The many moods of your refrigerator
December 31, 2018 8:38 AM Subscribe
Whether it's a flintlock above your fireplace or a Warhol above your washer, let 1968 Westinghouse refrigerators Match Your Mood! Courtesy of Jam Handy, former Olympic swimmer/water polo player, industrial communications maestro, and MST3K favorite. (Previously: 1, 2, 3)
Fridge with whiteboard, please.
posted by cowcowgrasstree at 8:56 AM on December 31, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by cowcowgrasstree at 8:56 AM on December 31, 2018 [2 favorites]
I think it's countercultural appropriation, but my refrigerator seems pretty chill about it.
posted by sfenders at 8:59 AM on December 31, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by sfenders at 8:59 AM on December 31, 2018 [1 favorite]
My mom (b. 1926) was still calling it "the icebox" in 1968. And any color other than white would have been "tacky."
posted by kozad at 9:00 AM on December 31, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by kozad at 9:00 AM on December 31, 2018 [1 favorite]
And any color other than white would have been "tacky."
Thankfully, today we live in enlightened times, where our choice of refrigerator colors runs the gamut of white to stainless-steel grey to black, and occasionally off-white.
posted by 1970s Antihero at 9:11 AM on December 31, 2018 [2 favorites]
Thankfully, today we live in enlightened times, where our choice of refrigerator colors runs the gamut of white to stainless-steel grey to black, and occasionally off-white.
posted by 1970s Antihero at 9:11 AM on December 31, 2018 [2 favorites]
I was in suspense for the first few minutes, waiting for the monster/killer to appear!
There was a bottom freezer unit in there, why didn't they become widespread until more recently?
posted by vespabelle at 11:07 AM on December 31, 2018 [1 favorite]
There was a bottom freezer unit in there, why didn't they become widespread until more recently?
posted by vespabelle at 11:07 AM on December 31, 2018 [1 favorite]
What is it about the Westinghouse ad department? They also produced the amazing dealer promo film Ellis in Freedomland, an eighty minute spectacle featuring some serious star power (James Mason! Lucille Ball! Alan Hale Jr.! Many others!), along with some cringeworthy stereotypes. I didn't realize it was one of four dealer promo films - some quick searches haven't turned up the other 3, although I did stumble across two other neat things:
A 1954 laundry dryer that chimes "How Dry I Am" when it is done
Automaticwasher.org, a forum devoted entirely to washing machines, dryers, dishwashers, and wringer washers.
posted by m2ke at 11:17 AM on December 31, 2018 [3 favorites]
A 1954 laundry dryer that chimes "How Dry I Am" when it is done
Automaticwasher.org, a forum devoted entirely to washing machines, dryers, dishwashers, and wringer washers.
posted by m2ke at 11:17 AM on December 31, 2018 [3 favorites]
I was in suspense for the first few minutes, waiting for the monster/killer to appear
Same here. Oddly inappropriate music seems to have been a thing back then; there was some other old movie I saw recently (most likely attached to a Metafilter post but I can't remember which one) where the music was almost antithetical to the plot and theme of the video.
Also, "Supreme Walnut" is my new sockpuppet name.
posted by Greg_Ace at 11:21 AM on December 31, 2018 [1 favorite]
Same here. Oddly inappropriate music seems to have been a thing back then; there was some other old movie I saw recently (most likely attached to a Metafilter post but I can't remember which one) where the music was almost antithetical to the plot and theme of the video.
Also, "Supreme Walnut" is my new sockpuppet name.
posted by Greg_Ace at 11:21 AM on December 31, 2018 [1 favorite]
oh my god
it's like a 60s spy romp but its star is a kitchen appliance
this may be my favourite jam handy film yet, and i have viewed probably more jam handy films than most any healthy human ought
posted by halation at 11:26 AM on December 31, 2018 [1 favorite]
it's like a 60s spy romp but its star is a kitchen appliance
this may be my favourite jam handy film yet, and i have viewed probably more jam handy films than most any healthy human ought
posted by halation at 11:26 AM on December 31, 2018 [1 favorite]
Growing up in the 1960s, I knew Avocado as an appliance color before I tasted it as a food. (My mother was a poor cook with no interest in 'exotic' dining)
posted by oneswellfoop at 11:44 AM on December 31, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by oneswellfoop at 11:44 AM on December 31, 2018 [1 favorite]
I will never feel bad about wrapping my fridge with this.
posted by Marky at 12:01 PM on December 31, 2018
posted by Marky at 12:01 PM on December 31, 2018
I dunno, I think that would remind me too much of food gone horribly bad.
posted by Greg_Ace at 12:25 PM on December 31, 2018
posted by Greg_Ace at 12:25 PM on December 31, 2018
At 2:45 the girl dancing with the wallpaper is like "wait, what am I doing with this wallpaper" and that sums up the 1960s
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 1:04 PM on December 31, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 1:04 PM on December 31, 2018 [1 favorite]
There was a bottom freezer unit in there, why didn't they become widespread until more recently?
