The Billykirk offices are in a converted warehouse on Bay Street in Jersey City, NJ. The space is filled with all sorts of old industrial equipment (that actually gets used in making their products) and tons of Billykirk gear that is either on its way to the Amish folks that make the goods or to some of America’s best stores. Another thing you will notice in the office is all of the great looking artwork that Kirk Bray creates in his free time. If you go by the studio on a normal workday (much like I did yesterday), the brothers Chris and Kirk Bray will kindly welcome you and then proceed to talk your ear off. It is a good thing though, always interesting and inspiring and they will never let you leave empty handed. With its new video series The Scout shares some of the magic that makes the Billykirk guys great artisans and equally great people. The video is an enjoyable watch and it sets a high standard. Congrats to the Billykirk fellas and also to Tom Ran and the folks behind The Scout. Well played indeed.

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A dose of nostalgia and workwear for your weekend. This 1950s film about the development of the U.S. railroad system is a great looking little piece of history. “America is the living symbol of the miracle of modern production.” Well said Mr. Industrial Propaganda Film announcer. Check out those brand new Caterpillar dozers at the 2:03 mark, the plaid work shirt at 6:19 and all of those factory scenes. Great stuff.

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When GM announced the closing of the Moraine, Ohio assembly plant in June of 2008, Dayton area filmmakers Julia Reichert and Steven Bognar set to work on a documentary about the impact of GM’s decision and the effect on the factory workers and the local community. The resulting film The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant — which aired on HBO earlier in the month — is a moving look at a group of hard working Americans. The Last Truck focuses on the people that worked at Moraine Assembly and does a good job of getting beyond blue collar Midwestern stereotypes. As the Dayton Daily News points out, the Dayton area has a automotive manufacturing history that dates back to World War I when native Charles Kettering invented the electrical ignition.

Update: Get it while the gettin’ is good — HBO took the videos off of YouTube. Look out for the film on DVD soon.

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If you haven’t been to the site, the guys at Speedhunters make some pretty kick ass videos. The FIA GT shorts selected and placed below are particularly fantastic. I love the lower tier GT3 series because every car has to be street legal and they race on road type courses. I’m not a huge NASCAR  fan because the races — with a few exceptions — are a four hour history of the left turn. I do like to watch (and did like to attend; RIP USGP) Formula 1 races, but the seemingly limitless money  / technology arms race is a little too America’s Cup for my liking; plus you are lucky if you see one pass all season. Speaking of America’s Cup, have you seen the BMW Oracle trimaran monstrosity? Good God man.

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ACL’s favorite band U.S. Royalty teamed up with some downtown New York director kid named Jake Davis (never heard of him), on one helluva cool video for the group’s anthem (”banger” as my buddy Jeff likes to say) “Every Summer.” In true Jake Davis form, the video captures the raw energy of one of U.S. Royalty’s live performances. The fellas were kind enough to send over the sneak peek, first look, advance link whatever you want to call it. I’ve said it before and I will say it again, I love it when good things come together. If you don’t own the record and haven’t seen these guys live you are missing out. Link: U.S. Royalty

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In 1937 General Motors hired the Jam Handy Organization (maker of corporate sales films) to produce a “documentary” about the U.S. auto industry in response to the decisive  victory by the UAW in the Flint Sit-Down Strike. The result titled From Dawn to Sunset, attempts to establish the American worker as an individual from a purely consumerist and material view. The film presents a propaganda like view of Capitalism and American consumption in the days leading up to WWII.

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Bourdain’s No Reservations: Disappearing Manhattan was broadcast a while back, but it is still worth a watch if you haven’t seen it. Fuck, it’s worth a watch even if you have seen it ten times. Eisenberg’s, Manganaro Foods, Keens, Le Veau d’Or (which I leaned about when The Trad took me for lunch), this show is like my NYC gastro-playbook. Watch it, love it, live it.

Part 1/5: “Keens is meat and liquor, plain and simple.” -Anthony Bourdain

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Who couldn’t use an escape to Nantucket for a week or five right about now? I know I sure can. My pal Stephen sent me a link to the below video of Nantucket c.1950 about a year ago and I remember thinking how terrific the clips are and that they would be interesting fodder for this space. The YouTube user Lipwak (who could have America’s WASPiest collection of YouTube videos) has posted a few dozen home movies from his grandparents collection, everything from Bermuda to West Point. Some of my favorites are below.

Nantucket 1950

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Some very gratuitous videos of Land Rover Defenders in action. The company has been advertising the fact that 75% of its vehicles ever sold are still on the road. Now that is something I can get behind, the concept of design with no obsolescence. (I think I might have just coined a new ACL strapline.) If you think about it, the concept also applies to clothing made on Savile Row. The suits are passed down to sons and coveted by vintage buyers. I can see the adverts now, 78% of our suits are still in closets today.

Anyway enjoy the Defender out in the wild, in all of her glory.

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The Band has been on heavy rotation as of late. Two of my good friends (Mark and Ben) have been listening to them a lot too. In fact, Ben blogged about the Canadian / American group not too long ago. In ‘76 the folk rock ensemble assembled an all star line-up for what was meant to be their final performance together. The concert would become an epic 1978 rockumentary — directed by this guy Martin Scorsese — called The Last Waltz. Some of my favorite performances are below.

The Band — The Weight

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My pal Mark and I spent the early part of the week on a top secret mission in Maine. Since we were driving through Portland, we took the opportunity to meet up with my buddy Jay Carroll from Rogues Gallery. Stories were told, oysters were eaten and beers were downed. The promo for our upcoming reality show is below. Be cautioned, watching this will add nothing to your life. More from the trip soon…

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Celebration at Big Sur is an amazing documentary from the 1969 Big Sur Folk Festival. Nestled on the edge of the Pacific ocean, the festival saw performances by Joan Baez, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Joni Mitchell and many others. If you take the time and watch closely, there is some amazing style in the film. Enjoy!

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