January 5, 2010
Mmmmm look at those tasty apricot-colored pillows! Most homes built in the early 1900’s, like the Drapers, were relatively stripped down and lacked 18th century flourishes of the older homes. To achieve the traditional Colonial style during the mid-century, designers and homemakers were instructed to “paint the walls a soft tint such as ivory, parchment, green, or apricot.”  Additional touches such as small period details, fabric, lighting, and small Colonial style furniture including tilt-top tables, the rush seated chairs, were encouraged. image via this really great interview.

Mmmmm look at those tasty apricot-colored pillows!

Most homes built in the early 1900’s, like the Drapers, were relatively stripped down and lacked 18th century flourishes of the older homes. To achieve the traditional Colonial style during the mid-century, designers and homemakers were instructed to “paint the walls a soft tint such as ivory, parchment, green, or apricot.”  Additional touches such as small period details, fabric, lighting, and small Colonial style furniture including tilt-top tables, the rush seated chairs, were encouraged.

image via this really great interview.

5:15pm
(No. OF NOTES: 15)
  
January 4, 2010
We’re one of the Best New Blogs of 2009: This year, one new site embodied the larger-than-it-seems Tumblr zeitgeist better than others: Mad Men Footnotes. TV recaps had become a moribund genre. Thousand-word recaps of things you already saw, recaps were the downtrodden hookers of internet discourse: felicitous with their views, but leaving behind the emptiness of sloppy seconds. Mad Men Footnotes flipped the genre around. It wasn’t about the telling you what you just watched — it was about exploring the entire universe that it created. Through short posts that allude to passing show references (Rothko, Ann-Marget, salted ice cream), the site made history feel like the present. Just as Mad Men uses the ’60s as a prism through which to understand contemporary advertising and desire, Mad Men Footnotes is shorthand for understanding blog culture. It is the quintessential use of the platform: a reblog of a reblog designed for reblogging. Well, we accept this recognition with quite dignity and grace a burst your chiseled cheeks grin. [image via AMC]

We’re one of the Best New Blogs of 2009:

This year, one new site embodied the larger-than-it-seems Tumblr zeitgeist better than others: Mad Men Footnotes.

TV recaps had become a moribund genre. Thousand-word recaps of things you already saw, recaps were the downtrodden hookers of internet discourse: felicitous with their views, but leaving behind the emptiness of sloppy seconds. Mad Men Footnotes flipped the genre around. It wasn’t about the telling you what you just watched — it was about exploring the entire universe that it created. Through short posts that allude to passing show references (Rothko, Ann-Marget, salted ice cream), the site made history feel like the present.

Just as Mad Men uses the ’60s as a prism through which to understand contemporary advertising and desire, Mad Men Footnotes is shorthand for understanding blog culture. It is the quintessential use of the platform: a reblog of a reblog designed for reblogging.

Well, we accept this recognition with quite dignity and grace a burst your chiseled cheeks grin.

[image via AMC]

12:05pm
(No. OF NOTES: 33)
  
“I’ve never seen one that game!” Sal says to Don about particularly gregarious stewardess? “Really?” Don replies with a knowing glance. Behold! “The six of us rented a hosue together out there. The pilots called us the ‘sexy six.’ They always looked at you in a sexual way. You know, you’d walk into the cockpit on your first day and they’d say, “This is a test to find out if you’re a virgin,” and they’d have a gyro and they’d make it spin, and then they’d say “Aha, you’re not a virgin.”“ These skies are prettttyyy friendly, fellas. (via ”The Fifties: A Women’s Oral History.” Brett Harvey. Harper Collins. 1977. New York)

“I’ve never seen one that game!” Sal says to Don about particularly gregarious stewardess?

“Really?” Don replies with a knowing glance.

Behold!

