14 dream homes of the 60's to decorate!
http://retrorenovation.com/2015/08/...es-us-inside-and-behind-the-scenes-33-photos/
http://retrorenovation.com/2015/08/...es-us-inside-and-behind-the-scenes-33-photos/
Retro Renovation talks to the set decorator of ABC's 'The Astronaut Wives Club'
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Thanks, Jerry.
thanks for posting the great pictures, Jerry! By the way, for those of you who haven't watched it, this is a good series. It brings back a lot of memories for me as I grew up in the sixties in a house with similar furnishings and appliances. The set decorator did his homework well.
thanks for posting the great pictures, Jerry! By the way, for those of you who haven't watched it, this is a good series. It brings back a lot of memories for me as I grew up in the sixties in a house with similar furnishings and appliances. The set decorator did his homework well.
whirlcool
Well-known member
But the homes used in the show are somewhat more downscale than what the actual astronauts really had.
I went to college with a guy whose father worked at NASA. At the time he was the head of the Skylab program. They lived in a place called Taylor Lake Village. It's just down the road from NASA. A lot of astronauts lived there too. The homes in this area are definitely not what I would call the tract house homes that are shown in the TV show. No two homes look alike in this subdivision. In fact my friends family home looked a lot like Beaver Cleaver's house. These are not expensive homes, but they are a step above what is shown in the show. Other astronauts lived in varying subdivisions around the area in what is known as the Clear Lake area. In some areas you can see some tract homes, but not many. The furnishings that people had in their homes were more upscale as well. Strngely enough, since the astronauts mostly were still employed by the branches of the armed force in which they belonged they were paid by that armed force. They were just contracted to NASA. So salaries were not that high. I would say in 1974 an astronaut may have made $45,000 per year. A good living, but not rich. They got their money from personal appearances and speaking engagements.
Anyway if you drive around the Clear Lake area you can still find some places with "Space Age" 1960's architechture. I think in the 60's with the space programs in operation the place would have been a thrill to live in.
One time around 1973 I was visiting my friends family with my friend on a long weekend from college. I got to meet a few of the astronauts themselves. Big thril for me. Anyway my friends father gave me a real behind the scenes tour of NASA.
I remember standing in front of a real Mercury space capsule and he asked me if I have any questions about it. At the time I wasn't up on space capsules and didn't know enough about it to ask any good questions!
A few years ago my friends father passed on. He had a huge obit in the newspaper.
When I met him he was quite modest about what he did at NASA. But when I read his obit I was really shocked! Turns out the guy was
One of the original 24 scientists hand picked by Eisenhower to start NASA
One of the primary designers of the Mercury Space Capsule
Was the head of the Skylab program and had participated in most other missions and projects that NASA was involved in 1960's-1970's.
And here I had no idea what he did at NASA. When you asked him he'd just say "I just work here!" The guy was a walking legend at NASA. [this post was last edited: 8/21/2015-18:29]
I went to college with a guy whose father worked at NASA. At the time he was the head of the Skylab program. They lived in a place called Taylor Lake Village. It's just down the road from NASA. A lot of astronauts lived there too. The homes in this area are definitely not what I would call the tract house homes that are shown in the TV show. No two homes look alike in this subdivision. In fact my friends family home looked a lot like Beaver Cleaver's house. These are not expensive homes, but they are a step above what is shown in the show. Other astronauts lived in varying subdivisions around the area in what is known as the Clear Lake area. In some areas you can see some tract homes, but not many. The furnishings that people had in their homes were more upscale as well. Strngely enough, since the astronauts mostly were still employed by the branches of the armed force in which they belonged they were paid by that armed force. They were just contracted to NASA. So salaries were not that high. I would say in 1974 an astronaut may have made $45,000 per year. A good living, but not rich. They got their money from personal appearances and speaking engagements.
Anyway if you drive around the Clear Lake area you can still find some places with "Space Age" 1960's architechture. I think in the 60's with the space programs in operation the place would have been a thrill to live in.
One time around 1973 I was visiting my friends family with my friend on a long weekend from college. I got to meet a few of the astronauts themselves. Big thril for me. Anyway my friends father gave me a real behind the scenes tour of NASA.
