Stuff-O-Rama

We've got a lot of stuff for sale on eBay!

2011-09-21T18:16:00.000-07:00

We're adding more stuff every day! Look for Tiki books, SHAG prints, Tattoo Flash Books, promotional rock posters and more! Keep checking our eBay store all this month!

We're Closing Up Shop

2010-05-03T20:39:00.000-07:00

Today, May 3, 2010, marks the 13th Anniversary of Stuff-O-Rama. "Lucky 13" as I like to call it. I had a good run, met a lot of great people and had a grand ole' time selling things that make people happy. But life sometimes throws a wrench in your plans and I went a bit off course. I'd like to put blame on the economy, but that isn't the whole reason. To be honest, I'm lucky to have lasted as long as I did. But all good things must come to an end, so I'm closing up shop as of May 31st.

We will continue to sell a few of out handmade items on Etsy.

We want to thank everyone for their patronage and for all the great memories!

Holiday Fun! Santa Claus Conquers the Martians! On YouTube!

2009-12-09T08:54:00.000-08:00

Santa Claus Conquers the Martians! Now available to watch on youtube! What are you waiting for?

Getting Schooled by Karma

2009-05-19T22:23:00.000-07:00

Everyone has pet peeves or things that make them nuts for no real reason. One pet peeve of mine is people who misspell the word lose as loose and vice versa. I have no real explanation as to why, but when I see someone write "He is loosing the race." it makes me want to scream.

So today, I received this email:

"Hey, on your website you misspell "stationery" (with an 'e') as "stationary" (with an 'a'). Spelled that way, 'stationary' means standing still. With an e it's the stuff you write on."

For the past 12 years I have been misspelling "stationery!" I don't think I ever realized or noticed that it was misspelled! I just pictured this guy going through the site, pulling his hair and screaming "Aaaacckkkk!!!" He couldn't take it anymore and let me know. And believe me it was appreciated. Color me red! I feel so foolish now.

Today is a great day to be alive!

2009-01-20T09:49:00.000-08:00

I am so overwhelmed with emotion I can't put it into words. Suffice to say I am glad to particpate in a historic moment, feel proud and optimistic for the first time in years.

"In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of short-cuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted - for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things - some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.
For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life.

For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth.

For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn. Time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction."
-- Barack Obama

Indie 103.1 left the dial

2009-01-15T20:29:00.000-08:00

On my many excursions to Southern California, I can't wait until I pass Calabassas so that I can get enough reception to listen to Indie 103.1. Where I live, all the channels are owned by ClearChannel, which is why they all play the same crap music, usually around 25 songs, then rotate them ad nauseum.

I found out today that they went off the airwaves this morning. Lucky for me I knew this because I have been listening to Jonesy's Jukebox at 12 bells for years now via their internet streaming station.

I checked out their website today to see what the haps was, they posted this message:

"Indie Activist:

This is an important message for the Indie 103.1 Radio Audience -

Indie 103.1 will cease broadcasting over this frequency effective immediately. Because of changes in the radio industry and the way radio audiences are measured, stations in this market are being forced to play too much Britney, Puffy and alternative music that is neither new nor cutting edge. Due to these challenges, Indie 103.1 was recently faced with only one option --- to play the corporate radio game.

We have decided not to play that game any longer. Rather than changing the sound, spirit, and soul of what has made Indie 103.1 great Indie 103.1 will bid farewell to the terrestrial airwaves and take an alternative course.

This could only be done on the Internet, a place where rules do not apply and where new music thrives; be it grunge, punk, or alternative - simply put, only the best music.

For those of you with a computer at home or at work, log on to www.indie1031.com and listen to the new Indie 103.1 - which is really the old Indie 103.1, not the version of Indie 103.1 we are removing from the broadcast airwaves.

We thank our listeners and advertisers for their support of the greatest radio station ever conceived, and look forward to continuing to deliver the famed Indie 103.1 music and spirit over the Internet to passionate music listeners around the world."

