RETAIL MEMORIES! with Darrell James' photostream

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01-07-2012 Okay, there have been a lot of pervs trying to be friends, here on flickr. Don't know what prompts this, when my flickr site is not about perverted things.

From now on, I will not only not reciprocate the friendship, but will block you, and probably report you to flicker, if:

1) Your site has no photos available to me. I have 11,000 pics available to you--Can you offer nothing?
2) You have no photos at all, available to anyone. Not a single pic uploaded. That means you are a troller
3) There is no clear indication why you'd be interested in my stuff. This makes me not trust your motives.
4) Your site, even if not explicit, has no profile or a very vague profile. What are you hiding?
5) Your site, even if not explicit, has some unsavory characters among your friends. You should be mindful of the company you keep.
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ALL RIGHTS RESERVED--Intellectual Property of Darrell L James.

These 11,000 photos represent 40,000 hours of work, both in the taking of the pictures, and in the editing/organizing. You are free to back-link to any photo, even to download and save it. But if you crop out my name and credit, you have crossed a line. If you post it as the work of your hands, and/or make money with my work, you will be taken to court, and I will be the one still standing. Try me.

ABOUT ME:
First, I am not a photographer, just a historian. This is not swordfish and a glass of wine. This is "weenies and beans, wipe mouth on sleeve."

Proper photographers' work is available on Flickr, but if you've sat down at this little buffet for that, you'd better just save us both a lot of pain, enjoy an appetizer, be generous to your server, and split. Yes, I am trying to take better pics as I go, but the subject matter here is never going to be "Foo-Foo." I am a historian.

Being very observant as a child, in my native Colorado Springs, I noticed all the commercial archtecture and unique signage of the era known to some as "Googie" or "Coffee Shop" architecture.

I loved the soaring, modern lines, and wanted to be an architect. I drew commercial structures from about 2nd Grade through 6th Grade.

Colorado Springs definitely had a California influence, more than an east coast influence, not surprisingly.

At the same time, certain east coast architectual features, which made their way to Kansas City, are more difficult to spot when I visit "The Springs."

I look at the buildings in Kansas City, where I've been since 1981, and see the builidngs are, in some cases, of a more sedate style, whereas those in Colorado were more soaring, more like California, where so many of the companies began.

Take Sambo's, for example. (I know, I know--the most scandalized company in the last 50 years, but architecturally, worthy of study.) Only in pictures have I seen the over-the-top exterior look of Sambo's, as found on the west coast. In real life, I have seen only conservative buildings for the same company.

I did not become an architect, but I still like to document commercial architecture, over time. The ease with which you will recognize these buildings, will demonstrate how the appearance of these buildings is just as important as the advertising for which the companies pay so dearly.

Anyway, enjoy the browse. Retail affects us all, and you may be surprised at the memories and emotions the pics trigger. Based on Flickr, I'm not the only one who appreciates those nostalgic styles.
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