I remember standing in front of a real Mercury space capsule and he asked me if I have any questions about it. At the time I wasn't up on space capsules and didn't know enough about it to ask any good questions!
A few years ago my friends father passed on. He had a huge obit in the newspaper.
When I met him he was quite modest about what he did at NASA. But when I read his obit I was really shocked! Turns out the guy was
One of the original 24 scientists hand picked by Eisenhower to start NASA
One of the primary designers of the Mercury Space Capsule
Was the head of the Skylab program and had participated in most other missions and projects that NASA was involved in 1960's-1970's.
And here I had no idea what he did at NASA. When you asked him he'd just say "I just work here!" The guy was a walking legend at NASA. [this post was last edited: 8/21/2015-18:29]
cool story!
Wow, that is a cool story about your friend's dad! What a privilege to talk to him, and to meet astronauts as well. I am quite jealous, Allen. I would LOVE to have talked with some of the original brains of the space program. What was the scientist's name? It wasn't Max Faget was it?
Wow, that is a cool story about your friend's dad! What a privilege to talk to him, and to meet astronauts as well. I am quite jealous, Allen. I would LOVE to have talked with some of the original brains of the space program. What was the scientist's name? It wasn't Max Faget was it?
whirlcool
Well-known member
No, my buddy's father name was Dr. Jerry Hammack. That was the most shocking thing for me was not knowing what he really did at NASA when I was staying with them back in the 70's. If I had only known, the questions I would have had! The only clue I had was that on the tour he took me on we went to a lot of places at NASA that the general public does not get to go. Like on the actual floor of Misson Control (no mission in progress at the time). At the time the Johnson Space Center was a very busy place to be! The parking lots were always full, etc. It looks like a ghost town now except for the Visitor Center by the front of the park. From what I understand now that's run by Disney.
Another thing I do remember is all the NASA buildings had a particular odor to them. It was the same in each building. It was like a cross of hot electronics and sweat.
Another thing I do remember is all the NASA buildings had a particular odor to them. It was the same in each building. It was like a cross of hot electronics and sweat.
philr
Well-known member
I follow his photostream on Flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/changoblanco/
He also posted the last pictures in the Frigidaire appliance group I administer:
[this post was last edited: 8/21/2015-19:01]
http://www.flickr.com/groups/1704348@N21/pool/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/changoblanco/
He also posted the last pictures in the Frigidaire appliance group I administer:
[this post was last edited: 8/21/2015-19:01]
http://www.flickr.com/groups/1704348@N21/pool/
The appliance next to the fridge looks pretty good too!
more jealousy and great pictures
Great pictures, Phil. Thanks!
Now I am even more jealous, Allen. Getting to go behind the scenes and staying with a NASA scientist. I think your nose hit the mark..hot electronics and sweat. A lot of men were locked down in those control rooms sweating out the space missions, literally.
I was at Cape Canaveral and it was the same there, empty control rooms. They had a simulation set up in the old Apollo 11 control room so you could see what it looked like to the launch controllers back in the day. I don't recall the sweat and electronics odor, but the control room is now a visitor display and all the visitors body odor probably covered up the original testosterone sweat of the flight controllers.
Always wanted to live in Cocoa Beach as it was the original home of the Mercury astronauts before the space center at Houston was built.
A couple of great books you might want to read, Allen. "Failure is Not an Option" by Gene Krantz. He was the main flight controller for Apollo 11 and many of the Gemini and other Apollo missions.
and "Flight, My Life in Mission Control" by Chris Kraft, who was Gene Krantz's boss.
Both deal extensively with the space program and the early research as well as the construction and use of mission control in Houston. They cover Apollo 11 and Apollo 13 as well as the other missions and give you a behind the scenes feel you don't get in other books. It's been a while since I have read them, so I don't remember but they may very well mention your friends dad in there.
There were a lot of negatives in those days, but some of the positives were outstanding: Space travel, astronaut heroes, and killer home appliances to name a few!!
Great pictures, Phil. Thanks!
