign when you have to name yourself 'Guy', just to get the message across.
Is this why people in the 70s put so much plastic on their furniture?
My, how progressive, a black woman named Jason together with a white man named Marie.
posted by dgaicun at 10:13 PM on March 17, 2006
Oh, Ms. Kay, your streamlined hair takes my breath away.
You know, it's a bad sign when you have to name yourself 'Guy', just to get the message across.
Is this why people in the 70s put so much plastic on their furniture?
My, how progressive, a black woman named Jason together with a white man named Marie.
posted by dgaicun at 10:13 PM on March 17, 2006
Awesome. Totally awesome.
posted by Guy Smiley at 10:14 PM on March 17, 2006
posted by Guy Smiley at 10:14 PM on March 17, 2006
Whoa. (!)
Lol. Nowadays, Carleen will fuck you up where you stand if your expense reports aren't turned in in a timely manner.
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 10:15 PM on March 17, 2006
Lol. Nowadays, Carleen will fuck you up where you stand if your expense reports aren't turned in in a timely manner.
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 10:15 PM on March 17, 2006
Excellent. I can only pray that someone finds a stack of demo recordings dumped in an alley to go with the photos.
posted by Jimbob at 10:16 PM on March 17, 2006
posted by Jimbob at 10:16 PM on March 17, 2006
Very cool. I'd love to get the "where are they now" story for each of these. Probably a lot of interesting stories.
posted by saraswati at 10:19 PM on March 17, 2006
posted by saraswati at 10:19 PM on March 17, 2006
Not all are photos of cheap lounge singers, but I'm sure he'd appreciate the joke.
posted by bukharin at 10:27 PM on March 17, 2006
posted by bukharin at 10:27 PM on March 17, 2006
I've been googling some of the names, gotten the most matches so far for Jimmy Dockett, he has a website and there seems to be a lot of refrences to his 70s vinyl recordings by record traders mostly. Unless there was more than one Jimmy Dockett.
posted by bobo123 at 10:39 PM on March 17, 2006
posted by bobo123 at 10:39 PM on March 17, 2006
I did something similar with a stack of old promo shots I stumbled across. There are a few stripper shots that could be NSFW.
posted by wsg at 10:42 PM on March 17, 2006
posted by wsg at 10:42 PM on March 17, 2006
Many of these are distinctly later than early '70s. There are a lot of disco-era clothing and hairstyles. I haven't looked at all of them but a few I've seen are as recent as mid 80s.
posted by tiny purple fishes at 10:44 PM on March 17, 2006
posted by tiny purple fishes at 10:44 PM on March 17, 2006
I'm telling you all right now that NBUDA FUNKSHUN will be the name of my sockpuppet account.
posted by emelenjr at 10:47 PM on March 17, 2006
posted by emelenjr at 10:47 PM on March 17, 2006
How can one decade contain so much bad clothing, hair, and mustaches? It's unpossible!
posted by loquacious at 11:07 PM on March 17, 2006
posted by loquacious at 11:07 PM on March 17, 2006
Wow, Richard Naklie. At least he had an angle...I guess.
posted by ford and the prefects at 11:51 PM on March 17, 2006
posted by ford and the prefects at 11:51 PM on March 17, 2006
fucking gold!
posted by strawberryviagra at 1:29 AM on March 18, 2006
posted by strawberryviagra at 1:29 AM on March 18, 2006
Thanks, dragstroke. Now I just picture those guys up on stage proudly proclaiming, "Hi, we're Contagious!"
I suppose they could blame that announcement for the audience fleeing everyone of their shows, but they'd be wrong.
posted by piratebowling at 1:33 AM on March 18, 2006
I suppose they could blame that announcement for the audience fleeing everyone of their shows, but they'd be wrong.
posted by piratebowling at 1:33 AM on March 18, 2006
Yikes! Ventriloquist and his dummy. Plenty of nightmares for me tonight.
posted by lovecrafty at 1:37 AM on March 18, 2006
posted by lovecrafty at 1:37 AM on March 18, 2006
Oriole cheers for the post which is funny, sad, interesting, historical, etc etc etc. Wow.
posted by The Salaryman at 2:45 AM on March 18, 2006
posted by The Salaryman at 2:45 AM on March 18, 2006
Woody Allen?
http://sharpeworld.com/kriegsmann_files/source/121.html
posted by merv at 3:29 AM on March 18, 2006
http://sharpeworld.com/kriegsmann_files/source/121.html
posted by merv at 3:29 AM on March 18, 2006
Very nice FPP. What's up with this?
