TWA RETURNS

When Eero Saarinen's design for the The TWA Flight Center was unveiled in 1962, the building became an international symbol of the Jet Age. The curves of the roofline captured flight itself, and the swooping interiors, dressed in clean white with red accents, embodied modernity and connecting to the world- with time to spare for cocktails. It was the natural extension of the decade of leisure. The center closed in 2001, but the building is now under renovations to become a smart new 1960s-style hotel. Tyler Morse, the CEO of its development, told CNN Travel: "We're restoring Saarinen's Flight Center to its original splendor. At 200,000 square feet, the historic TWA terminal building will be the largest hotel lobby in the world. Right there in Saarinen's iconic space, you'll have eight restaurants and six bars for visitors and hotel guests to enjoy. The new hotel connected to the historic Flight Center will feature 505 guest rooms, 50,000 square feet of event space, a rooftop pool and observation deck, and a museum devoted to the 1960s. We've even acquired a 1956 Lockheed Connie aircraft which will host a one-of-a-kind bar and restaurant- guests will be able to come sit in first-class seats and enjoy a martini!" Sounds fantastic! Renovations are set to complete in 2019. But in the meantime, Spy Vibers can visit a TWA-themed lounge and exhibit on the 86th floor of One World Trade Center. The exhibit includes period furniture (look for Saarinen Tulip chairs!), artwork, artifacts, and uniforms- many of which were donated by former TWA flight attendants. Get the full scoop at CNN. More info at TWA. In other news, check out my episodes of Cocktail Nation radio as I introduce some of the great spy classics and soundtracks: Episode #1 (Danger Man) and Episode #2 (The 10th Victim), Epsiode #3 (On Her Majesty's Secret Service), Episode #4 (Roger Moore/The Saint), and Episode #5 (The Avengers), Episode #6 (The Prisoner), and Episode #7 (The Ipcress File), Episode #8 (The Man From U.N.C.L.E.). Enjoy!

Selected Spy Vibe Posts: Spy Vibe Radio 8, Interview: Ryan Heshka, Mid-Century Modern Schulz, Agent Werewolf, Mata Hair Exhibit, Johnny Sokko 50th, Interview: Trina Robbins, Eddie Izzard, The Prisoner Capt Scarlet 50th, Hugh Hefner R.I.P., Jack Good R.I.P., Interview: Shaken Not Stirred, Callan 50th, Spy Vibe Radio 7, The Prisoner 50th Event, Spy-Fi Event, Kaho Aso 007, Two Million, Bo Diddley, Carnaby Pop, Le Carre Events, Billy Bragg Skiffle, Elvis 68, Jack Kirby The Prisoner, Casino Royale Concert, Review: The Prisoner Vol 2, Interview: The Prisoner Essential Guide, Maud Russell Mottisfont, Spy Vibe Radio 4, Batman Gallants, Adam West R.I.P., Village Triangle, Roger Moore R.I.P., Spy Vibe Radio 3, Sgt Pepper 50th, Satanik Kriminal OST, 60s Overdrive, Make Love in London, Spy Vibe Radio 2, Spy Vibe Radio 1, James Bond Strips, Propaganda Mabuse, Interview: Police Surgeon, XTC Avengers, 1966 Pep Spies, Batman Book Interview, Exclusive Fleming Interview, Avengers Comic Strips, Robert Vaughn RIP, UNCLE Fashions, Thunderbirds Are Pop!, Interview: Spy Film Guide, Lost Avengers Found, The Callan File, Mission Impossible 50th, Green Hornet 50th, Star Trek 50th, Portmeirion Photography 1, Filming the Prisoner, Gaiman McGinnins Project, Ian Fleming Grave, Revolver at 50, Karen Romanko Interview, Mod Tales 2, Umbrella Man: Patrick Macnee, New Beatles Film, The Curious Camera, Esterel Fashion 1966, Exclusive Ian Ogilvy Interview, 007 Tribute Covers, The Phantom Avon novels return, Ian Fleming Festival, Argoman Design, Sylvia Anderson R.I.P., Ken Adam R.I.P., George Martin R.I.P., The New Avengers Comics, The Phantom at 80, 007 Manga, Avengerworld Book, Diana Rigg Auto Show, The Prisoner Audio Drama Review.