Although this makes my drive a little suckier, at least I still have normalcy at home. It is such a great station as they play all genres of music, have several specialty shows all akin to the college radio days of old. Except on this station the shows are hosted by real rock stars: Joe Escalante (of the Vandals) hosts the morning show, Steve Jones (of the Sex Pistols) has Jonesy's Jukebox and Jonesy's Jukebox Jury 12 -2 weekdays, Dave Navarro has a show Dark Matter on Wednesday from 12am - 2am, Henry Rollins hosts a show Harmony in My Head on Saturdays 8pm - 10pm. So if you have a chance to listen via the interweb, I highly reccommend it.

Scared of Santa!

2008-12-14T11:52:00.000-08:00

The other night my dinner was disrupted by the loud sounds of an diesel engine blasting an air horn combined with a siren and flashing lights. They seemed to be stopped directly in front of my house. I looked outside the window to see a giant fire engine with an oddly shaped man screaming something unintelligable into a bull horn. So I (as other neighbors) wandered outside to see what drama was going down, only to find that it was a fireman, dressed as Santa "Ho, Ho, Ho-ing" to the kids on the block. But because it was so dark it was hard to make out that this was indeed Mr Claus making a holiday visit, instead the kids next door were traumatized. Ole' Saint Nick was muttering something distorted into the bull horn while chucking peppermint candies at them, so they all ran screaming back into the house. Part of the problem was the guy driving the fire engine was a bit too siren/horn happy and blasted everyone backwards.

I don't know why, but I laughed. I am not one to terrorize children, but the immense failure to do something good gone wrong tickles my funny bone... it also reminded me of one of my favorite holiday websites.

Scared of Santa is one that makes me laugh everytime.

Sweet Dreams Ms Bettie

2008-12-11T22:26:00.000-08:00

Astro-Zombies! Tura Satana & the Misfits!

2008-10-20T18:48:00.000-07:00

So we got a little off track on the countdown... sometimes even the best laid plans go awry... so today we bring you: The Astro-Zombies!

featuring Tura Satana and John Carradine.

or watch it with the Misfits (back when Glenn Danzig was in the band).

The Fearless Vampire Killers & Zombina and the Skeletones

2008-10-11T19:20:00.000-07:00

Halloween countdown continues with a wonderful film, The Fearless Vampire Killers, directed by Roman Polanski and featuring Sharon Tate.

Plus another song for the dance party mix: "Dracula Blood" by Zombina and the Skeletones.

Munster Go Home! (and Rob Zombie too)

2008-10-10T21:40:00.000-07:00

Today's Halloween treat is brought to you by the The Munsters, in techincolor! Featuring George Barris hot rods and Terry Thomas! Pure win!

and speaking of Dragula...

Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy & The Fall

2008-10-09T19:47:00.000-07:00

Another Halloween treat, wacky, fun monster movies from the Abbott & Costello Meets the Monsters series...

In keeping with the mummy theme, here's a little dance party music for your Halloween party, Mark E Smith style...

Mad Monster Party!

2008-10-08T22:18:00.000-07:00

October is our favorite month of the year, so this month we will be highlighting our favorite monster movies!

First up, Mad Monster Party

Our favorite stop-animation film from Rankin-Bass So rock on out and do the Mummy!
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Paul Newman

2008-09-27T17:25:00.000-07:00

The Tormentos - Dragstrip Night

2008-09-09T22:23:00.000-07:00

Hey Kids!

Summer's not over yet! There's still time for a teen beach dance party or two!

Here's your background music:

Supersuckers & Rev Horton Heat at the Pozo Saloon

2008-07-07T18:52:00.000-07:00

So for once I did not have to drive to Southern California on the 4th weekend as I usually do to get my annual Supersuckers/Rev Horton Heat fix, they played right here in my backyard at the Pozo Saloon on the 4th of July!

I was the Designated Driver ('cause I cain't drink like I used to could) and the party crew I was with were dragging, so I missed Sexy Time Xplosion and Nashville Pussy (GRRRRRR!!!!) but that's OK, I'll catch them another time.

Here's a slew of photos I took

Did anyone else attend this show? I'd love to see your photos too!

Happy 4th of July!