Also, I am reminded that I prefer a simple, clean web interface like this--even if it was created using a Photoshop script or other uncool web method. Content is king and for me, good content always outshines doodads and craptacular CSS/XML. Of course, the two should not be mutually exclusive but they often are.
posted by a_day_late at 3:38 AM on March 18, 2006
Also, I am reminded that I prefer a simple, clean web interface like this--even if it was created using a Photoshop script or other uncool web method. Content is king and for me, good content always outshines doodads and craptacular CSS/XML. Of course, the two should not be mutually exclusive but they often are.
posted by a_day_late at 3:38 AM on March 18, 2006
Thinking the seventies were actually cool is the only true alternative thought you can have. Everything else has at least the possibility of being accidentally true.
This stuff is great.
posted by srboisvert at 4:10 AM on March 18, 2006
This stuff is great.
posted by srboisvert at 4:10 AM on March 18, 2006
Posts like this are what make MetaFilter a beautiful thing. Thank you! Fucking awesome indeed.
posted by Eekacat at 5:08 AM on March 18, 2006
posted by Eekacat at 5:08 AM on March 18, 2006
Probable name of anticipated first album: Look, but don't Touch!.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 5:44 AM on March 18, 2006
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 5:44 AM on March 18, 2006
Oh man, thank you so much :) I needed the laughs this morning so bad!
posted by kalimac at 6:04 AM on March 18, 2006
posted by kalimac at 6:04 AM on March 18, 2006
it's funny how the rock bands look so much more dorky than the other performers ... they had the top 40 or aor bar/lounge act look down
disappointed and sad? ... i guess that depends on what they expected ... some musicians in bands like those knew damned well they weren't ever going to make the big time ... they were just happy that they weren't slaving away in a factory some place
i know of people who played in those kinds of bands back then ... who are STILL playing in bands like those ... often as a 2nd job, sometimes not
posted by pyramid termite at 6:39 AM on March 18, 2006
disappointed and sad? ... i guess that depends on what they expected ... some musicians in bands like those knew damned well they weren't ever going to make the big time ... they were just happy that they weren't slaving away in a factory some place
i know of people who played in those kinds of bands back then ... who are STILL playing in bands like those ... often as a 2nd job, sometimes not
posted by pyramid termite at 6:39 AM on March 18, 2006
It's always good to remind myself why nostalgia for the 70s is so misplaced.
That ventiloquist guy had my hair, or vice versa. How could I ever have thought that was cool?
posted by tommasz at 6:47 AM on March 18, 2006
That ventiloquist guy had my hair, or vice versa. How could I ever have thought that was cool?
posted by tommasz at 6:47 AM on March 18, 2006
We had standards and tastes back then. Not like the crap[ of today.
posted by Postroad at 7:23 AM on March 18, 2006
posted by Postroad at 7:23 AM on March 18, 2006
Someone should archive myspace band pages. They already look stoopider than these folks.
posted by fourcheesemac at 7:51 AM on March 18, 2006
posted by fourcheesemac at 7:51 AM on March 18, 2006
I remember "8x10 glossies." I don't think you hear that any more. Performers call them their "headshots" now. I don't know what groups call them.
posted by bovious at 8:03 AM on March 18, 2006
posted by bovious at 8:03 AM on March 18, 2006
Oh man. What a post! Wasn't that John Oates (sp) in picture #36? The names alone are good laughs. And you have to love the "Rick James" lookalikes of NBUDA FUNKSHUN. This was GREAT!
posted by Tablecrumbs at 8:12 AM on March 18, 2006
posted by Tablecrumbs at 8:12 AM on March 18, 2006
Just waiting for Rod Stewart to come along and make them cool.
posted by TiredStarling at 8:23 AM on March 18, 2006
posted by TiredStarling at 8:23 AM on March 18, 2006
Clearly model train conductors in casts were more popular entertainers back then.
But where to start?
Spot the wig.
Wonder how this act went?
Nobody?
Just in time for St. Pat's day.
Needs more... hats.
Foreshadowing the future cast and location of Lord of the Rings.
So...much...satin.