BILLY BRAGG SKIFFLE

Happy Saturday, Spy Vibers! One of my greatest passions is looking at music history, and a particularly favorite pastime is tracing the musical and cultural roots of Rock, Jazz, and Blues. If we travel back through the breadcrumbs to see where most of the major British bands of the 1960s originated, we come to one of the most interesting periods in the 1950s when traditional jazz (Trad), blues, and folk music shared a time of popularity and cross pollination. Trad musicians like Ken Colyer, Chris Barber, and Lonnie Donegan famously devoted time in their sets to exploring American roots tunes by Leadbelly and others. Dubbed "Skiffle" music, Donegan's hit with Rock Island Line launched a major boom in the UK. As Billy Bragg points out in this clip below, Skiffle empowered a new youth generation that suddenly found themselves free of rationing, earning pocket money, and ready to express their identities through a DIY sensibility and a new symbol of independence- the guitar. Sales of acoustic guitars went from about 5,000 per year to 250,000 per year. Among those kids playing Skiffle were the likes of Van Morrison, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Ringo Starr, George Harrison, Jimmy Page, and the list goes on and on. I recently visited The British Music Experience in Liverpool where I got to see many artifacts from this era. The most impressive breadcrumb was John Lennon's personal copy of Donegan's Rock Island Line 78 record. Lennon had given it to Rod Davis, one of his fellow Quarrymen skiffle group members (see my photo below) back in the day. And there it was! The stuff of legends. The record that launched Lennon (and The Beatles). The evolution of 1960s pop culture would have been dramatically different without these roots in Trad and Skiffle. I'll dive further into the era soon. In the meantime, check out this great clip and pick up Bragg's new book about Skiffle, Roots, Radicals and Rockers: How Skiffle Changed the World. I think you can still order signed copies from Bragg's website. Photo trivia: the guitar next to Lennon's record below was owned by Lonnie Donegan. The cover image of the Youtube clip shows Leadbelly with New Orleans trumpeter Bunk Johnson (1940). Enjoy! In other news, check out my episodes of the Cocktail Nation radio show, where I introduce classic spy films/TV series and play soundtracks and rare cuts: Episode #1 (Danger Man) and Episode #2 (The 10th Victim), Epsiode #3 (On Her Majesty's Secret Service), Episode #4 (Roger Moore/The Saint), and Episode #5 (The Avengers). Episode #6 (The Prisoner).

Selected Spy Vibe Posts: Elvis 68, Jack Kirby The Prisoner, Casino Royale Concert, Review: The Prisoner Vol 2, Interview: The Prisoner Essential Guide, Maud Russell Mottisfont, Spy Vibe Radio 4, Batman Gallants, Adam West R.I.P., Village Triangle, Roger Moore R.I.P., Spy Vibe Radio 3, Sgt Pepper 50th, Satanik Kriminal OST, 60s Overdrive, Make Love in London, Spy Vibe Radio 2, Spy Vibe Radio 1, James Bond Strips, Propaganda Mabuse, Interview: Police Surgeon, XTC Avengers, 1966 Pep Spies, Batman Book Interview, Exclusive Fleming Interview, Avengers Comic Strips, Robert Vaughn RIP, UNCLE Fashions, Thunderbirds Are Pop!, Interview:Spy Film Guide, Lost Avengers Found, The Callan File, Mission Impossible 50th, Green Hornet 50th, Star Trek 50th, Portmeirion Photography 1, Filming the Prisoner, Gaiman McGinnins Project, Ian Fleming Grave, Revolver at 50, Karen Romanko Interview, Mod Tales 2, Umbrella Man: Patrick Macnee, New Beatles Film, The Curious Camera, Esterel Fashion 1966, Exclusive Ian Ogilvy Interview, 007 Tribute Covers, The Phantom Avon novels return, Ian Fleming Festival, Argoman Design, Sylvia Anderson R.I.P., Ken Adam R.I.P., George Martin R.I.P., The New Avengers Comics, Trina Robbins Interview, The Phantom at 80, 007 Manga, Avengerworld Book, Diana Rigg Auto Show, The Prisoner Audio Drama Review.