SuperDan

The best TV cop show ever...

Flights of fantasy

While driving home from work today I came across one of these marvels... It is the third or fourth one I have seen to date, but the first I was really able to get a good look at.




For a car driver this looks pretty neat, and not some thing that I am going to haul ass and race every one I come across on..


But when it all comes down to it, it is a rather expensive toy even with financing for a long time... But one can dream.

As a side note, I saw hard cases on one of them a couple of months ago, good for the camera...

Bombs

Super Dan

Rock Band

Yes, it's the band Meat Curtians.

Cameo

A good walk around camera

Cutcha man

BBQ at Super Dans

Weeds

Soda Fountain

Rialto

Taking a night shot
70mm (105mm equivalent),
Aperture: f/2.8,
ISO:200,
1/3 of a second exposure

Here is what Legends Of Americahas to say about the Rialto..

A long standing Route 66 icon, the Rialto Theatre in South Pasadena, California, has closed its doors after 81 years, shutting out its customers, but probably not its ghosts.

The historic theatre, built in 1924 in a Spanish Baroque design with Egyptian touches, the building theatre seated 1200 people and included ten dressing rooms, a scenic loft, an orchestra pit and a deep stage. The décor featured picture tiles, colorful stenciling, and plaster ornaments, such as harpies (half woman, half vulture), and mythical gargoyles.

On its opening night of October 17, 1925, an organist played its large Wurlitzer organ and the Rialto orchestra accompanied the world premier of the Picture "What Happened To Jones?" Prior to the premier movie, customers were entertained with Vaudeville acts and trapeze artists. Admission was 30¢. When the depression started, the theatre survived by offering prizes to entice its customers and made it through the hard times.

When Vaudeville lost popularity in the 1930’s, three-act prologues were presented prior to the feature film. It was also during this decade that the theatre suffered a backstage fire which temporarily closed its doors. After it reopened, live theatre never returned to the stage.

Over the years, the theater was sold, along with many of its fixtures, including its historic Wurlitzer organ.

By the 1960’s the single screen theatre was showing more niche movies, including silent films. The theatre suffered another fire in 1968, but was restored once again and survived.

Rocky Horror Picture ShowAfter the classic Rocky Horror Picture Show came out in 1975, it started a three decade run at the old theatre, being shown every Saturday night at midnight for years, before it, too, lost popularity and was then only shown on a monthly basis.

In July, 1976, the operations of the theatre were taken over by the Landmark Corporation under a 100 year lease of the building. However, soon after they took over, redevelopment in South Pasadena posed the threat of tearing down the legendary movie house. Locals protested and the Rialto was soon listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

In the 1970's and 80's the Rialto began to host some concerts and soon began to run more mainstream movies, in the hopes of drawing more customers.

But, before long multiplex theaters began to sprout up all over the area and in the meantime, the Rialto was continuing to deteriorate. Discussions began in the 1990’s to complete renovate the theater to either return it to its former glory or split it up into a multiplex. However, in 2000, Landmark's parent company, Silver Cinemas, declared bankruptcy, and there were no funds for renovation.

Though one of the finest and least adulterated theaters in the greater Los Angeles area, its carpets were frayed, its paint chipped, and its velvet seats fading. Though customers may have remembered the aging movie house with fondness, they chose to patronize the more modern multiplexes with their large parking lots, comfortable seating, and choices of movies.

Though the Rialto Theatre survived the death of vaudeville, two fires and threats of demolition and conversion to a parking lot, it finally succumbed to low ticket sales and sadly, closed on August 19, 2007.

Because it’s on the national Register of Historic Places, the building will be saved from demolition. It’s future; however, remains unknown. A yet unapproved re-development plan is in the works, but as of this writing, the building’s future is unknown.

During its long history, rumors of the theatre being haunted have been consistently circulated. Tales abound of people having died there, particularly a girl who allegedly slit her wrists in the bathroom before making her way up to the balcony and bleeding to death. Another story tells of a man who went insane in the projector booth.

In any event, staff and visitors allege that the stalls in the girl’s bathroom have been known to start shaking of their own accord. In the theater itself, the apparition of an older man has often been sitting in various seats, as well as walking up and down the balcony stairs. Could this be the man who went insane in the projector booth?

Black catOthers say that the theater is also haunted by a cat. In its early days, the theater’s mascot was a cat who roamed the old movie house, brushing up against customers’ legs and often walking in front of the screen. According to some tales, the cat continues to move stealthily through the theater and produced an eerie red light when the phantom walked in front of the movie screen.

Another visitor reported the image of a dark figure gliding down off the stage, making his way toward the theater seats, before disappearing into the lobby.

Other “normal” paranormal events have also been reported such as abnormalities in photographs, uneasy feelings people experience in various areas of the theater, especially in the women’s restroom, and whispers that are sometimes heard.

Paranormal groups who have investigated the theatre agree that it is most likely haunted.

The historic Rialto Theatre is located right on old Route 66 at 1023 Fair Oaks Avenue in South Pasadena, California.

Night portrait

Focal Length: 35mm (52mm equivalent)
3.0seconds
f3.5
ISO: 400

Too bad about the lens flares..

K.C. and Carlo

Why, yes. It's girlfriend number 2.

It's Weekend!

Shot with Nikon AF Nikor 35-70mm f:2.8
1/15th of a second
f/2.8
ISO 1250
Focal Length 35.0 mm (Equivalent: 52mm)

Yes, it's Guinness time. Pizza, beer, cake, and Clerks 2.. What a Saturday night.

knob

1/50th of a second
f/3.5
ISO 1600
Focal Length 35.0 mm (Equivalent: 52mm)

Tea

1/25th of a second
f/2.8
ISO 500
Focal Length 35.0 mm (Equivalent: 52mm)

Macro

1/60th of a second
f/4.9
ISO 1250
Focal Length 35.0 mm (Equivalent: 52mm)

High Dynamic Range

This is my first attempt at what is known as High Dynamic Range, a technique that uses multiple exposures and complex computer algorithms to achieve a contrast close to what the human eye sees or better. It is worth noting that 35 mm film has the same contrast as my camera, but still less than the human eye. Pictures like this are thanks to computers.
There are some artifacts in some of the transitions but the really neat thing is that the clear spray on license plate shield really works :P