Part-time Star Trek extras.
posted by bobloblaw at 9:14 AM on March 18, 2006
But where to start?
Spot the wig.
Wonder how this act went?
Nobody?
Just in time for St. Pat's day.
Needs more... hats.
Foreshadowing the future cast and location of Lord of the Rings.
So...much...satin.
Part-time Star Trek extras.
posted by bobloblaw at 9:14 AM on March 18, 2006
Really compelling stuff . . .
I've been reading Sontag's On Photography and am reminded of a paragraph in the first essay "In Plato's Cave":
Aesthetic distance seems built into the very experience of looking at photographs, if not right away, then certainly with the passage of time. Time eventually positions most photographs, even the most amateurish, at the level of art.
posted by aladfar at 9:57 AM on March 18, 2006
I've been reading Sontag's On Photography and am reminded of a paragraph in the first essay "In Plato's Cave":
Aesthetic distance seems built into the very experience of looking at photographs, if not right away, then certainly with the passage of time. Time eventually positions most photographs, even the most amateurish, at the level of art.
posted by aladfar at 9:57 AM on March 18, 2006
I didn't know Will Ferrell was in Moonfast! That explains the cowbell.
posted by dontoine at 11:21 AM on March 18, 2006
posted by dontoine at 11:21 AM on March 18, 2006
a_day_late said: What's up with this?
It's a proof print with negative retouching instructions written on it — rework the cheek highlight so he doesn't look like a chipmunk; straighten out the baggy trousers; and crop up the bottom edge. A few subtle changes, and he's looking much better.
Fun post. In another 30 years or so, GFY archives should be just as entertaining.
posted by cenoxo at 11:30 AM on March 18, 2006
It's a proof print with negative retouching instructions written on it — rework the cheek highlight so he doesn't look like a chipmunk; straighten out the baggy trousers; and crop up the bottom edge. A few subtle changes, and he's looking much better.
Fun post. In another 30 years or so, GFY archives should be just as entertaining.
posted by cenoxo at 11:30 AM on March 18, 2006
"Show business is really nasty if you don't make it."
As it should be. How many perfectly good evenings where wasted taking in this garbage?
I hope all the off key singers and shitty guitar players that helped seperate me and my 5 bucks back in the day are working as Walmart greeters now.
posted by 2sheets at 12:12 PM on March 18, 2006
As it should be. How many perfectly good evenings where wasted taking in this garbage?
I hope all the off key singers and shitty guitar players that helped seperate me and my 5 bucks back in the day are working as Walmart greeters now.
posted by 2sheets at 12:12 PM on March 18, 2006
He's a Woody Allen impersonator, for goodness sakes. If you derive sick pleasure out of pathetic impersonators (like I do) check this out
http://www.celebrityimpersonators.com/
posted by joseppi7 at 12:44 PM on March 18, 2006
http://www.celebrityimpersonators.com/
posted by joseppi7 at 12:44 PM on March 18, 2006
I'm with lupus_yonderboy: I look at these pictures and I see a lot of dreams that never came true. Hopefully they had fun along the way.
posted by cribcage at 4:27 PM on March 18, 2006
posted by cribcage at 4:27 PM on March 18, 2006
I, also, found myself gaping at the lovely Miss Kathie King.
So...
Her hit single, "Handle with Care" can be heard by purchasing this vinyl compilation or on cd from these people.
I'll let you know how it sounds.
posted by Baby_Balrog at 7:16 PM on March 18, 2006
So...
Her hit single, "Handle with Care" can be heard by purchasing this vinyl compilation or on cd from these people.
I'll let you know how it sounds.
posted by Baby_Balrog at 7:16 PM on March 18, 2006
On the right, see the young Harrison Ford wearing Amazing Platform Shoes!
posted by squalor at 8:34 PM on March 18, 2006
posted by squalor at 8:34 PM on March 18, 2006
Dear God, the eyebrows, the eyebrows...
(runs off sobbing and clawing at his eyes)
posted by Samizdata at 11:24 PM on March 18, 2006
(runs off sobbing and clawing at his eyes)
posted by Samizdata at 11:24 PM on March 18, 2006
They're hypnotizin.
posted by Astro Zombie at 1:01 AM on March 19, 2006
posted by Astro Zombie at 1:01 AM on March 19, 2006
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posted by potsmokinghippieoverlord at 9:46 PM on March 17, 2006