A Casablanca Valentines Day

Happy Valentines!

Though I dont have a sweetheart I wish you and yours all the best!

Heres a musical Valentines card for all of you, serenaded by the Andrew Sisters!




Most times we dont do much for Valentines at the Casablanca (because the social season doesnt start until March)  but today, while playing in the melting snow my friend an I made two more little snow people a "Mr and Mrs", there names 'Frank, and 'Frankella' (Ida for short) Frank had a 3 button shirt, and Ida a pretty pink flower in her hair. Sadly by 6:00 pm they were melting away... thats when I noticed it, and had to take a picture.

Two snow people in love right up until the very end.

This song just seems fitting for them.

Happy Valentines Day <3

-Mick-

Greetings!

In the words of the late Estelle Getty

 "You have to make your own fun around here"

-Mick-

Legends of the Baker....

As promised here are the famous and infamous stories of the Baker Hotel, each one documented and true but whether the ghosts roam the grounds is for you to decide. I will warn you most of these stories are OVERLY dramatic... and a little graphic, but hey that's what makes them! Here are my three favorites.

"The Debutante"

The first and probably most famous event takes place in 1939.... Its was a social season the likes of which no one had ever seen. The reporter's flash bulbs snapped each young lady with her escort debut to Mineral Wells and Texas society. A formal dance was being held in their honor high above the world in the "Cloud Room" 15 stories from the ground. A certain young lady in a pretty pink chiffon dress and her escort had sneaked a bottle of gin and as they danced the room became too "hot" so out to the terrace they went. It is my understanding that the swimming pool looked quite beautiful with its fountain lit up at night. It catches the young ladies eye and she tells her beau she wants to go swimming. He tries to steer her to the elevators but she insist she will join him at the pool later so the young man steps into the elevator and tells the attendant, "7th, please." By this time the gin has started to make the young lady's head swim and cloud her judgment... Out she walks to the ballroom's balcony, slips out of her shoes, climbs over the rail, points her hands to a dive and "jumps" into the night. Needless to say she didn't make it...

So when the people of Mineral Wells look up and see the image of a young girl standing on the top floor of the Hotel, they know she's just going for a swim.

 

"The Lady in Red"

The man, the visionary T.B. Baker not only kept a world famous hotel in Mineral Wells; it's also where he kept his mistress. It is said her name was Eva. Baker lived with his wife in their 14th floor apartment and he kept his mistress on the 5th floor. While she lived a lush life in Baker's care, it was not a full one. One night in a fit of rage Eva threw a lamp at Baker, telling him it was "her or his wife". Baker stood there only a moment then replied, "My wife, I don't want a scandal" closing the door behind him. Eva was in such a state she rushed around the room screaming, "I'll give him a scandal!" She grabbed a record from the Victrola smashing it on the bathroom sink, she took the biggest piece of the record and used its edge to slash her wrists, blood staining her clothing. She made the papers the next day, a suicide. Though the papers only mentioned it Eva sent her message to Baker loud and clear... The title of the record that had drained her of life? "I can't give you anything but love" ...

It is said Eva still roams the 5th floor. You can hear someone humming a faint chorus of the song and smell a strong perfume. It is also said if she takes a liking to a man passing by, she will flip his tie over his shoulder.

"Going Up"

This tale takes place in the summer of 1948. As we all know hotels of prestige often come with the luxury of bell boys or bell hops. On this hot July day two of the bell hops (no older than 15) decide to beat the Texas heat in the cool dry air of the hotel basement. Now you see, the Baker has a total of five elevators. Four in the grand lobby, and one standard service elevator that goes from the basement directly to the ballroom with out stopping. While the boys were in the basement they made a game of standing on the service elevator platform, hitting the up button and jumping to the basement floor as the elevator went up (This was in the days before safety doors, and the cage door on the elevator could be left open while moving.) I can imagine this was great fun, until one boy slipped. By the time he scrambled up and jumped the elevator was getting dangerously close to the basement ceiling. His friend tried to help by pulling him out of the elevator but instead the boy was caught between the elevator floor and the basement ceiling, breaking his spine and crushing him to death. The Baker Hotel paid for the funeral service, and gave his family a small pension for their loss.

This story is the basis for the Disney movie and ride "Tower of Terror". To this day screams and the grinding sound of machinery can be heard from the vacant basement. A sad reminder of two boys horsing around.