“The six of us rented a hosue together out there. The pilots called us the ‘sexy six.’ They always looked at you in a sexual way. You know, you’d walk into the cockpit on your first day and they’d say, “This is a test to find out if you’re a virgin,” and they’d have a gyro and they’d make it spin, and then they’d say “Aha, you’re not a virgin.”“

These skies are prettttyyy friendly, fellas.

(via ”The Fifties: A Women’s Oral History.” Brett Harvey. Harper Collins. 1977. New York)


11:51am
(No. OF NOTES: 21)
  

Grin and Bare It: Performers love party food!

The Utz television campaign that featured the trash talking comedian Jimmy Barrett as the spokesman was likely inspired by the Lay’s and Cracker Jack ads.

Young & Rubicam built a campaign for Lay’s around beloved comedian Bert Lahr a.k.a. the Cowardly Lion from the wizard of Oz. Lahr appears on a soundstage when the devil (Bahr dressed up in a Halloween-y red costume) says to him‘: Betcha can’t eat just one.’ Bahr tells Beelzebub not to be absurd and then crunch, crunch, crunch, Bahr can’t stop digging into the bag. The voiceover says “You can eat a million of them. But nobody can eat just one.” The campaign was a big success and carried on for years.

Doyle Dane Bernach’s most popular commercials featured Broadway actor Jack Gifford doing inspired bits nonsense bits that won the affection of kids and adults. In possibly the most famous spot, Gifford is a priggish school teacher who admonishes his student for eating Cracker Jacks in class and snatches the candied corn away from him. Moments later, Gifford is palming the snack into his mouth. “When it comes to Cracker Jacks,” the voice over says, “some kids never grow up.” Their comic appeal combined with sturdy production of gave the spots an endearing quality rather than a patronizing one.

Though Utz didn’t use comedians in any television campaigns, their logo of a plump cheeked girl smiling while elbow deep in bag of potato chips has the same effect: child like indulgence in snack food. Who care if it’s bad for you! It’s fun!  In both these ads the performer doesn’t sacrifice his identity for the product: Gifford and Bahr’s whimsical personas enhanced the appeal of the product.

11:38am
(No. OF NOTES: 6)
  
December 28, 2009
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]

Mad Men Playlist:

“In the Hall of the Mountain King”, composed by Edward Grieg, performed by the Sussex Symphony Orchestra

You guys know this one. That soft beginning ramping up to a cacophony of stomping brass! This is a truly awesome composition, by which I mean it evokes total fear. It was composed by Grieg for Henrik Ibsen’s play Peer Gynt, and this particular opus accompanies Peer’s escape from the Mountain King’s castle, pursued by his many minions. The theme begins softly to describe Peer’s soft and careful footsteps, and is then contrasted with the theme of the King’s trolls looking for him. When the two themes collide, the music hits its loud peak as the chase begins. Timpani rolls conclude the piece as the mountain collapses, and Peer has successfully escaped.

WHO is the Mountain King in Mad Men, you ask? And WHO is Peer? This little opus gets a whole episode named after it in season 2, the episode where Don visits Anna and decides to return to Betty. Is Don Peer, trying to escape from the frightening Mountain King’s castle in Ossining? Or is Don the Mountain King, a member of a race depicted in the play to be concerned primarily with self-interest? Or is Don the Boyg, a creature who, when asked, “Who are you?”, responds with “Myself.”?

All very interesting!

• footnote - by Natasha Simons

4:56pm
(No. OF NOTES: 25)
  
FILED UNDER: mad men playlist 
December 26, 2009
One of the things that grabs Ladies of a Certain Age about Mad Men is the authenticity of the seriously fraught gender dynamic of the era. Take Peggy for instance, through each season we watch her get squeezed between her two desires to be liked by men and respected by them. Given the setting, it seems she can only pick one. Well, here’s a fantastic post by art critic Carol Diehl about the sexuality of the era, featuring appearances by Brigitte Bardot, Ann Margret and Mad Men: “Last night, after the turkey, we watched two films from 1963-64 back-to-back: Brigitte Bardot in Jean Luc Godard’s “Contempt,” and “VivaLas Vegas” with Elvis and Ann-Margret. To my male friends it was high camp, but for me, watching them produced flashbacks of what it was like to grow up in that era: wanting men, wanting them to like you, wanting them to want you, but at the same time having to fend them off on a daily basis, the frustration of having your strengths ignored while being valued for your sexual potential…” READ MORE NOW.