2008-07-04T12:46:00.000-07:00

Nothing says America like an old fashioned sing-a-long. There's nothing more American than a medley of patriotic classics sung by Dean Martin, Kate Smith, Barbara Eden, Norm Crosby and Mickey Rooney!

Take that Lee Greenwood and your crappy overplayed to death song I can no longer listen to without the urge to attack the speaker wires from where the painful sound eminates from...

Huevos Rancheros "Get Outta Dodge"

2008-06-27T20:38:00.000-07:00

I was going through some old cassette tapes, I ran across a song I somehow forgot about by the Huevos Rancheros.

Please to enjoy:

Winter Steele!

2008-04-20T22:58:00.001-07:00

Years ago, when MTV was cool, there was a show called Liquid Television that showed animated shorts. One of the shorts was called "Winter Steele," my best friend and I watched it religiously and quoted it constantly. It was a crudely created puppet show about a biker chick on the road looking for her "old man" Crow Dickerson. She had white blonde hair with black roots, possibly a role model for the chicks that are currently on "Rock of Love." Some of our favorite scenes were when Winter finally finds Crows mother, she tells Winter, "Whadda ya say we score us some Aqua Velva and keep this party rollin'?" On another episode, the police have surrounded her as shes climbing the hospital wall trying to get to her old man. They yell, "You have the right to remain silent.." to which she responds "You have the right to lick my pointy boot ya fricken nazi!" I've never been able to find the full length show anywhere (MTV chopped it into to 4 minute segments). So it was a fluke when I googled it and found that the creator of the show had recently uploaded them to youtube! Halle-lew-yer!

Here's episode one... the rest are here

Oh yeah, I also found Dog Boy!

Reverend Horton Heat - Galaxie 500

2008-03-07T18:48:00.000-08:00

Jeepers! It's March already? How did that happen? We're way overdue for a "video of the week" so we'll set you off this Friday with a little Reverend Horton Heat to kick start your weekend!

and don't forget kids, set your clocks back on Saturday!

Check back for some new stuff we'll be posting next week...

Southern Culture on the Skids

2008-01-04T22:58:00.000-08:00

I just love this band! I found this gem featuring the S.C.O.T.S. song "Deja Va-Room" along with some vintage drag racing! Whoo hoo!

Please to enjoy!

Santa Claus is coming!

2007-12-24T15:09:00.000-08:00

Put out the cookies & milk, drop the needle on the record and do a little dance...

Gene Autry tells it how it is! Better be nice y'all...

Skaterdater!

2007-10-28T16:56:00.000-07:00

From Wikipedia:

Skaterdater is a short film that was released in 1965. It was written and directed by Noel Black and was the winner of the Palme d'Or for Best Short Film at the 1966 Cannes Film Festival. It was also nominated for an Academy Award in the Best Short Subject category.

The film has no dialogue. The surf rock-esque soundtrack was composed by Mike Curb and Nick Venet.

It was one of the first films that heavily featured skateboarding.

The skateboard riders where members of The Imperial Skateboard Team from Torrance, California. Their names are Gary Hill, Gregg Carrol, Mike Mel, Bill McKaig, Gary Jennings, Bruce McKaig and Rick Anderson.

I found the full length movie on Google video, the original film was in color, but this version is black & white. There are clips of the color version on you tube.

Dwight Yoakam and Dave Alvin

2007-10-18T16:41:00.000-07:00

I just love you tube, I waste so much time going back into the wayback machine finding all kinds of crazy stuff I'd forgot. Back in the '80's, there was a local L.A. cable access show called Art Fein's Poker Party. Art Fein had the best roots rock/talk show ever. I've heard it's back on the air, unfortunately I can't get it where I live now, so I have you tube to watch the highlights.

A few years ago, there was a club in North Hollywood called the Palomino Club. They featured all the country greats and legends, also allowed up-and-coming rockabilly and roots bands to play on off nights. My friends and I were huge Blasters fans, one of my friends befriended Dave Alvin, one of the two brothers who started the band. He told my friend to check out this guy called Dwight Yoakam playing his first show there. So we went. I was blown away by Dwight, even though he was so shy he played with his back to the crowd most of the show, or kept his head down with his hat pulled so far forward you couldn't see his face. This was in the early '80's, obviously he's overcome his shyness. Here's a little bit shy (note the dark shades) Dwight Yoakam and baby faced Dave Alvin playing on Art Fein's Poker Party in 1986.

