Category Archive: Media Watch
Vulture Culture
Maple XO is hosting a fashion show this Friday night in response to Jeremy Scott’s recent ripoff, as well as design ripoffs in general. Is there a difference between plagiarism and appropriation? I hope so. Maple XO is no stranger to having some of their own work copied wholesale. This kind of event screams for some GVK coverage. See you there?
That’s what you get…
…for listening to Blink 182. Especially in 2012. As seen on Gigposters.com.
Jughead #126
Jughead got in on the skateboard craze too, possibly before Archie ever set foot on one. Issue 136 is dated November of 1965. In this illustration Jughead looks and dresses like a guy I went to college with in the 80’s. We called him Nest. (Hello Tom!)
Archie Laugh
July of 1967 and they are still trotting out skateboards for the cover gag on Archie comics. Archie looks a little like Greg Brady in this one, although I think Greg might have had better style. The Twist had it’s heyday in 1960, so it’s kind of funny that by 1967 it was already considered “old-fashioned” by girls in unhip comic books. Seriously. Who was the the audience for these? (Click through, you won’t be sorry.)
Big Boys on NPR
You won’t learn anything new about the Big Boys here, but it’s noteworthy that NPR picked up on the re-release of Industry Standard.
Archie Pals N Gals #36
I never got Archie, even as a kid it just seemed boring. This is Archie Pal-N-Gals #36 that dates back to April of 1966, a full year after skateboarding supposedly died a violent and sudden death in 1965. Coincidentally, I just read an interview with in the Skateboarders Journal with Patti McGee who mentioned the same thing, conventional wisdom reports the death of skateboarding in ’65, but Patti said she was still touring and making public appearances in 1966. So that’s the most interesting thing about Archie. It sort of corroborates Patti’s story. There’s no further skateboarding in this issue of Gals-N-Pals except for the cover. View it after the jump.
SB rideable advertising
MC found this Nike SB outdoor advert that was produced in Brazil circa 2006, so don’t go looking for these here and now. There’s not much information from the source because you have to (pay) subscribe to actually read the content. It’s called Mub Skateboard, from a firm called F/Nazca Saatchi & Saatchi. It looks like an appendage they add to existing structures to make them skate able, like a skate-prosthesis. I don’t remember I we talked about this earlier or not, but Nike had plans to tear down the artificial barrier they erected between SB and the rest of the company, and looks like they’ve been absorbed at last, the old url redirects to the corporate site. Very sterile. [Source: Advertolog]
WSJ on private bowls
The Wall Street Journal (online) has a short piece on private skate spots across the country. It focuses on the age of aspect, as most of these operations are helmed by a 30 and older crew. Minneapolis gets mentioned as having an unusually large concentration (Hiawatha, Blood Bowl) but at any given time I think Portland has more. Some of them are there for a while and gone, but I can think of four going right now. Also mentioned in the article are New Yorks defunct Autum Bowl, DOS bowl in Portland and the private vert ramp facility in Seattle (More on that in a little while.) A video clip shows a cool little tunnel under the Hiawatha ramp. Conor Dougherty is the author, and if I’m not mistaken I have corresponded with him before. I think I recall him saying that he likes to sneak in as much skateboard content as he can. Check out I Say, That’s One Gnarly Grind You Just Executed: Aging Skateboarders Join Exclusive Venues to Avoid Those Darn Kids in the WSJ. (I swear that’s a punchline in one of MC’s comics.) Colin was supposed on call for an interview, but they must not…
Pendelton Hipsters
Pendelton Woolen Mills has a pretty conservative approach steeped in their history and name. They’ve also got a somewhat secret operation going on to appeal to hipsters, with limited and semi-limited production runs ranging from t-shirts to higher fashion wear in their Portland Collection. They want to expand their market without alienating a loyal customer base. Then there’s this advertisement at Windells that features what they’re mainly known for, which is a wool semi plaid looking fabric. Bonfire’s connection? They must have used some Pendleton wool lining their snowboarding gear. So this is best of both worlds, young action sports enthusiasts and the 45 year old housewife together at last. Fire up the Cougar Life theme song. I may sound bitter, but I’m not. I’m just a little bit puzzled. A snowboard clothing company hooking up with an uptight fabric mill in the middle of an identity crisis. What better way to advertise than with a Skateboard? Actually, Bonfire has been throwing the Pipe to Pipe skateboard/snowboard contest for fifteen years now, so it does make sense after all. Unobstructed view after the jump. Update: Pendelton wool covered Vans, thanks to Ben.
Running a marathon on a treadmill
Running a marathon on a treadmill is in reference to skating in a skatepark that mimics real world spots. 99% Invisible is Roman Mars’ radio show about design, distributed on Public Radio. Episode 71, In and Out of LOVE features the familiar theme of skateboarders reinterpreting their environment for their own needs. It’s made with the help of skaters for the non-skating public, but just as your attention starts to wander they get down to focusing on Love Park. You know the story, but listening to a well produced audio version makes it fresh again. A big part of it is the random asides, including audio of the original architect, Edmund Bacon. Definitely worth checking out. You can watch video footage of Edmund’s act of civil disobedience after the jump, but do yourself a favor and listen to In and Out of LOVE first. [Photos: Mike Blabac] – MC is artsy











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