One of the things that grabs Ladies of a Certain Age about Mad Men is the authenticity of the seriously fraught gender dynamic of the era.

Take Peggy for instance, through each season we watch her get squeezed between her two desires to be liked by men and respected by them. Given the setting, it seems she can only pick one.

Well, here’s a fantastic post by art critic Carol Diehl about the sexuality of the era, featuring appearances by Brigitte Bardot, Ann Margret and Mad Men:

“Last night, after the turkey, we watched two films from 1963-64 back-to-back: Brigitte Bardot in Jean Luc Godard’s “Contempt,” and “VivaLas Vegas” with Elvis and Ann-Margret. To my male friends it was high camp, but for me, watching them produced flashbacks of what it was like to grow up in that era: wanting men, wanting them to like you, wanting them to want you, but at the same time having to fend them off on a daily basis, the frustration of having your strengths ignored while being valued for your sexual potential…”

READ MORE NOW.

3:14pm
(No. OF NOTES: 41)
  
December 25, 2009
If Marlboros are for Cowboys then Lucky Strike is For Magical Men. Leo Burnett, creator of the Marlboro man, was once asked why he smoked Marlboro cigarettes. Burnett responded: “ I guess my feeling is pretty well summed up in the remarks of the vice-president of a competitive agency. When asked why he was smoking a not-too-popular brand of cigarette: ‘In my book there is no taste or aroma quite like bread and butter.’ “ This ad is from the 1936 Lucky Strike print campaign.

If Marlboros are for Cowboys then Lucky Strike is For Magical Men.

Leo Burnett, creator of the Marlboro man, was once asked why he smoked Marlboro cigarettes. Burnett responded: “ I guess my feeling is pretty well summed up in the remarks of the vice-president of a competitive agency. When asked why he was smoking a not-too-popular brand of cigarette: ‘In my book there is no taste or aroma quite like bread and butter.’ “

This ad is from the 1936 Lucky Strike print campaign.

9:57pm
(No. OF NOTES: 29)
  
Merry Christmas, everybody. Hope you have something tasty in your tumblers. Image via the pretty men at Ivy Style.

Merry Christmas, everybody. Hope you have something tasty in your tumblers.

Image via the pretty men at Ivy Style.

2:54am
(No. OF NOTES: 11)
  
December 20, 2009
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]

Mad Men Playlist:

Sukiyaki — Kyu Sakamato

In “Flight 1”, Don totally negs this Japanese lady in the restaurant after he has to break it off with Mohawk Airlines (this is the episode where Pete’s dad dies in the AA crash). She’s into him, and usually when Don suffers a work setback, he likes to make it up in personal lady time, but he says “Not tonight” and bravely soldiers on.

Anyways, this song “Sukiyaki” is what’s delightfully playing over this exchange. The original title of the song translates to “I look up when I walk”, which the singer does so his tears won’t fall.

Making the whole thing just that more Weiner-loves-his-details-esque? Sakamato died in a plane crash.