Rosie Flores & Dave Alvin

2007-09-14T15:22:00.001-07:00

Back in the 90's Art Fein had a local Los Angeles cable access show called, Art Fein's Poker Party. All the rockabilly singer/songwriters and traditional country artists stopped by to play. Recently, while cruising you tube, I found that they had posted them in segmented clips. I was thrilled to find this one of Rosie Flores (Screamin' Sirens) and Dave Alvin (Blasters) singing a duet called "Goodbye Again"

enjoy!

I'll be posting more in the future, stay tuned.

Blazing Haley "Never Again"

2007-09-01T14:21:00.000-07:00

Blazing Haley-Never Again

One of our favorite bands, Blazing Haley, hailing from Santa Barbara reunited after a long break at the Rat Fink Party in July. Here's a video from that event.

To hear more of this awesome band, just click here

You can also see them live at the Primer Nationals on Sunday, Sept. 2nd in Ventura, CA at 11 am.

See you there!

Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66

2007-08-16T21:45:00.000-07:00

The dance party continues!

So back in the day, my parents would hold these swanky cocktail parties on the back patio in the summertime. There was lots of booze, cigarettes and dancing to the music of Sinatra, Louis Prima & Keely Smith, Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass and others. But the one record that my sister and I really got into was "Mas Que Nada" by Brasil '66 In fact, they played it early on as a bribe to get us to go to sleep but how can you sleep when all the fun is going on in the back yard?

In fact, we played that record so many times we wore it out. In my lifetime, I've bought this album 4 times. Last week my cousin came by and borrowed it from me. Yesterday I started fretting that maybe she was going to never return it. Silly, I know. It's only been a week, but my baby's gone! I have to get a grip. It's my last vinyl copy and it's really hard to find in good shape. Must think good thoughts. The CD was re-issued, thanks to the film, Austin Powers so it's not lost forever. I just prefer to listen to it on the turntable as the pops and skips of vinyl are part of my life soundtrack for this record.

Please to enjoy:

Summer Beach Party Continues

2007-08-05T15:55:00.000-07:00

Psycho Beach Party

It's campy! It's corny! What's more fun than go-go dancing and transvestites? You tell me! Featuring Six Feet Under's Lauren Ambrose in a crazy, whacked out teen dance party slasher film! Lauren Ambrose channels Sandra Dee as Florence "Chicklet" Forrest. Amy Adams (Junebug) is the voluptuous, hot to trot, Marvel Ann; the girl in the way of the dreamy stud, Starcat (get it?) who is the guy Chicklet really wants. Thomas Gibson of "Dharma & Greg" fame plays the mighty Kanaka, who rhymes his lines like a crazy beatnik; he rules the beach and is head surfer dude to the homoerotic wrestling gang. But someone's killing the gang on the beach. Who can it be? Is it one of them? And what makes Chicklet go into a crazy trance, changing her into several aggressive personalities? Could she be the killer?

Still haven't peaked your interest? Then check out the trailer:

Psycho Beach Party Soundtrack features music from Los Straitjackets (who also make a cameo in the film), The Halibuts, Man or Astroman? and the Hillbilly Soul Surfers! Also, look for a cameo by Steve Wozniak!

Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass - Tijuana Taxi

2007-07-20T16:16:00.000-07:00

It's Friday, time to go out dancin'! Here's something to warm you up before you go out tonight... maybe even learn a few new moves!

Live Earth, Global Warming and taking action

2007-07-17T14:06:00.000-07:00

For many years now, I have been frustrated by the amount of plastic bags I acquire when shopping, especially grocery shopping. It seems they put two items per bag so by the time I get home I have 7 bags for 15 items. So I started condensing my items into fewer bags, much to the clerks dismay. I think because they get into the corporate habit of not making the bags too heavy as to cut off circulation in the customer's hands, their solution is to use twice as many. But still I had a mountain of plastic bags. I thought if I just put them in the recycling bin that would solve the problem; at least I was helping by not clogging the landfills with plastic bags. Then someone sent me this link to an art exhibit by Chris Jordan.

