Design, Music, Movies and Other Stuff

Watching: A complicated page turn in Kim's Picks @ TVKim

2012-01-14T12:33:00.000-08:00

Watching: A complicated page turn in Kim's Picks @ TVKim

House On The Canal Again

2011-12-05T19:17:00.000-08:00

Seasons Greetings Everyone. A few years ago I designed a house for a client in Venice California. A few years later I was informed that the house was in the Simon and Simon Television Series. I'm sitting at home watching the movie Valentines Day 2010 version with some well known actors such as Anne Hathaway, Ashton Kutcher, and Taylor Swift to name a few....and.....all of a sudden!.....there's my house. I had no idea that the house was in the movie.....What a surprise. The house is located on the canal in Venice California.
http://www.seeing-stars.com/locations/ValentinesDay1.shtml

Watching: Experience 1 second of beauty in Kim's Picks @ TVKim

2011-12-05T13:52:00.000-08:00

Watching: Experience 1 second of beauty in Kim's Picks @ TVKim

Southen California History

2011-11-27T17:44:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite blog sites is Southern California History. If you were raised or lived anywhere in the Southern California area and/or are associated or work in the field of the arts or architectural, you'll find this blog addictive

http://so-cal-arch-history.com/

Watching: Magical Duo in Kim's Picks @ TVKim

2011-11-09T07:04:00.000-08:00

Watching: Magical Duo in Kim's Picks @ TVKim

Watching: Halloween light show in Kim's Picks @ TVKim

2011-10-29T06:59:00.000-07:00

Watching: Halloween light show in Kim's Picks @ TVKim

New Show On ABC This Fall-Pan Am

2011-06-08T12:25:00.001-07:00

Feed The Fish, Just Click Your Mouse On The Aquarium

2011-06-05T16:07:00.001-07:00

Why Some Films Shown In Movie Theaters Look Dim

2011-05-24T12:41:00.001-07:00

If you've been to cinema recently and the movie presented appears dim, washed out, or too gothic; Here's an Article from the Boston Newspaper that explains some of the reasons.

TVKim- Watching: Kim's Picks- A new kind of car door

2011-05-22T09:23:00.000-07:00

TVKim- Watching: Kim's Picks- A new kind of car door

TVKim- Watching: Kim's Picks- Strange place in the desert

2011-05-21T07:27:00.000-07:00

TVKim- Watching: Kim's Picks- Strange place in the desert

TVKim- Watching: Kim's Picks- World's largest record collection

2011-03-24T16:22:00.000-07:00

TVKim- Watching: Kim's Picks- World's largest record collection

TVKim- Watching: Kim's Picks- Meet Walt Disney's Imagineers

2011-02-27T07:37:00.000-08:00

TVKim- Watching: Kim's Picks- Meet Walt Disney's Imagineers

TVKim- Watching: Kim's Picks- If animals could talk

2011-02-26T07:20:00.000-08:00

TVKim- Watching: Kim's Picks- If animals could talk

TVKim- Watching: Kim's Picks- Behind the scenes at Pixar

2011-02-19T23:19:00.000-08:00

TVKim- Watching: Kim's Picks- Behind the scenes at Pixar

TVKim- Watching: Kim's Picks- Amazing humanity

2011-01-30T12:31:00.000-08:00

TVKim- Watching: Kim's Picks- Amazing humanity

TVKim- Watching: Kim's Picks- A LEGO astronomical clock

2010-12-27T14:55:00.000-08:00

TVKim- Watching: Kim's Picks- A LEGO astronomical clock

TVKim- Watching: Kim's Picks- Building ladders to save lives

2010-11-26T16:19:00.000-08:00

TVKim- Watching: Kim's Picks- Building ladders to save lives

Ugly Christmas Lights

2010-11-26T07:17:00.000-08:00

This is one of my favorite web sites, I like to visit, this time of the year.
Ugly Christmas Lights

How Sounds Are Made For The Movies

2010-11-10T05:05:00.000-08:00

SoundWorks Collection: Gary Hecker, Veteran Foley Artist from Michael Coleman on Vimeo.

Why Dogs Bite People

2010-10-23T09:04:00.000-07:00

Why Dogs Bite People - Halloween Version

In Case of Emergency

2010-10-07T19:04:00.000-07:00

The post could be called Other Stuff. A couple of years ago; the idea came about to promote everyone, who has a cell phone, to add their contact person to call if you are in an accident or been injured. The idea was called ICE, which of course means In Case Of Emergency. Although recently I've come across a few people who didn't know anything about it. I'm surprised that cell phone companies don't put a little message or flyer in their billing mail to remind everyone. The Paramedics, Police and Firefighters are very much aware of the program.

