free-archie

Free Archie!

Last Saturday was Free Comic Book Day, which is always a good excuse to go to a comic book store, even if you aren’t a regular reader. Last year there was an issue that had some skateboarding in it, but it looked like this year was going to be a bust. Archie comics have a […]

Skateboarding in popular mechanics 1965

Popular Mechanics Skateboard Acrobatics

The July, 1965 issue of Popular Mechanics features a five page spread on skateboarding. I had sort of assumed that in 1965, skateboarding was still an “all-American” sport, looked at by the general public as an amusing or cute attempt to imitate surfing. It was surprising to learn that a “prominent psychologist” said that “the […]

Teenage Hotrodders

Teenage Hotrodder

“Just for Kids” is a skateboarding storyline in Teenage Hotrodders, Volume 1, #14, published September of 1965. All the drag racers, sprint car drivers and motor sports enthusiasts have cool helmets that look appropriate for the era, or an A-Ha music video. There’s plenty of talk of “Nationals” and championship qualifiers. it seems to be […]

sfgate

Four decades from the morgue in SF

SFGate has posted some pictures in a feature called Four decades of skateboarding in San Francisco. It’s part of their Let’s Go to the Morgue! series where they dig up old photographs from the San Francisco Chronicle. Better versions of the picture, along with a little commentary are on the SFGate blog. The earliest photo […]

sotw-nuremberg

SOTW 12-2-13: Downhill to Vietnam

Although it may look like Kentucky, Ken Henning, took these pictures at the zoo (Tiergarten) in Nuremberg, Germany in 1968. Pictured are American GIs from California enjoying a downhill session. Ken says this was the first time he ever saw anyone on a skateboard. The guys in these photos eventually shipped out to Vietnam, and […]

eddie-munster1

Eddie Munster on a skateboard

It’s October, and Halloween approaches! Here’s Eddie Munster on a skateboard, in model form. I haven’t been able to find any information about this set. The seller claims it was built and professionally assembled and painted by an “award winning make up artist and painter.” There’s no information about the manufacturer or date, or whether […]

devils-toy

Devil’s Toy

This 1966 film is available for viewing online, legally at the National Film Board of Canada. Actually, they are showing the 1969 version, which is the English language version instead of the original French version. You can even buy a DVD copy if you want. If you haven’t seen it, you should definitely watch this […]

decal

Water decals from Socal Speed Shop

Some examples of water-release decals from the 60’s during the crossover of the hot-rod skateboarding fads. For sale now by Socal Speed Shop. I threw the weird surfer dude in there to make the cover image 4 panels. Something about those old head culture illustrators, they loved drawing normal guys whose eyes were bugging out […]

jantzen

Sportswear for sportsmen

This is an advertisement for Jantzen swimwear published int the June, 1966 issue of the Life Magazine. It gives Further credence to the idea that skateboarding was not dead by the end of 1965. Granted, the submission deadline could have been a couple months in advance. Also of note, this advert features 3 future Hall […]