What Doesn't Stay in Vegas

Bonanza Gift and Souvenir Shops in Las Vegas calls itself the world’s largest gift shop, a claim I have no reason whatsoever to doubt. I found myself there a while back with some friends who could not return home empty-handed. I, however, had no need for souvenirs. After leafing through the only book in the store, “The Art of Pole Dancing, A Spin-by-Spin Guide,” I had plenty of time to document the array and variety of tchotchkes.

It’s yet another example of the aesthetic principle of multiples or repetition, which I mentioned in a post a while back. In the words of Ivan Chermayeff, “If something ugly is repeated and remains ugly, it only means that it has not been repeated often enough.”

You Probably now have a headache after just looking at these pictures. Imagine actually being there!

A Sunshine State of Mind

Map of Floria in oranges and grapefruit, circa 1940s. This postcard, along with others in this post, are from the wonderful site Florida Memory.
For modern-day Florida, see tonight’s Republican reality show with Newt, Mitt, Rick & Ron.

If you’d like some visual distraction, here’s a bit of nostalgia from the Sunshine State.


Juice King orange crate label.


Ostrich Farm


Shell show catalog, St. Petersburg, 1967.


Brochure, The Fountain of Youth, St. Augustine.


Ceiling of the post office in Miami Beach. (via Flickr)


Weeki Wachee Mermaids.







Busch Gardens, Tampa.


Early Bird Special at Wolfies, in Miami Beach. (From here)


Anita Bryant in an ad for orange juice, 1970s.

The Fountainbleau Hotel, Miami Beach, and
Slim Aarons photo of the cat-shaped pool.


"A Florida Blossom Among Grapefruit and Oranges"
via Kitschy-kitschy-coo.

It's Mr. Lucky's Day

It was just around now, early April, that I took a trip to Arizona, a few years back. I shot lots of great signs around Phoenix, but those will have to wait for another day. I’m afraid this post belongs to Mr. Lucky’s.