the mehallo blog. beta.

Another Metropolis remix (above).

The complete, newly restored Metropolis (1927) will be showing locally at the Crest Theatre in Sacramento, September 11 and 12, 2010.

Found via Alex R. Trujillo

Tags: cool finds, design history, music by steve
1 comment  . . .   

Queen’s Radio Gaga. From 1984.

The video features public domain footage from Fritz Lang’s Metropolis (1927).

Metropolis’ New Tower of Babel; click for larger version/jump

Also in 1984, producer Giorgio Moroder updated Metropolis with a rock score – controversial for some purists. Queen’s Freddy Mercury contributed Love Kills to the soundtrack (video below); though unrelated to the Gaga single.

So far, Moroder’s new wave-esque version (due to music licensing) hasn’t been officially released on DVD. But in comparison to the original (which got a complete restoration just this year), Moroder’s music, color tints and enhanced sound fx result in a totally different, very 1980s film experience.

Tags: design history, music by steve
no comments  . . .   

A few months back, Claudia Chandler Brocato of the Chandler Family Association contacted me about Chandler 42 – my 1994 contribution to the ‘messy typewriter’ font genre.

And they ended up giving me a really nice write up in their quarterly newsletter. Just click the above image to read/download a one page PDF.

Tags: design, design history, fonts, mehallo merchandise, typography by steve
no comments  . . .   

Some of the ampersand options available in my Jeanne Moderno fonts.

Tags: fonts, illustration, mehallo merchandise, typography by steve
1 comment  . . .   

‘Vintage Ads Reveal Fashions And Trends In Type And Commercial Lettering’

Check out Vintage Ad Browser.

And
Great article about how to typographically mimic these looks at The Font Feed.

Found via The Font Feed

Tags: cool finds, design history, fonts, thoughts, typography by steve
no comments  . . .   

Made with Radium. Increases pleasure. From 1928.

More radioactive products here. And a few here.

Tags: design history, education, flom by steve
no comments  . . .   

Roxy, c.1930

I finally made it over to the Depero 50 exhibit at the Italian Cultural Institute in San Francisco. Discovered many of Fortunato Depero’s originals were an interesting mix of ink washes. Above is his view of NYC from 1930. When he finally visited the overgrown metropolis, it wasn’t the Futurist utopia he’d imagined. Also below, the number composition is a sketch for a series of Futurist pillows.

A great exhibition catalog can be had for only 20 bucks – and thanks to the docents for all their help. Show details.

Exhibition ends December 4, 2009.

Composizioni Numeriche, 1927

Campari, 1933

Italia – Guerra, 1916

Plus
Here’s more Depero over at designboom.

Tags: cool finds, design, design history, education, exhibitions by steve
1 comment  . . .   

Found via Leslie Cabarga

Tags: cool finds, design, design history by steve
no comments  . . .   

Art Deco-styled locker numbers. Shot these while on a break from Friday Night Typography.

Tags: design, photography, typography by steve
2 comments  . . .   

A prototype Killinger und Freund motorcycle, built 1935 in Munich, Germany. Info here. Even more info here.

Found via Craig Maclaine

Tags: cool finds, design history by steve
no comments  . . .   

Giacomo Balla (1871-1958) was one of the original Futurists. Above is his 1916 design for a Futurist handbag. And in 1986, Italian accessories manufacturer Borbonese actually interpreted/built the purse out of seude and bakelite (below).

Both will be on display as part of the exhibition Futurismi Futuristi, which opens December 15th, 2009 in Turin, Italy. Details (translated) here.

Found via ItalianFuturism.org; purse images via sfilate.it

Tags: cool finds, design, design history, fashion by steve
no comments  . . .   

A collection of historical bits and ends  . . . .

F.T. Marinetti’s Futurist Manifesto as film, by D. Christie
‘An animated/live action interpretation of F.T. Marinetti’s 1909 Futurist Manifesto. Inspired by the artwork and design of Norman Bel Geddes and Raymond Loewy.’ [Read more →]

Tags: originally posted on my myspace blog by steve
no comments  . . .