I don't have any real knowledge about that question, but one of the quirks of my apartment in Seattle, with its original icebox now converted to storage, its murphy bed, and the 70 year old Wedgewood gas stove (with built-in pancake griddle, for added bling-factor), is that I also have an ancient, god-only-knows-how-inefficient fridge. It's so old the door has to be opened to access the freezer, and the freezer compartment is what cools the fridge.
If I had to hazard a guess, it was design inertial from this old style that kept the freezers up top. Originally by necessity since the interior freezer compartment was what cooled the rest of the interior, but then just left on top for ages long after it was necessary, because it was what people expected. But that's just a guess.
God I love that stove, even with the wonky temperature zones in the oven. I will miss it dearly when I finally get around to moving elsewhere.
posted by los pantalones del muerte at 2:03 PM on December 31, 2018 [1 favorite]
I don't have any real knowledge about that question, but one of the quirks of my apartment in Seattle, with its original icebox now converted to storage, its murphy bed, and the 70 year old Wedgewood gas stove (with built-in pancake griddle, for added bling-factor), is that I also have an ancient, god-only-knows-how-inefficient fridge. It's so old the door has to be opened to access the freezer, and the freezer compartment is what cools the fridge.
If I had to hazard a guess, it was design inertial from this old style that kept the freezers up top. Originally by necessity since the interior freezer compartment was what cooled the rest of the interior, but then just left on top for ages long after it was necessary, because it was what people expected. But that's just a guess.
God I love that stove, even with the wonky temperature zones in the oven. I will miss it dearly when I finally get around to moving elsewhere.
posted by los pantalones del muerte at 2:03 PM on December 31, 2018 [1 favorite]
My first apartment in Portland had a built in centralized refrigerator (non working) in the basement you could see the old coolant pipes. The place was built in the roaring 20s so I guess it was pretty mod. The coolant would have been something like sulfur dioxide so along with keeping your steaks cold it had the capacity to kill you.
posted by Pembquist at 3:18 PM on December 31, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Pembquist at 3:18 PM on December 31, 2018 [1 favorite]
International Harvester was way ahead of this— Femineered!
posted by Ideefixe at 4:40 PM on December 31, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Ideefixe at 4:40 PM on December 31, 2018 [2 favorites]
I can "be sure if it is Westinghouse", but my fridge is not any more. Wish I had had one of those to play with. What a kick to pick your own scenery instead of (yawn) stainless steel or white.
posted by Cranberry at 12:12 AM on January 1, 2019
posted by Cranberry at 12:12 AM on January 1, 2019
They should totally bring this back. Sure its fake and tacky but at least its not god damn brushed stainless or white. Which are apparently the only possible finishes for appliances today.
posted by thefool at 6:16 AM on January 2, 2019
posted by thefool at 6:16 AM on January 2, 2019
cowcowgrasstree excellent idea, paint on my fridge has tons of rust spots (you get what you pay for) so maybe I'll coat it with chalkboard paint on whiteboard paint, or maybe just a nice color. Adding that to the todo list!
posted by thefool at 6:19 AM on January 2, 2019
posted by thefool at 6:19 AM on January 2, 2019
It's hard to be sure but I'm pretty sure I saw Supreme Walnut open for TMBG in 1989/90.
The quick cuts [1980] to the title cards [SHADO] reminded me of the opening [1980] to UFO.
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 6:28 AM on January 2, 2019
The quick cuts [1980] to the title cards [SHADO] reminded me of the opening [1980] to UFO.
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 6:28 AM on January 2, 2019
swear to god I saw John Mulaney dancing past the fridge in the New Year's Eve party...
posted by epersonae at 2:08 PM on January 2, 2019
posted by epersonae at 2:08 PM on January 2, 2019
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posted by Naberius at 8:44 AM on December 31, 2018 [2 favorites]