Obscurity and Decay

Listening, as usual, to our favorite medium of choice, AM radio, has inspired yet another posting. Not only did I hear one of my all-time top pieces of AM pop on there the other day, “Indiana Wants Me” by Motown producer turned incredible singer-songwriter R. Dean Taylor on WJJL AM 1440 (which I understand has two different single mixes – the standard one with the police sirens in the background ambiance, and a special one for California radio stations which were forbidden from playing the siren sounds over their airwaves as they may trick drivers listening to the radio to mistake them for real, which did not have them),

Indiana Wants Me

I also heard on WBEN AM 930, my favotite talk station,  that some of the Democrats from Wisconsin fled the state to hide out in Indiana, and now, on top of that, all kinds of trouble (not the pop-o-matic dice kind, either, which is, by the way lots of fun!) is (like Richard Pryor’s fine 1981 cinematic offering of the same title) Bustin’ Loose! While we were in Indiana ourselves, this lovely state which brought us the Jackson 5ive (and it should be spelled “5ive” not “Five”, because spelling it “Five” is JIVE!) offered some the visual loveliness that we so love at O & D. Perhaps the runaway legislators stayed, as we would choose, given the chocie, at the lovely Dollar Inn. Heck, they have HBO (and we hope it doesn’t stand for the punchline to a childhood joke “Horrible Body Odor”!)

Dollar Inn

After some golden slumbers (as sung about by Sir Paul McCartney on “Abbey Road”) there, it is time to get up and forage for sustenance. So many options as you “ease on down the road”. Let’s see – there’s this great place with a gigantic hot dog caricature painted on it…

Andy's on 20

How about this charming mid-Century burger stand now known as Shrimp-A-Licious?

Shrimp A Licious looks so delicious!

No! Hold everything! How can we help but be lured by the allure of  The Lure?

The Lure

If the fine building doesn’t snare you, how about the incredible sign in cheery retro orange, and that great lantern in the center as a beckoning beacon to what greatness hides inside?

Big orange Lure sign

Beckoning Beacon

Need some more convincing? Well then, this awesome ARROW should point the way!

The Lure Arrow

The arrow definitely did the trick. Who could resist its subtle urging forth? Not I! Well, then, let’s go inside. The interor did not disappoint either! There were these groovy mechanical fans in the ceiling to cool you off in style…

How about the continuation of the old school orange and brown-centric color styling inside? Check out the menus!

Sandwich sign

Breakfast anyone?

We ordered! And the food was amazing! The best burger and fries this side of 1975 at Henry’s Hamburgers!

Taste-tempting trayful

And the seating arrangements were simply superb! Fluffy, puffy booths added to an overall enjoyable experience for all of the senses! Laid out in an interesting geometric fashion.

Comfy seating arrangements

Booth detail

“Indiana Wants Me”? Well, we want more of the beautiful classic style Indiana has to offer! No wonder those Wisconsin legislators chose this charming state as one of their destinations for hanging out recently!

Indiana Wants Him

With the Deee-lightful city of Madison, Wisconsin being in the news (it’s all we have been hearing about lately on our favorite media medium, the AM Radio, all week long), we thought it only proper to treat you, the visitor, to one of the most charming things in that great locale – the Octopus Car Wash! Complete with a gigantic mobile green octopus spinning around on a pole. Actually, it was the OTHER one on the roof that first caught our attention from the high-way.

Octopus Car Wash as seen from highway

We were pleasantly surprised by its big brother up front in that lovely mid-Century boomerang!

Octopus Car Wash boomerang sign

Its tentacles include squeegee, bucket, brush, rag – well, there MUST be 8 things there right?

Octopus Car Wash customer entrance

You can best believe that I became a customer with such tasteful signage! The crest of golden waves a wonderful compliment to our green octopi friends. I wonder if this is what Ringo had in mind when the Beatles recorded “Octopus’s Garden” ? I hope it was.

Liquor Party sign

Republican Party? Democrat Party? What about the Liquor Party as referred to by this other awesome mid-Century beauty complete with patriotic light- up Starr?

Three Keys sign

And what about the Key Party? You know to which I refer – those swinging parties of the 70’s! Signs like this truly have the key to my heart!