Now I am even more jealous, Allen. Getting to go behind the scenes and staying with a NASA scientist. I think your nose hit the mark..hot electronics and sweat. A lot of men were locked down in those control rooms sweating out the space missions, literally.
I was at Cape Canaveral and it was the same there, empty control rooms. They had a simulation set up in the old Apollo 11 control room so you could see what it looked like to the launch controllers back in the day. I don't recall the sweat and electronics odor, but the control room is now a visitor display and all the visitors body odor probably covered up the original testosterone sweat of the flight controllers.
Always wanted to live in Cocoa Beach as it was the original home of the Mercury astronauts before the space center at Houston was built.
A couple of great books you might want to read, Allen. "Failure is Not an Option" by Gene Krantz. He was the main flight controller for Apollo 11 and many of the Gemini and other Apollo missions.
and "Flight, My Life in Mission Control" by Chris Kraft, who was Gene Krantz's boss.
Both deal extensively with the space program and the early research as well as the construction and use of mission control in Houston. They cover Apollo 11 and Apollo 13 as well as the other missions and give you a behind the scenes feel you don't get in other books. It's been a while since I have read them, so I don't remember but they may very well mention your friends dad in there.
There were a lot of negatives in those days, but some of the positives were outstanding: Space travel, astronaut heroes, and killer home appliances to name a few!!
whirlcool
Well-known member
The odor I'm talking about was everywhere. In the halls, in the conference rooms, in the museum that they had before the current visitors center was built. It was the same in all the NASA buildings. Maybe it was some kind of HEPA filtration that gave the place the particular odor it had?
I'll keep an eye open for those books. They sound like and interesting read.
I'll keep an eye open for those books. They sound like and interesting read.
whirlcool
Well-known member
Barry,
I sent you an e-mail. Did you get it? I was going to send you a PM buy I didn't see your name on the PM list.
I sent you an e-mail. Did you get it? I was going to send you a PM buy I didn't see your name on the PM list.
whirlcool
Well-known member
To drift back to the original subject
Most of the astronauts and NASA scientists and support workers lived in a subdivision just down NASA Road 1 called Timber Cove. Today it's part of the city of Taylor Lake Village.
Now this is pretty low lying land between Clear Lake and Galveston Bay. I wouldn't want to live there during a hurricane, but the houses seem to make it just fine.
What did the homes look like? Here are some links..
http://swamplot.com/tag/timber-cove/
http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/bay_...cle_3d764dde-8adb-5fdd-9409-5987ce6adb9b.html
http://www.houstonpress.com/news/houston-101-neighborhood-of-astronauts-6721772
Timber Cove used to be set back off the road about half a mile back then. It was surrounded by fields and Taylor Lake. Now all that land is built up right to the street you take to gain entry into the subdivision. But unless you know exactly where to go, you'd never find it. Even though NASA is a ghost town these days, some NASA people still do live there.
http://www.chron.com/life/gray/arti...ales-in-moonwalkers-3584029.php#photo-2980685
Most of the astronauts and NASA scientists and support workers lived in a subdivision just down NASA Road 1 called Timber Cove. Today it's part of the city of Taylor Lake Village.
Now this is pretty low lying land between Clear Lake and Galveston Bay. I wouldn't want to live there during a hurricane, but the houses seem to make it just fine.
What did the homes look like? Here are some links..
http://swamplot.com/tag/timber-cove/
http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/bay_...cle_3d764dde-8adb-5fdd-9409-5987ce6adb9b.html
http://www.houstonpress.com/news/houston-101-neighborhood-of-astronauts-6721772
Timber Cove used to be set back off the road about half a mile back then. It was surrounded by fields and Taylor Lake. Now all that land is built up right to the street you take to gain entry into the subdivision. But unless you know exactly where to go, you'd never find it. Even though NASA is a ghost town these days, some NASA people still do live there.
http://www.chron.com/life/gray/arti...ales-in-moonwalkers-3584029.php#photo-2980685
whirlcool
Well-known member
Another thing that gets me about Astronaut Wives is that why are all the astronauts in the show so small statured? You can see what I mean in the picture at the top of this thread. They are barely bigger than their wives. The real astronauts were normal sized men.