*   *   *

If you would like to read more about the countless ghost stories and encounters just google "The Baker Hotel". I would link a few but there are just too many! People ask how such a place can be so haunted, and I remind them that not only was this place a grand hotel but also a health resort. Many people went there with hopes of becoming well, but this was not always the case...

Hope you enjoyed the stories! (This post seems better suited for Halloween not Valentines!)

-Mick-

The Thrift Gods Giveth, and the Thrift Gods Taketh Away...

TODAY THEY DID BOTH....

They started wiht the cruel taking of two Chineese paintings... (that would have been perfect for the CH&R they had mostly gold and turquoise in them...)They didnt even let me get a picture before a little man who strongly resembled Agatha Christies "Mr. Piorot"  reached up took them down and checked out of Goodwill...
Bummed I wandered the junk isles with my friend we looked at a sub-par cookie jar, I was hoping the Gods would send me a Frankoma Cup... (they tend to do this when they take awesome things away from me) and then I saw it....

I beleive "Dime Store Thrifts" daughter is performing in a production of "Annie" 

 "Betcha they're young, betcha they're smart, Bet you they collect things like ashtrays and Art..."  

I dont exactly 'collect' ashtrays as much as I collect vintage Hotel Stuff.  I just Couldnt Pass this one up AND IT WAS JUST $0.99! Look at the Cool graphic...

This ashtray will be making its way to the Casablanca Hotel & Resort!  This was a perfect pick-me-up after letting the 2 paintings get away...

* * *

 I love stuff from old hotels, theres just something about them. I always think of how many people checked in for vacations, weddings, proms, that sort of thing. Theres one hotel here in Texas that has long been closed, but I ADORE, its in Mineral Wells TX "The Baker Hotel & Resort"

I have been drawn to this building since I was 9 years old when i saw it on a trip for the first time, we were going to Houston with my great grandmother. She stayed here in 1947 for 2 weeks (as a graduation present) the Hotel was also a spa (Mineral Wells is famous for its healing mineral water) this trip is further glorified by the fact that CLARK GABLE checked into the hotel on the same floor as my grandmother about a week into her stay.  It opened its doors October 29, 1929  (that date ring a bell?) the day the Stock Market came crashing down. The hotel boasted modern conviences, Air condtioning, heating, running water AND the first inground swimming pool in Texas! Through the 1930's- and 40's Everyone who was ANYONE stayed here! Judy Garland, The Andrew Sisters, Lucille Ball, Shirley Temple, Bonnie and Clyde, and Clark Gable just to name a few... Hollywood Flocked to the Texas hill country to rest, relax and play at what was quickly becoming "The Best Health Resort in the South"  An amazing feature, that is now just a fairytale of the past was "The Cloud Room" a ballroom like no other high a top this 15 story skyscraper. Bands played there Big Bands, Glenn Miller, the Dorsey's, music filled the night as the hotels guest came in their best to dance and dine the night away forgetting their cares and feeling like royalty. (I should write for a travel magazine, haha!) 

This postcard is the reason the Casablanca has postcards...who wouldnt want to stay here?

Sadly by 1959 the Baker's heyday had come and gone, although it was still popular people just didnt have the time to go for extended stays at a resort. The final nail in the coffin came when the FDA proclaimed that Mineral Wells could no longer claim its waters were healing. By 1980 the once proud Baker was no longer profitable and closed its doors forever. To make matters worse an auction was held and almost everything in the hotel was sold, thus ending the life of the Baker Hotel & Resort.

I have collected from this place, A full fold out brochure,a souviner plate from the Bakers "sister" hotel in Arkansas, a Salad fork with "B" on the handle, several Postcards some written on some not, a terra cotta shingle from whats left of the Pool Cabana (long story) , and four metal lawn chairs I have restored that were puchased with 296 others in 1929 for the hotel.

Its also said this place is haunted as all get out, I'll share the storys tomrrow!

-Mick-

Grandma's are the BEST!

I mean they REALLY are! 

Monday I stopped by my Gandma Jordan's to give her the mail and talk for a while, and we eneded up watching "Days of Our Lives" together. Well Just as I was getting ready to leave, Grandma says "Oh I have an early Valentines Gift for you"  Well I turn around and shes holding a white glass mixing bowl, And I think "Oh sweet she got my Pyrex!"

 Well then Grandma says "The rest is on the kitchen Counter", She Leads me in to the kitchen and...