Is that possible? It seems to be inflated, then I noticed while sitting outside a local shopping center, the amount of bags in each person's cart as they where headed back to their cars. Maybe it wasn't so far fetched. Either way, the message was received loud & clear. My unhealthy obsession with plastic bags had to stop.

With my current business ownership, I receive a large amount of promotional tote bags, from distributors, vendors and trade shows. I have piles of them. I decided it was time to start using the cloth bags. At first, when I went shopping, the sales clerks acted like I was some sort of a freak by suggesting I bag my own groceries into my cloth bags. They must of thought I had O.C.D. or something. Some said, "Oh, that's a great idea." others suggested I just bring my bags back and re-use them (another great idea). Then I started taking them to Costco, the clerks there thought I was a genius! Imagine all the people whining to them on a daily basis of never having enough boxes to put their purchases in. I often heard, "I wish more people like you would bring their own bags." Then Trader Joe's in our area started implementing a monthly drawing for a $25 gift certificate, every time you brought your own bag you were given a ticket in which to enter. Shortly after, I noticed more people carrying cloth bags to the local shopping centers and markets as well. While on a trip to Costco, my friend (who is admittedly shallow) confessed that she couldn't use cloth bags as they were just plain ugly. Perhaps if she could find a "cute bag" she might use it. I laughed because I thought she was kidding. Then she gave me a look letting me know she was serious. I asked her to define "cute bag" then I made one for her. Someone saw it, asked where she got it, then requested I make one for her. Suddenly I had people lined up for them, faster than I could make them. So I did some research and found a company that made some sturdy, fashionably hip black canvas bags so I could just adorn them. I now have some available to the public.

Even if you do not have an interest in buying one of my bags, look around your house. I'm sure somewhere, you have a stash of tote bags. Please use them. Or reuse the bags you have. In March 2007, the City of San Francisco will outlaw plastic bags by next year. Your town may be next. The Live Earth concert professed one thing repeatedly, by just taking one action you can help the environment. It takes little effort and costs nothing.

Jesse Dayton and Lee Rocker

2007-07-12T18:45:00.000-07:00

Back in the 90's, on one of my many road trips to Austin, Texas I went to the Continental Club and saw the most amazing rockabilly band called the Road Kings. The front man, guitarist Jesse Dayton, blew me away with his guitar playing. I have been a fan ever of his since. So imagine my surprise while perusing You Tube that I run across this clip of Jesse and Lee Rocker (Stray Cats, et al) jammin' at a NAMM Convention.

6:17 of pure joy!

Please to enjoy!

Beach Party Movies! Oh Yeah!

2007-06-23T13:22:00.000-07:00

When I was a kid, my cousin and I spent hours upon hours watching all those beach party movies and wishing we could dance like "Candy" the blonde shakin' machine. It seemed as if the local channels had them on a loop tape, they were always on in the summer time. We watched them over and over again much to our parents dismay. Once we were kicked out of the backyard pool for turning into prunes, we would dry out in the patio dancing the "Pony" the "Frooge" and the "Watusi." We would crack each other up by putting our index finger up to our temples to paralyze ourselves like Erick Von Zipper did, the "bad ass" biker dude who always tried to ruin the kid's fun in every film.

Here is a scene from Pajama Party one of our many favorites.

Our absolute favorite movie was Beach Blanket Bingo. Note: Candy is the blonde in the beginning of the clip dancing with the guy in the Rat Fink hat.

Recently, my friend's 7 year old daughter caught wind of these Technicolor dandies off of you tube, so I tried to remember the names of all of the actual films. Curiosity got the better of me, then I found this:

Frankie & Annette MGM Movie Legends Collection Box set: Featuring Beach Blanket Bingo; How to Stuff a Wild Bikini; Beach Party; Bikini Beach; Fireball 500; Thunder Alley; Muscle Beach Party and Ski Party I damn near died from excitement! So much joy for under $30? The only bad news is the boxed set version will not be released until July 10th... can I handle the wait? I guess I'll have to!