And in browsing through some of the photos, a lot of you probably noticed that a lot of the houses do not have any front windows. This was done intentionally so that news crews couldn't invade the privacy of the families living there. In fact, if you look through Houston that design theme carried on through homes all through the city.
And in browsing through some of the photos, a lot of you probably noticed that a lot of the houses do not have any front windows. This was done intentionally so that news crews couldn't invade the privacy of the families living there. In fact, if you look through Houston that design theme carried on through homes all through the city.
philr
Well-known member
Allen, that turquoise refrigerator in the first picture is exactly 5'4" tall, so maybe it's the wife who's rather tall!
(That's what I thought when I first saw that picture!)
(That's what I thought when I first saw that picture!)
whirlcool
Well-known member
And finally a nice story about how the Timber Cove subdivision came to be and how it relates to NASA and it's Astronauts and employees.
http://https//houstonhistorymagazin...ads/2014/03/a-home-for-heroes-timber-cove.pdf
http://https//houstonhistorymagazin...ads/2014/03/a-home-for-heroes-timber-cove.pdf
whirlcool
Well-known member
FInal Footnote
After researching this information about these astronaut homes and subdivision, it brought back a lot of memories of the time I had spent there in the 70's. That friend of mine bought a house in the same subdivision even though he never worked for NASA. But like me, he was a pilot for a major airline until retirement last year.
Remember now that a lot of the astronauts were former career military guys. Working for NASA and getting to the moon was their mission. The whole vibe of Timber Cove was like being on a military base. If you read the last link about the subdivision you'll see what I mean. Essentially, due to the fact that in the 60's it was largely a rural area it became somewhat of a closed community. The residents had each other and that was about it. Because of this nothing strange or weird every happened in the place. It was the ultimate "What will the neighbors say?!!" type of place. Everyone had their eye on everyone else. Whether or not this kind of environment makes somebody comfortable or not is up to the individual person.
Since time has marched on some of the original NASA people from the Mercury/Gemini mission days still live there. But only a few. They are all in their late 80's early 90's. Newer NASA employees live there, but most of them work for NASA contractors rather than NASA itself. What it is like living in there today may b vastly different than it was back in the 70's.
Isn't it kind of hard to remember the "Astronauts Wives Club" as being women in their late 80's, if they are even still around at all? [this post was last edited: 8/26/2015-04:46]
After researching this information about these astronaut homes and subdivision, it brought back a lot of memories of the time I had spent there in the 70's. That friend of mine bought a house in the same subdivision even though he never worked for NASA. But like me, he was a pilot for a major airline until retirement last year.
Remember now that a lot of the astronauts were former career military guys. Working for NASA and getting to the moon was their mission. The whole vibe of Timber Cove was like being on a military base. If you read the last link about the subdivision you'll see what I mean. Essentially, due to the fact that in the 60's it was largely a rural area it became somewhat of a closed community. The residents had each other and that was about it. Because of this nothing strange or weird every happened in the place. It was the ultimate "What will the neighbors say?!!" type of place. Everyone had their eye on everyone else. Whether or not this kind of environment makes somebody comfortable or not is up to the individual person.
Since time has marched on some of the original NASA people from the Mercury/Gemini mission days still live there. But only a few. They are all in their late 80's early 90's. Newer NASA employees live there, but most of them work for NASA contractors rather than NASA itself. What it is like living in there today may b vastly different than it was back in the 70's.
Isn't it kind of hard to remember the "Astronauts Wives Club" as being women in their late 80's, if they are even still around at all? [this post was last edited: 8/26/2015-04:46]
Thanks, Allen!
Very interesting article and Timber Cove. I think it would be a cool place to live, even today. Just the history of it and the fact that some of the old-timers are still there. I wonder if some of the flight controllers like Kraft and Krantz are still there? What stories!
Here in Oak Ridge, the city was built to make the first atomic bomb. Like in Houston/Timber Grove, there are few of the original engineers and workers left. Those that are in their mid and late nineties. But have known and talked to some of them and their mind is just as sharp as a tack. So sad all those experiences that they have will soon be gone both of the originals in Oak Ridge and in Houston.
