Credenza Love!

Well readers, sorry to keep you in suspense!

I found this beauty the Saturday before last at the theater on the third floor where we keep all the props. It was buried somewhere in this mess...

That Saturday, friend Bryson was working on his Eagle Scout Project on the third floor building 15 sets of shelves for the  prop room and since I am no good with power tools, I decided to "clean house" and straighten up on the other end of the third floor by the elevator. This credenza is one of those finds I've been hunting up forever but never could find, and in this pile I literally moved a board threw a chair off the massive pile and something fell revealing it!!!   I freaked to Patricia & Bryson and six visiting boy scouts about it haha. I went down and got my boss to come look at it and inquire if he'd want to sell it. Well a week and $20  later it was mine!

In fact the moment I laid eyes on the credenza I knew EXACTLY where it was going to go... (assuming at the time I could get it) I've been messing and switching furniture on that wall for a few months now and haven't found anything I liked/worked for what I wanted... until this came into the picture!

What a perfect fit in that spot, replacing the small side table along with the telephone table too. It has the cabinets where you can hide things, its just the right height to sit on for additional seating when we have parties and its the perfect height for the couch!!! It meets all of my qualifications and then some, its a "Lane" furniture piece and is built out of solid mahogany and matches the headboards (which are also Lane brand) on the other side of the room.

Can I pick em' or what?! I'm so happy with the new addition, so worth the $20 it looks like it was just meant to go there!

-Mick-

L.O.V.E.!!!

More on this later as it develops.

-Mick-

Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Frankoma!

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Imagine my surprise when I went into the crappiest Goodwill in town and after searching all corners of the store, stumbled upon this shelf!!!

First thing I pounced on causally picked up was this Brown Satin Tea Pitcher! Frankoma pattern "5 D" (the dishes we use for Thanksmass are a mix of the Desert Sand & Brown Stain patterns) and this little beauty was $3.99...I KNOW RIGHT?! Well I had just $4.00 so I ran back to work and got a $20.00 advance on my pay check and ran right back to get the rest!

I'm not sure if this is a planter, or maybe a tissue box?  Its in the Prairie Green glaze pattern "6 8" and got it for $1.99. I'm usually not a fan of the Prairie Green, but I really like this little piece.

This red glaze pitcher was also $3.99 is in pattern "8 O" or "8 C".and is a later piece of Frankoma, the red didn't show up on the scene until the 1980's.

I've never seen a bowl like this, with the pattern on the bottom, price $2.99!

(Pattern "224")

I'm pretty sure this is a sugar bowl and its missing its lid but its red glaze, Pattern "5 B" and it came with this little creamer pitcher and they came together for $1.99

(Pattern ? )

I'm 99% sure this is a cookie jar, and it too is missing its lid but it can be used a vase or something until I find a lid! red glaze pattern "25 F". it was $2.99!!

What a steal I got on all of this stuff! The clerk asked me "How rich are you?"  then second time I went in to get the rest of these pieces. He had caught on that these things might be just a little more than clunky old pottery. If I keep this up, im going ot have to buy a super thin glass cabinet to store all this in the kitchen of the Casablanca!

-Mick-

Dear Prom...

Well readers, it's thatat time of year again, and I must say I am disgusted with my former High Schools theme choice this year... the class of 2011 will be sporting a "Rave Themed prom"... you know the kind usually associated with drugs, alcohol and ...other things...

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Ummmm.... what the hell?  I mean seriously... lets take a look at the word "Prom".

Prom - "(Short for "Promenade") -A formal (black tie) dance, or gathering of high school students. It is typically held near the end of the senior year. It figures greatly in popular culture and is a major event among high school students."

NO where in there does it mention 'bumping', 'grinding','thrusting' handing out glow stick at the door, everyone mauling each other on the dance floor. When I heard what the theme was going to be I posted a Facebook status that said...

"Prom theme is "A Rave"... Seriously people? Look up the meaning of prom, the lack of formality isn't "cool" its tacky."