If you are in a car accident, for example, that's one of the first things they look for at the scene.

Just type in ICE-and the contact persons name. You can have multiple phone ICE contacts. Sometmes we all assume things that everyone should know.

Fred Jordan Missions

2010-10-02T18:56:00.000-07:00

More and more people are in the need of help. If you want to help out in any way, please visit the web page of Fred Jordan Missions

Below is a welcome message and history of the organization.

"Fred, live my life for me! Help those who have a problem with alcohol and drugs!"

Fred Jordan listened in pain to the heartfelt plea of his boyhood friend. The man was in prison, scheduled to die for a crime he committed while drunk. But his words had an impact on Fred that has resulted in countless people around the world whose lives have been changed through the power of God’s love.

Since 1944, the ministry that began as an outreach to the thousands of homeless men who wandered the postwar streets of Los Angeles, has reached around the world.

Fred Jordan Missions has served the physical and spiritual needs of poor and helpless people, not only in the United States, but also in the teeming cities of Japan, Hong Kong and Korea, and also in the cities and jungles of Ghana and Liberia, West Africa.

With his wife Willie, Fred built orphanages, schools, hospitals and missions around the world to share the life-changing power of a living God among those whose lives are a daily struggle for meaningful existence.

In 1951 Fred began a weekly television program, Church in the Home... that aired across the country. Now in its 55th year, Willie continues the weekly TV program, sharing the needs of hungry, hurting families here in America.

Since Fred’s death in 1988, his wife Willie, several of their children, and a dedicated Fred Jordan Mission team of caring professionals carry on the work among the poor and needy in the inner city, bringing help, hope and the love of God to tens of thousands of children and families each year.

Architecture In Columbus Indiana

2010-09-08T18:51:00.000-07:00

When people think of Great Architecture in America and Great Architects, usually Columbus Indian doesn't come to mind. Columbus Indiana is 6th in the Nation; rating for significant examples of Architecture along with New York, Chicago, Boston, San Francisco, and other large cities. Why Columbus Indiana? J. Irwin Miller, a patron of quality Architecture, of Cummins Engine Company contributed funds to assist Architects and Engineers. It was just the ticket to get things started to put Columbus Indiana on the map. As time went on; Buildings were constructed which had been designed by the well known Architects.

Some of the Architects; Harry Weese, Eliel Saarinen, Eero Saarinen, John Carl Warnecke, I.M. Pei, Cesar Pelli, Richard Meier. The city of Columbus takes great pride in their famous buildings.....Six which are National Historic Landmarks. The post below this article, previously posted, is about the J.Irwin Miller Home. It was designed by Eero Saarinen. the Landscape Architect is Dan Kiley.

Columbus Indiana: An American Landmark

Cuba, Comedy and Horror.

2010-09-05T13:43:00.000-07:00

As if the folks in Cuba don't have enough trouble these days, recently someone has gone off and made a movie about Zombies invading the Island....Oh great!... just what they don't need. Of course the idea of Horror and Comedy is not new to the Caribbean Island. There are two movies that were made years ago.

The first was The Ghost Breaker starring Bob Hope and Paulette Goddard 1940 vintage The Second one was Scared Stiff starring Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis vintage 1953. Scared Stiff was kinda' sorta' remake of Ghost Breaker. The plot involved a comic-horror tale about zombies, scary, creepy stuff in a haunted mansion in Cuba.

Pictured is a matte painting by matte painting artist Jan Domela which shows the mansion in a distance on an Island for the Ghost Breaker movie. The Ghost Breaker Movie was a sequel to another movieThe Cat and The Canary starring Bob Hope and Paulette Goddard.

The movie takes place in a Louisana mansion. Again: a lot of scary creepy goings-on. The idea/concept for the attraction; The Haunted Mansion at Disneyland came from the movie.

I play a few tracks from the movie The Ghost Breaker on my internet radio station Soundtrack Lounge on Live365.

Dining Places In Orange County California - No Longer Here.