You have given me a new place that I want to visit now, Houston! Would love to see Timber Grove and the Space Center!!!!
Thanks again for sharing the memories, Allen.
Very interesting article and Timber Cove. I think it would be a cool place to live, even today. Just the history of it and the fact that some of the old-timers are still there. I wonder if some of the flight controllers like Kraft and Krantz are still there? What stories!
Here in Oak Ridge, the city was built to make the first atomic bomb. Like in Houston/Timber Grove, there are few of the original engineers and workers left. Those that are in their mid and late nineties. But have known and talked to some of them and their mind is just as sharp as a tack. So sad all those experiences that they have will soon be gone both of the originals in Oak Ridge and in Houston.
You have given me a new place that I want to visit now, Houston! Would love to see Timber Grove and the Space Center!!!!
Thanks again for sharing the memories, Allen.
Greg Johnson Astronaut
I normally don't mention this as it gives away my age, ha. But one of my former students, Greg Johnson is (actually "was" as he is now retired) a NASA astronaut and piloted the final mission of the Space Shuttle Endeavor in 2011.
I had Greg when I taught at Park Hills High School in Fairborn, Ohio before getting my graduate degree and going to the University. I had Greg in the 1979/1980 year if I recall correctly and had him for two classes a day, Physics and Chemistry. Very bright, but also a class clown much of the time. I would put him in the top ten, I.Q.- wise of all the students I had in public school or Wright State. .
Don't know if he lived in Timber Grove or not. I should email him one day and ask him.
Even more importantly, I don't think all of you know Allen's credentials, education-wise and employment- wise as a commercial airline pilot for top Airlines such as Northwest and Delta for many years. Very impressive!!!!
I normally don't mention this as it gives away my age, ha. But one of my former students, Greg Johnson is (actually "was" as he is now retired) a NASA astronaut and piloted the final mission of the Space Shuttle Endeavor in 2011.
I had Greg when I taught at Park Hills High School in Fairborn, Ohio before getting my graduate degree and going to the University. I had Greg in the 1979/1980 year if I recall correctly and had him for two classes a day, Physics and Chemistry. Very bright, but also a class clown much of the time. I would put him in the top ten, I.Q.- wise of all the students I had in public school or Wright State. .
Don't know if he lived in Timber Grove or not. I should email him one day and ask him.
Even more importantly, I don't think all of you know Allen's credentials, education-wise and employment- wise as a commercial airline pilot for top Airlines such as Northwest and Delta for many years. Very impressive!!!!
whirlcool
Well-known member
Nope, Barry everyone here knows. You know the old pilot joke, it there's a pilot in the room you don't have to pick him out, he'll tell you! I usually fit in some aviation fact in my postings every now and then. It's the thing I know best!
warmsecondrinse
Well-known member
I can't top any of your stories, but I do have a NASA-related one. It was a few years ago, but I casually mentioned by name the 1960's rocket that showed up in a picture in a class presentation. Long story short:
Students were flabbergasted that I and a few other people 'of a certain age' could identify the rockets and give an impromptu lecture on the history of U.S. space program. It was funny how they really couldn't grasp how much of this country came to a halt when an Apollo mission was taking place. Classes in schools came to a halt and we all were glued to the B/W 21" RCA tv's (with UHF! WOO HOO!!!) to watch the continuous news coverage. They also had a hard time believing that NASA would send you a slew of full color magazines/brochures of their latest programs.And don't forget TANG!
Unfortunately, AFAIK, all those brochures from NASA were lost when my parents had their first and (so far) only flood in their basement a few years back. Fortunately, NASA's full color book of the pics taken by the Gemini astronauts survived untouched.
In some ways it really was a different world back then.
Students were flabbergasted that I and a few other people 'of a certain age' could identify the rockets and give an impromptu lecture on the history of U.S. space program. It was funny how they really couldn't grasp how much of this country came to a halt when an Apollo mission was taking place. Classes in schools came to a halt and we all were glued to the B/W 21" RCA tv's (with UHF! WOO HOO!!!) to watch the continuous news coverage. They also had a hard time believing that NASA would send you a slew of full color magazines/brochures of their latest programs.And don't forget TANG!