 THERE sits her COVETED 1946 Hamilton Beach Mixer. I just gave her a funny look and she says "Its yours, but dont tell your cousin Carma she'll be PISSED!"  ( Since Carma doesnt read the blog, or take time to talk with me... I think were safe.) I have been pining for this forever!
Last season Grandma let me haul it to the Casablanca on a "bake and return" basis.  So this Is a gift MOST  welcome. Now I wonder If I should leave it be, or maybe repaint the white body of the mixer?  because as you can see most of the paint is gone, and I kinda like my old stuff to look sharp and new but still be old. HOWEVER this model is a Classic, and id hate to ruin it... so Paint it? Keep its charming faded age? I dont mind doing either, because when i see the worn paint and chips I think of  just how much love went into all thoes cakes and pies Grandma baked.

My Grandmother, was born Mary LeDell Trimm on March 20th of  1922.
She later Changed the "LeDell" to "LaDell" (she said Le was a boys name) and most people call her "LaDell" I call her Granny :)
 Her family lived on a farm, and she worked as a "checker" at the A&P grocerie store here in town. She and her sister Ruth graduate Class of 1940 in Iowa Park Tx. This was the biggest class to have graduated from Iowa Park High School until 2008, my class was bigger)
 In 1955  she said "I do" to a rowdy oil hand who often came into the A&P to cash his paycheck. His name was Lindon Ross Jordan, and he was my Grandpa (saddly he passed in 2003)
Together they had 3 children "Marcus Lee", "Joyce Lynn", and "Micheal Odell" (my dad)
Oh and one more thing....
THEY KEPT EVERYTHING THEY EVER BOUGHT!!!!! I'll have to do a post over the "Barn" its jungle, but theres lots of goodies in there!

Well Im off to bake a cake!
P.S. Get Your Kicks On Route 66, 66 followers!!!!

-Mick-

La Conga!

SO this dreary weather is starting to get to me... im mean iv been humming "singin' in the rain" for FIVE WEEKS... So today I thought we share in a modern dance... "La conga" 
I was over at Holly's "Sweetheartville" blog and she did a peice on Betty Grable in one of the "zigfeild" movies. Well Just recently I picked up the 1940 Technicolor romp "Moon Over Miami" starring Betty Grable! Its filled with lot s of great songs, but the one that seems to be infectiously catchy  is titled:
"Conga To a Nursery Rhyme" 


While were on the subject of "Congas" heres a little history on the dance, some claim that Desi Arnaz, the husband of Lucille Ball, invented the conga dance, but that's not true. He merely popularized it when he moved to the United States from Cuba and began performing in clubs. 

A Cuban ballroom dance that consists of three steps forward followed by a kick, characteristically performed by a group following a leader in a single line. (I love that picture) There seems to have been some misunderstanding about this at my Senior Prom in 2008...it was disgusting... people holding eachothers sholders and jumping up and down in a line...(That would be the 'Bunny Hop') People my age have forgotten the art of dancing! This is a story for another post, but I asked a girl at the prom if she would like to "foxtrot" to wich she said "I dont think they let animals in here...." I died a little inside lol.

My second favorite version of the Conga is this one preformed by "Miss Judy Garland"


Im gonna warn you now, The Conga will provably be danced at the Casablanca Party this summer!
Remeber ist "1,2,3 kick, 1,2,3 kick"  I wish I could find this on a record !

-Mick-

I also owe a very special Thank You to Christine at "Im not old im Vintage" today when I got home from classes there was a little package with a LOT of goodies!

An early Valentine's Day gift! Thank You so much!

My Montgomery Ward Table Top Washing Machine

I promised Id show this one off to Missouri Michael,  This Is a 1958 tabletop washing machine. My Great Grand Mother lived by herself and really only wore 1 dress a day so insted of using the acual washing machine she got this one from Montgomery Ward in Wichita Falls TX. When I made this video I beleived it to be from the 1940's than later found the recipt dated for the 50's in an old shoe box.



"Thank God for Maytag" - meaning Maytag was the first washer that featured 2 drums where you didnt have to change the water, just transfer the clothes.
I kow the top of the washer looks terrible, but i made this video the day me and my dad got it working again. I later spray painted the top "Frost White" (the standard appliance color) but then the cord had dried out and cracked and the last time I plugged it in in shot off sparks and the short is in a place where I cant tape it up *sigh* alas... 

We also have (whats left) of 2 gas Maytag washing machines. Someday I may paint one up and take it to the CH&R mayve use it as a table or sink? who knows!

-Mick-