• footnote - by Natasha Simons

4:02pm
(No. OF NOTES: 23)
  
FILED UNDER: mad men playlist 
December 16, 2009
You guys, let’s be honest: in our heart of hearts, don’t we all just want the Don Drapers of our lives to take us out to LUTECE? Lutece opened in 1961 to great acclaim, so it’s no wonder Don and Roger try to go there so often. It was founded by early celeb chef Andre Soltner who remained head chef and owner until closing. From their now defunct website: “The restaurant offers a variety of settings including Le Jardin, which is the main dining room, and two unique private rooms on the second floor of a townhouse appointed with hand-gilded suede walls and crystal chandeliers to create the perfect intimate setting for guest’s enjoyment.” Sample Menu (so delish):AppetizersPheasant Soup & Poached Quenellewith green lentils, endive & arugulaCaviar Soupwith Madeleine Island bay scallops, cauliflower mousseline & poached quail eggChestnuts & Porcini Mushroomscooked en cocotte with grilled pancetta & roasted chicken jusArtichoke Saladwith ruby red grapefruit vinaigrette, thai basilBrittany Langoustineswatercress civet, gold beets & shaved winter black truffleYukon Gold Potato & Winter Black Truffle PiesabayonEntreesPan Seared Lacquered Monkfishwith nicoise olive sauce, baby bok choy, chick pea puree & lemon confitRoasted Turbot on the Bonewith ginger & parmesan, tarbais beans with fresh tomato concasse & arugulaSauteed Black Sea Basswith baby spinach, vanilla jusSauteed Lobsterwith sauteed foie gras wrapped in a chard leaf,braised savoy cabbage, grapes & fennelSauteed Partridgepoached foie gras wrapped in a chard leaf,braised savoy cabbage, grapes & fennelRoasted Farm Raised Chickenpommes macaires, black truffle jus It had three main dining rooms, called Le Jardin, Le Petit Salon, and Le Grand Salon. The Drapers and such did not eat in Le Jardin, because there didn’t seem to be any green and yellow accents. In the 60s, Julia Child called Lutece the greatest restaurant in the United States. Here’s the NY Times article on its closing which discusses how Lutece always got most of its business from business lunches and dinners. • footnote - by Natasha Simons

You guys, let’s be honest: in our heart of hearts, don’t we all just want the Don Drapers of our lives to take us out to LUTECE?

Lutece opened in 1961 to great acclaim, so it’s no wonder Don and Roger try to go there so often. It was founded by early celeb chef Andre Soltner who remained head chef and owner until closing. From their now defunct website: “The restaurant offers a variety of settings including Le Jardin, which is the main dining room, and two unique private rooms on the second floor of a townhouse appointed with hand-gilded suede walls and crystal chandeliers to create the perfect intimate setting for guest’s enjoyment.”


Sample Menu (so delish):

Appetizers
Pheasant Soup & Poached Quenelle
with green lentils, endive & arugula

Caviar Soup
with Madeleine Island bay scallops, cauliflower mousseline & poached quail egg

Chestnuts & Porcini Mushrooms
cooked en cocotte with grilled pancetta & roasted chicken jus

Artichoke Salad
with ruby red grapefruit vinaigrette, thai basil

Brittany Langoustines
watercress civet, gold beets & shaved winter black truffle

Yukon Gold Potato & Winter Black Truffle Pie
sabayon

Entrees
Pan Seared Lacquered Monkfish
with nicoise olive sauce, baby bok choy, chick pea puree & lemon confit

Roasted Turbot on the Bone
with ginger & parmesan, tarbais beans with fresh tomato concasse & arugula

Sauteed Black Sea Bass
with baby spinach, vanilla jus

Sauteed Lobster
with sauteed foie gras wrapped in a chard leaf,
braised savoy cabbage, grapes & fennel

Sauteed Partridge
poached foie gras wrapped in a chard leaf,
braised savoy cabbage, grapes & fennel

Roasted Farm Raised Chicken
pommes macaires, black truffle jus



It had three main dining rooms, called Le Jardin, Le Petit Salon, and Le Grand Salon. The Drapers and such did not eat in Le Jardin, because there didn’t seem to be any green and yellow accents.

In the 60s, Julia Child called Lutece the greatest restaurant in the United States.

Here’s the NY Times article on its closing which discusses how Lutece always got most of its business from business lunches and dinners.

• footnote - by Natasha Simons

9:43pm
(No. OF NOTES: 22)