Unfortunately, AFAIK, all those brochures from NASA were lost when my parents had their first and (so far) only flood in their basement a few years back. Fortunately, NASA's full color book of the pics taken by the Gemini astronauts survived untouched.
In some ways it really was a different world back then.
Somehow, I've missed that fact about you, Allen. That is just super cool!!
And an appreciator of appliances as well! What brand of ovens, etc. do the airplanes generally use in the galley's?
Here is one of my favorite poems, (I am sure every pilot has it memorized):
HIGH FLIGHT
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds, — and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of — wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air. . . .
Up, up the long, delirious burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or ever eagle flew —
And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of GOD.
— John Gillespie Magee, Jr
And an appreciator of appliances as well! What brand of ovens, etc. do the airplanes generally use in the galley's?
Here is one of my favorite poems, (I am sure every pilot has it memorized):
HIGH FLIGHT
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds, — and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of — wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air. . . .
Up, up the long, delirious burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or ever eagle flew —
And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of GOD.
— John Gillespie Magee, Jr
aa different world
Very good, Jim. Yes, it was a different world. Odd that, what many consider to be our country's greatest technological feat, is 46 years behind us. When I was young we had the moon landings ahead of us. Now students have to look behind to that triumph.
It was an exciting time and like you I remember well watching it on tv and listening to Walter Cronkite report on it live. Who could forget Tang, the drink of the astronauts that went to the moon. ha.
That's too bad you lost your brochures from NASA. Occasionally they will show up on Ebay. Keep your eye open. I have a 1969 General Electric Press release packet that was given to reporters before the moon shot and telling how GE products were use in the Apollo program and it includes some interesting pictures. I found it on Ebay, in mint condition. So keep checking Jim you might be able to find duplicates of your brochures.
Very good, Jim. Yes, it was a different world. Odd that, what many consider to be our country's greatest technological feat, is 46 years behind us. When I was young we had the moon landings ahead of us. Now students have to look behind to that triumph.
It was an exciting time and like you I remember well watching it on tv and listening to Walter Cronkite report on it live. Who could forget Tang, the drink of the astronauts that went to the moon. ha.
That's too bad you lost your brochures from NASA. Occasionally they will show up on Ebay. Keep your eye open. I have a 1969 General Electric Press release packet that was given to reporters before the moon shot and telling how GE products were use in the Apollo program and it includes some interesting pictures. I found it on Ebay, in mint condition. So keep checking Jim you might be able to find duplicates of your brochures.
whirlcool
Well-known member
Years ago they had a Manned Space Museum inside the Johnson Space Center here in Houston. It was a somber kind of place where the articles from the missions were placed behind glass with just a printed index card telling you what each item was.
And lots of photos too. Now it's a separate building operated by Disney (with Disney style admission fees too) and it's more interactive. Lots of stuff for kids to do. In fact the entire place is set up to interest the mind of a 9 year old kid. You can take a trip to see the mission control mock up inside JSC. But it's basically a ghost town now.
You used to see lots of cars around the visitors center, but hardly any at all around the JSC buildings. Even in the 70's almost every car space was taken there when a mission was in progress. In fact back then there was no security really at the space center buildings past the front gate. You just walked around the entire campus, unimpeded. Now you are herded around on shuttle buses with "tour guides" watching your every move.
And lots of photos too. Now it's a separate building operated by Disney (with Disney style admission fees too) and it's more interactive. Lots of stuff for kids to do. In fact the entire place is set up to interest the mind of a 9 year old kid. You can take a trip to see the mission control mock up inside JSC. But it's basically a ghost town now.
You used to see lots of cars around the visitors center, but hardly any at all around the JSC buildings. Even in the 70's almost every car space was taken there when a mission was in progress. In fact back then there was no security really at the space center buildings past the front gate. You just walked around the entire campus, unimpeded. Now you are herded around on shuttle buses with "tour guides" watching your every move.