The one missing is the Ghost in the Invisible Bikini but since neither Frankie or Annette are in it, it seems to reason it wouldn't be included.

I can't wait to carry on the tradition of living room dance parties with my little friend! In the meantime, there are many others to watch. I already have the Gidget Collection.

I love the campiness of Sandra Dee, the ruggedness of Cliff Robertson's "Big Kahuna" but James Darren wasn't as groovy as Frankie Avalon in our book. Sure we dug the crazy surf digs, the driftwood shack and the way Malibu Beach used to look like, but there's very few dance numbers. And dancing is what we do. With panache! My little friend found these movies too complex, she asked many questions throughout, such as "Why won't they let her surf?" "Why do the boys not want her in their group?" "Why can't girls do what the boys do?" "Why doesn't she just tell Moondoggie she likes him?" So many questions! I guess we have come "A long way, baby!" I loved Sandra Dee, as Gidget the best, the other actresses who played Gidget in the latter films never seemed to have the same energy, but my cousin and I watched them anyway. My little friend, however, did not care much for Gidget Goes Hawaiian so I didn't force it.

It seemed as with all successful movies there would be similar fare... the other classic films my cousin and I watched obsessively were

Village of the Giants Ron Howard creates a "goo" which causes all things who ingest it to become abnormally large. After testing the goo out on his pet ducks, the ducks become 20 feet tall and head straight for the "Whiskey a Go-Go" as ducks do! They tear up the dance floor hopping to the Beau Brummels Band. The local crazy teens want in on the action and end up terrorizing the town after they get their hands on the stuff. This movie not only stars Ron Howard, but Beau Bridges and Playboy playmate Joy Harmon. Also, the Disney staple actor Tommy Kirk. It also features various George Barris hot rods.

Where the Boys Are
Starring Connie Francis, Paula Prentiss, Frank Gorshin and Jim Hutton, the Spring Break in Florida version of the formula Beach Party movie. But Frank Gorshin steals this one as the myopic beatnik. Lots of girls unwittingly tricking boys into marrying them, one with tragic results...

That's all I can remember right now. Perhaps anyone else wants to add to this campy list of beach party fun? Comment now!

The Cramps, "Bikini Girls with Machine Guns"

2007-05-18T00:34:00.000-07:00

Lux Interior and Ivy are the coolest couple in coupledom. They make pretty music together and pretty videos as well. No one can work a sequined bathing suit like Ivy. No one!

Billy Zoom, Brian Setzer & James Intveld

2007-05-11T12:42:00.000-07:00

Good Gosh Almighty! Is it possible that this really exists? From an 80's era cable access show called "Art Fein's Poker Party", we find ~X~'s Billy Zoom, the Stray Cats' Brian Setzer (rockin' a sweet pomp-mullet) and James Intveld jamming to "Good Rockin' Tonight." Crazy, baby! Ca-ray-zee!

Johnny Cash impersonating Elvis

2007-04-29T15:45:00.000-07:00

Johnny Cash does his special rendition of Elvis Presley, good stuff!

Is it Man, or Astroman?

2007-04-17T00:13:00.000-07:00

Dig the surfalicious sounds of Man, or Astroman?

The Collins Kids, "Razzle Dazzle"

2007-04-10T14:18:00.000-07:00

Larry & Lorrie Collins, on The Steve Allen Show, 1958

Sure the skit's a bit corny, but Larry Collins, at age 12, rocks harder than you on his double neck guitar whilst cuttin' a mean rug. Jealous, aren't ya?

Untamed Youth

2007-02-23T16:35:00.000-08:00

"Untamed Youth" filmed in 1957, starred Mamie Van Doren featuring this crazy dance scene. The kids are all in Juvenile Hall for being scandelous in their behavior: Crazy Swing Dancing! Can you handle it? I think that you can!

Hellzapoppin'!

2007-02-16T18:14:00.000-08:00

When I first saw this dance scene years ago, it blew my mind! Thanks to youtube, it's magically re-appeared. I can't believe that this 60 year old clip had not been more prominent in our culture. The predecessor to rock and roll, nobody holds a candle to this dance group!