2010-08-11T18:01:00.000-07:00

I have lived in different parts of Orange County....mostly in Newport Beach. Surfing (the web) not the ocean, I came across an article by the Newport Beach Independent publication. They asked readers to submit a list of places that are no longer in existence. Here is the list with a few of my own added:

Alley West, Ambrosia, Ancient Mariner, Aubergine, Baer's Lair, Baxter Street, Belisle's., Berkshire's, Blackbeards, Bob Burns, Bobby McGee's, Bouzy Rouge, Bubbles, Camelot, Cano's, Carmelo's, Castaway's, Chart House, Chef's Inn, Chez Cary, Chuck's Steak House, Delaney's, Dillman's, Dolce, Don the Beachcomber, DP's, El Pescador, Garlic Geezer, Giorgio's, Good Earth, Gorda Liz, Grinder, Hamburger Hamlet, Hard Rock Cafe', Hemingway's, Howard Johnson's, Howard's, Hungry Tiger, Hurley Bell, Isadore's, John Dominis, Jolly Roger, Josh Slocum's Koto's, La Strada, Le Biarritz, Marco Polo, Margaritaville, Marie Callandeni's, Marina Inn, Mario's, Miss Boos, Nieport17, Odie's, Pacific Coast Dinner, Papagio's, Pleasant Pheasant, Roberto's, Rose, Royal Khyber, Rueben E. Lee, Rueben's, Rusty Scupper, San Tropez, Sid's, Snack Shop, Snug Harbor, Speedway, Studio Cafe', Stuffed Noodle, Stuffed T-Shirt, Stuffed Shirt, Tale of the Whale, The Jungle, The Outrigger, The Zoo, Tiramisu, Tony Roma's, Tutto Mare, Velvet Turtle, Victor Hugo's, Warehouse, Will Wrights, Wu Ben's Yankee Taven, Yamamoto's, Zooey's

The Orient Express

2010-08-06T16:13:00.001-07:00

In the previous post I mentioned about the Famous Orient Express. If Your in the mood to take a vacation or week-end get away:

Here is there official Web Site The Orient Express

Murder On The Orient Express

2010-08-05T15:26:00.000-07:00

A few nights ago I watching on PBS, Mastepiece Theater; Murder On The Orient Express, starring main character David Suchet as Hercule Poirot. I really enjoyed the movie. All the people involved always give an excellent performance. Having a great mystery writer like Agatha Christie you can't go wrong. One thing that does impress me is; the overall excellent finished film. I don't know if it was filmed originally in 35mm or digital video and transfered to another media for showing on Television. It certainly has the look and feel of a excellent quality 35mm film. Having high definition, digital, and todays media technology doesn't hurt either. Compared to the other shows and programs that on television these days, Masterpiece Theater surpasses them all. I especially was impressed with the look and feel of the movie. The show was announced by ITV in the UK My compliments to the Director, Producer, Film Production Director, Art Director, and everyone else involved. The music was also top quality.

I play the Poirot Television theme on my internet radio station; Soundtrack Lounge on Live365. I love the theme.

Always looked forward to watching the show every week back in the 1990's. The theme is very haunting and mysterious like the stories and characters. To learn more about cinema techniques go here.

California Institute OF The Arts

2010-08-04T17:04:00.000-07:00

In my previous post; I wrote about Film Production Designer and Art Directors. A few of them attended and graduated from CalArts. CalArts was concieved by Walt Disney for the purpose of providing education and hand-on experience in Film, Radio, Music, Art, Animation, Sculpturing, Dance, Writing and anything else associated or related to the Arts and/or Entertainment Industry. One quarter of Walt Disney's estate went to the founding of the school. Mr. Disney died in 1966. Thorton Ladd of Ladd and Kelsey Architects was a friend of Walt Disney. Ladd and Kelsey became the original Architects of CalArts. I'm very proud to say that Ladd and Kelsey were my employers a few years ago. Your probably thinking to yourself "A school started by Walt Disney should look something like one would find at Disneyland." The school design is concrete,brick and steel. Very 1960's modern. Very straight forward, clean design.Schools should be designed and constructed for long time use....not trendy or fadish.They should be functional and adaptable as possible. When you watch a movie and see an artistic film set, most people know sound stages don't really look like the movie in which their filmed. A sound stage is a basic, empty, bleek looking rectangle building. What goes on inside the building is what is significant.Just to add my social, political comment here; The same should be for people who have tattoos on their body....get it? If you want to express yourself in an artistic manner and don't know how, I'll buy you some crayons and a coloring book.If you still have the desire to get a tattoo, please get a kind that's temporary and washes off or wears off in time.

The Passing Away Of Robert F. Boyle, Movie Production Designer

2010-08-03T17:13:00.000-07:00

On August 01, 2010,
Robert F. Boyle, Motion Picture Production Designer died, of Natural Causes at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles. He was 100 years old.I'm an Architect and always fascinated and interested in the look and feel of a Motion Picture. A Production Designer designs for the whole appearance of the sets, props, ambiance, design of the film. He works closely with the Producer and Director. Whether through education and or experience, most of the Production Designers come from a background in Arts and Architecture. Pictured is a photo of the Mid-Century Modern home used in the Alfred Hitchcock movie: North by Northwest. Mr. Boyle was the Production Designer for many of Hitchcock's films. He also was Production Designer for two more of my favorite movies: How To Suceed In Business Without Really Trying and Private Benjamin.
To learn more about Production Designers go here.
To learn more about Art Directors go here.
To learn more about the North by Northwest house go here.

