Simanaitis Says
On cars, old, new and future; science & technology; vintage airplanes, computer flight simulation of them; Sherlockiana; our English language; travel; and other stuff
A POSTCARD STASH
IT IS A commentary on our times that I send few postcards these days. For one, I’m not traveling. Plus, texting and e-mail are so immediately satisfying. And I don’t need a stamp to send electronic communications.
But the appeal of postcards recently came back to me when I unearthed “Greetings from Ocho Loco Press,” a boxed collection of John Wischmann’s retro vintage art. (Truth is, I was actually searching for stashed-away boxes of Caswell-Massey and RogeR&Gallet bath soaps.)
Greetings from Ocho Loco Press (30-Postcard Box),
For those of you still into Facebook, (I’m not, but that’s another story), John Wischmann appears to be alive and well: “self-employed; Friends’ Central School, Class of 1982, Wynnewood; Rochester Institute of Technology/University of the Arts, Class of 1986; hometown of Philadelphia; resident of Syracuse, New York.”
His “Greetings from Ocho Loco Press” collection listed at Amazon also cites “Inspired by the calendars and posters displayed in diners, barbershops, and gas stations during the 1950s, this postcard box features retro-themed artwork of Ocho Loco Press. Once the postcards are gone, you can hang the silk-screened box lid as a decoration.”
According to Amazon, after moving to San Francisco in 1990, Wischmann began making screen-printed wooden posters for bands, local bars, and restaurants. Ocho Loco Press was founded in 1994.
I’m planning to accompany the box lid with a montage of my Wischmann favorites, several of which are shared here. Each postcard is printed on heavy-stock brownish paper, which some find unappealing, but others (including me) sense it enhances the postcards’ retro charm.
San Francisco’s Blue Plate restaurant still exists, so says its website, as “a neighborhood gem in the heart of the Mission District.” It’s at 3218 Mission Street, San Francisco.
This and the following illustrations are from Greetings from Ocho Loco Press.
Blue Plate’s cuisine is innovative comfort food. Having an enthusiasm for pappardelle pasta, I must try assembling its Egg Pappardelle: “yellow corn, spring garlic, artichoke, bloomsdale spinach, pecorino.”
In researching Jimmy Luxury, Club Deluxe, and MGs, I found a Club Deluxe, “reminiscent of an old-time New York City jazz house” that’s still very much in business.
Club Deluxe’s current list of performers doesn’t mention Jimmy Luxury, nor the Tommy Home Orchestra. I cannot identify the young legs… er lady, but I believe she’s in an MG TD or TF.
Lagunitas is still with us, and still brewing India Pale Ale among other refreshing beverages. This guy reminds me of the one who used to kick sand in the wimp’s face. This young lady reminds me of no one I ever knew.
Having never succumbed to getting a tattoo, I hadn’t any idea what this gizmo was until I read the company name. Cyclops Tattoo is still at 513 Valencia, though temporarily Covid-closed.
After all these alternative-lifestyle choices, I conclude today with a subdued example of Wischmann’s postcard art, perhaps resonating with David Freel
It was serendipitous coming upon “Greetings from Ocho Loco Press.” I located those bath soaps too. ds
© Dennis Simanaitis, SimanaitisSays.com, 2020
Simanaitis Says 
I guess by now you have realized the post card says Tommy Home orchestra, but you called it the Jimmy Home orchestra in your text.
Ah, so it does. Sorry for the misread. Easily fixed, with thanks to you.