Friday, August 24, 2007

Motel Maverick - Pendleton


"In the heart of Roundup City."

Featured "instant infrared ceiling heat in deluxe bathrooms."

Telephones in all rooms.

Electric baseboard heat.

And one killer sign:


It's now a Traveler's Inn.

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

The Chalet - Chemult


The Chalet Restaurant in Chemult offered homemade pies, delicious baked Swiss steak and "Food...the way you like it." As opposed to food that you do not like.

Here's the joint these days:

And, it's for sale!

Monday, August 6, 2007

Oregon's 60s Punk Rawk Legacy



[Cross-posted on my other site, stumptownconfidential.com]


Sure, there's Paul Revere and the Raiders [the Hal Blaine-backed Columbia sessions are still some of my faves] and their Portland connection.

But, in the mid-60s, kids all over the country - the world- were practicing in their garages. Heavy on the fuzz and lots of attitude, many of these teens even cut 45s [ask your parents].

Mainly regional hits, from Portland to Salem to Astoria, these 45s might've received some local airplay then eventually disappeared into oblivion or worse, showed up decades later at some "record fair" populated by social misfits and shut-ins [yeah, like I should talk].

And, let's face it, most record collectors are more known for their Nazi-like attitudes and general lack of social skills - and don't like to share their finds.

Not so with blogger Garage Hangover.

They've meticulously searched wide and far for some great forgotten gems - and then have posted MP3s on their site.

Posts also include lengthy bios of garage bands from all over the map, and of course from Oregon.

Names like The Gentlemen Wild, The Chaen Reaction, The Weads (with Fred Cole of Dead Moon), and Beauregarde (featuring a very young Greg Sage later of the Wipers on guitar), you can't go wrong.

Friday, August 3, 2007

The Village Green


The Village Green in Cottage Grove offered "An Experience in the Art of Living."

Your ghostly date awaits, sir!