Just to get in a word about my internet radio Station; Soundtrack Lounge on Live365; I play some of the music soundtracks from the movie; North by Northwest, Music by Bernard Herrmann

The New Hawaii 50 Show and Theme

2010-07-23T15:32:00.000-07:00

I usually don't get too excited about remakes of Motion Picture and Television Series. Most of the time they cannot recreate the magic of the original production. This includes the show plus the music score. The new, updated crime series, Hawaii 50 is scheduled to air shorty. According to the producers, they kept the original theme song by Morton Stevens. Over the years television series theme songs kept getting shorter and eventually became almost nothing. What you hear today is so vapid is sickening. Through the 1950's through to the 1980's there were some great dynamic theme songs by some great composers. Bernard Herrmann, Henry Mancini and Jerry Goldsmith: to at least name three. Some reasons that there are no television theme songs today, that are worth a tinker's damn are; The minutes that the series airs are shorter. This is because there are more commercials. Today it doesn't matter whether it's free over air TV or Cable...there's those greedy Wall Street Folks!Another reason that themes are downplayed is because they overpower and draw attention away from the show and actors. Todays Television scripts, plots (if there even is one), and the actors are so bad. These people aren't actors...there celebrities....there is a big difference. I think there's a new generation that can't tell the difference. One more reason that there's no really good theme songs is; the producers don't want to spend the money on a good composer and/or arranger. They get some inexperienced, bimbo headed, twit trying to write music. Of course look at the type of people glued in front of the television set.

Riverside California Has Something To Be Proud Of.....Sorta'

2010-07-18T15:19:00.000-07:00

Question: Has anyone ever beaten the game

Answer: Barely. In fact, only one person has ever officially completed Bejeweled 2: Mike Leyde, a 57-year old steel contractor from Riverside, California. In 2009, Leyde achieved the highest score possible -- 2,147,483,647 points -- after playing for more than 2,200 hours. Mike first discovered Bejeweled in 2005 when his son Brian bought him the game. Bejeweled 2 wasn’t designed to show a higher number than this, so his game simply showed a blank where the score would go.

Video Games and Their Music

2010-06-08T17:15:00.000-07:00

I play a few tracks of video game music on my internet radio station Soundtrack Lounge on
Live365. Coming this coming winter are Back to the Future and Jurassic Park in video game format. Telltales has some things to show you.
Here is a list of video game composers and musicians.
Here is a list of video games by format.

If You want to see the latest Gaming Technology visit the Electronic Entertainment Expo, June 15-17, 2010 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

Airlines and Their Food

2010-06-07T16:39:00.000-07:00

Planning to take an airline somewhere and were wondering what's on the menu. This is a really good site about all the domestic and international airlines. The site: Airline Meals.

What was surprising, at least to me, was the airlines one would think that would have a great menu don't have such a great selection....and...likewise the airlines one would think that wouldn't have a good selection do have a good selection.

LAX and The Encounter

2010-06-06T08:27:00.000-07:00

An Airport of Mid-Century Modern design is the Los Angeles international Airport. Recently the Tom Bradley Terminal at the Los Angeles International Airport made the news by showing their new remodeled and updated facility. Over the years the facilities at the LAX have been neglected. The place was looking pretty ratty. At least their trying to make it look attractive; considering budget and money issues. One of the more interesting buildings at LAX is the space age looking building known as the Encounter Restaurant. It's been in several Motion Picture and Television scenes over the years. A few years ago they also updated the place. If you have the time and your at the airport, it's worth the visit. They have food and a cocktail lounge.

I think the Tom Bradley Airport web site could be better. It's kinda' bleek much like the airport itself. What I think is a pretty good airport web site is Heathrow Airport.

Disney and Disneyland

2010-06-03T17:20:00.000-07:00

It's that time of the year again; Graduation time and vacations. When folks are going to Disneyland and The California Adventure in Anaheim. If You want some information on the latest happenings here are a couple of links Disneyland and All Ears. From these sites there are many more links to other specific sites. There are blogs all over the internet about Disneylands, Disneyworlds, Disney, The attractions and the list goes on and on. Since I'm an Architect, I'm always interested in the Design and Development of the parks and its attractions. This blog is one of my favorites Disney and More blogspot. Another great blog; a gentlemen who has spent countless hours, time and energy taking photos of Disneyland, is Dave at
Disneyland at Dave