Now, I am very well aware not everyone lives in my technicolor, Big Band, actually knowing how to "Fox Trot" (and not thinking its the brother  syndrome to West Nile Virus) world and  I realize that all good honest dancing died (along with people wearing hats) in the same year with President Kennedy, but SERIOUSLY?!  I also realize that students pick this theme to reflect themselves and the times but, again REALLY?! The theme seems more fitting for an after the football game riot dance, than the all glorified PROM.

It's reasons such as these that make me meticulouisly plan and savor moments like this...

and this...

and this...

I give you "Better Prom" circa 2008. 

Better Prom -  Was the Casablanca's premiere event, well not premiere  but one of the defining moments. You see the Class of 2008's Prom theme was originally "A night under the stars"  our colors being navy blue, silver & black. Midyear the "prom sponsor" decided these colors were to close to the class of 2007's theme and took it upon herself  and changed the theme to "This moment with you"  colors being crimson red, hot orange & Gold (the entire class joked it was the prom form Hell!) So my high school theater friends and I, fed up with all the changes planned a better prom  to take place at the Casablanca after the real prom was over...

So, forced by our Mothers we went to real Prom.

(We Came)

(we saw)

 (we conquered...)

One of the high lights of my Prom  (and provably in the top 10 for High school) was when the DJ put "sing sing sing" on and everyone left the dance floor, I grabbed T.K.'s ( girl in the pink dress) hand  and said "Lets go!" and for three minuets we tore up the dance floor with the best swing moves we had! People stared, teachers clapped, and a few of our theater friends jumped in. That was provably the only reason I didn't completly HATE my Prom.

And Then we headed for the Casablanca!

We all arrived around 10:30P.M. and took that first group picture, I wish now we had stayed in our formal clothes. However we were all so tired of being dressed to the nines we gladly changed anyways and the party began.

(Our Cake )

I think we watched "I Am Legend" on the drive in that night, (notice the TV covered with a table cloth, that used to be the state-of-the-art sound system until we discovered that computer speakers work better!)  The next morning everyone got up and headed back to town, but before I did I took a few snap shots of the Casablanca and the car I went to prom in...

We borrowed that fire engine red Cadillac Convertible from a friend, It was just like the one in the movie "Flamingo Rising" that my Drive-In Movie Theater is based on!!!

So naturally I had to have pictures of this car in the Drive-in!

(The "wings' on either side of the Drive-In Screen wouldn't be added for another 3 months)

(Man how I wish the wings had been on the Drive-In that would have made this picture perfect!)

 As I said earlier, The lack of formality just makes me sad instead of a right of passage it now just seems like just another trashy school function. I know all Proms are somewhat tacky and pretentious but this just crosses the line I think.....

Anywho.

-Mick-

Ice, Ice, Baby...

Well we have a winner, the Official Miss Casablanca Crown!

 

It was Number two by a land slide, although we only had two people comment on the actual blog, the polls on Facebook, and people I pestered the hell out of, asked on Saturday all went for this one! It was my favorite out of the four choices because it didn't look like costume jewelery even though it is.  It's real  Swarovski s (from Austria) in silver plate, its being made in New York (and has family heirloom written all over it) It also won most of the Casablanca girls over as it is some what reminiscent of another famous crown, also from the 1950's...

(Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday, 1953)

(Retail value $160,000.... just a tiny bit out of our $40.00 Price range)

Patricia and I went and picked out a few things to make a "tiara box" to keep the crown in once it comes, we got this pecan wood box from Hobby Lobby, somewhere deep in the heart of Texas for $7.00.

I stained the box with a  dark redwood stain three times and let it dry.

I then took some quilt batting and lined the inside of the box with midnight blue velvet.

(Wont that look pretty with that silver Swarovski Crystal tiara setting in it!)

We also came up with he idea to have little name plaques made up to be glued to the inside of the lid that will sport "Miss Casablanca,  The winners name, and the pageant year 1957/ 2011."  To get them made is fairly inexpensive and we can do it for every year was have the pageant (could be one time could be 30) who knows!

There's lots of excitement building up for the pageant portion of Memorial Day weekend, should turn into an interesting and fun time!

-Mick-

"Diamonds Are A Girls Best Friend..."

