Mike Wallace Online at the HRC

Before there was 60 Minutes, there was the The Mike Wallace Interview. Broadcast journalist Mike Wallace's interviews from the television program which ran for two seasons in 1957 and 1958, will be available online on the Web site for the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center at The University of Texas at Austin.

You can now watch interviews with Mid-Century luminaries such as Frank Lloyd Wright, Salvador Dali and Steve Allen. The only downside is you have to download their Media Player to few these. Still, I'm going to wear that thing out. I can almost smell the cigarette smoke now.

One Man's Trash

I've always contended that the Dallas-Fort Worth area is better for finding MCM furniture than most people on the coasts might think. However, sometimes that ain't always true.

Consider the Hans Olsen table and chairs above. When he lived in NYC, my friend J found a set like that left out on the street for the trashman. Something that cool would never be out by the side of the road around here. The Big Apple got us beat there.

3825 Glenwood Dr., FW, 76109 - $365k

This is a beautiful old ranch in the heart of Fort Worth's hoity-toity Tanglewood neighborhood that would be a great home for some MCM enthusiast, but given its location, I'm betting someone is just about to turn this into their Tuscan dream home. Another ranch home about to bite the dust? Probably. Enjoy it while it lasts.

I Love a Good Stool

And six of 'em ... even better! I have been on the hunt for the perfect stools for my breakfast bar at El Rancho Deluxe, and today the quest was complete.

It's hard to find two or three awesome MCM bar stools. Today, I found SIX. Here's the check. Thank you very much. Plenty of MCM goodness remains at the Anne Bourland estate sale on 4009 Hildring in the 76109 part of FW.

1744 Martel, Fort Worth, 76103 -$179k

I love this house. I mean, I LOVE THIS HOUSE. It's another beautiful Mid-Century Ranch on the much-maligned East Side of Fort Worth at 1744 Martel on Scenery Hill. This 1951 ranch is 3,200 sf (!) with a kitchen to die for -- metal cabinets, a Frigidaire Flair range (Appliance Porn alert!), and a semi-circular breakfast bench. If I were in the market, I would buy this house. However, the extreme downside is that you are probably looking at three gas wells in your backyard in the very near future. Not good. Still, I hope this baby finds the right buyer.

609 Candlewood, Fort Worth 76103 - $181k

East Fort Worth is much neglected and much maligned, but there are some awesome Mid-Century houses there. Take for instance 609 Candlewood. Very ranchy and modern. A spacious 2,700 sf. A killer view of downtown. $181,000. Unbelievable!

Unfortunately, a lot of people don't want to live on the East Side. Too bad. I hope that attitude changes and I hope this house find the owner it deserves.

Allan Melvin, R.I.P.

Allan Melvin, the veteran character actor best remembered as Alice's main squeeze Sam the Butcher on The Brady Bunch, went to the Big Casino a few weeks back. He was 84. For a remembrance of Melvin, check out this very thorough post on I'm Learning To Share.