Well Readers I think I've come up with a doozy of an idea!

The Casablanca Hotel & Resort is Proud to announce it's Very First (Annual) 

"Miss Casablanca"  Pageant!!!

If you are wondering why she will be "Miss Casablanca 1957"  (rather than 2011) it is because during last years big event As Time Goes By  was set "once upon a time in the summer of 1956" So naturally this year is 1957!

We've already have 15 young ladies sign up for this Memorial Day event!  The Contest will be judged on a point system of 1 - 10  (1 being lowest 10 being highest) There will be three portions of the contest a "Dress" category, a "Swim suit" category, and last but not least a "Talent" portion!  Before you start in with the "Mick you sly dog"'s  We will have three unbiased judges.  BUT WE NEED YOUR HELP!

(Miss America's 1957 Tiara)

We need to pick a Crown for the future Miss Casablanca....
The part committee has set aside $40 for the tiara, were looking for something that we can use for say the next 30 Miss Casablanca contests... we have a few ideas but not set on anything... so It's Voting Time!

#1 ( the current favorite)

Swarovski Crystal, measures 2 inches high, and the design is 7 inches along the hair band, retail $21.99.

#2  (A second favorite is a close tie)

Swarovski Crystal, measures 1.5 inches high, and 8.5 inches of design along the band retail $30.99

#3 (we like the height)

Crystal, measures 3 inches high and 7 inches wide on the band design, and retail is $15.99

#4

Crystal Rhinestone (which I'm not to crazy about) measures 1.5 inches high and 5.5 inches of band width design, retails for  $8.99.

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 We are also open to suggestion if any of you Bloggers come up with an idea that are classy and under $40.00 Its not everyday you pick something out for a legacy! (No pressure) We've looked into getting a replica Miss America Crown but they come in at $55.00 and we want something that can be our own tradition!

So Cast your vote by commenting  and Monday we will post the winner! Im tossed up myself, I like the look and curves of #2 but the desing on #1 is kind of appealing to me as well.... 

Hmmmm... what do you think?

-Mick-

What Are You Doing This July?!

Well Readers, My Summer is pretty much set!
In April, the Wichita Theater where I work held auditions for one of the most anticipated shows of the season (if not the decade) "Hairspray".

Now Readers, this one has always been one of my favorites even before it was a musical. I can't tell you how many times I watched the 1988 Movie in my early teen years. my friends and I even made the sets to do a shot by shot remake (but it never happened). When I went to New York for the first time in 2004 I saw the musical live on stage with Mathew Morrison as "Link" and Laura Bell Bundy as "Amber Von-Tussell"  I also have the autographed Broadway show poster & program they signed to prove it.  So you can imagine just how EXCITED I was when I found out I was the set dresser for this show!  ( What friends and I have been joking as, 'The Casablanca on stage') I was even more excited to audition for a chance to be in the show, back in High School the Theater Class called our self's "The Nicest Kids In Town" as a joke and mimic from the song in the show.


The theater had lots of people turn out for auditions, and I am proud to say that I was one of the 56 people chosen to be in this show!  I really wanted to be a dancer on the "Corny Collins Show" but  I landed the role of "Mr. Pinky" the owner of the Hefty Hideaway, House of Fashion for the Ample Woman !

 

 (Played in the original 1988 movie by Alen J, Wendl)

(Played on Broadway by Jim J. Bullock)

(Played by Jerry Stiller in the 2007 Movie Musical)

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At first I really didn't want to audition, I just wanted to be stricktly sets on this show... but the closer the auditon dates got the more I kept convincing myself "how could I not?!"  This part only has about four speaking lines, and is a very quick cameo of the movies character, but seeing as how the sets are going to be a MASSIVE UNDERTAKING this suits me fine! We are planning to make a behind the scenes documentary video of the sets, and I'm just so very glad I get to be apart of it all! We have the makings of a fantastic cast and they have estimated we'll receive about 5,000-6,000 people to be seeing this show during its run! This means things around the Casablanca we'll be pretty quiet this July but I'm sure we'll make up for lost time before the years over!

I'm off to 'practice every step that's in my repertoire'...

-Mick-