Saturday, January 14, 2012

5 Questions About Lucha Libre



So yeah, in case you didn't notice we like the Mexican form of professional wrestling known as Lucha Libre - especially Lucha Libre from 1950's and 60's Mexican pop culture. And even if you don't know the much about it (we're far from experts here at All-Pop, though we're learning more all the time), I think most everyone will agree that the look of the wrestlers is cool, amusing, and fascinating all at the same time. What's it all about? Here are five common questions answered to get you started:

1. What does "Lucha Libre" mean?

The words "lucha libre" in Spanish literally mean "free fight." The name has come to stand for Mexican professional wrestling, which is similar in many ways to professional wrestling in the U.S. The idea with the phrase "free fight" is that there are few official rules and few limits to the amount of violence allowed in the ring.

2. What is a "luchador?"

In Spanish, "luchador" means "fighter." In the context of lucha libre-style wrestling, a luchador is a wrestler.

3. Why do lucha libre wrestlers wear masks? What are the masks all about?

They're super cool looking, right? The idea seems to be that the mask helps create the character that the luchador portrays. In a way the mask transforms the person wearing it from an average Joe to a larger than life figure who exemplifies the special attributes of his character - whether it be that he's good or evil, has special skills, has certain vices or virtues, etc. The mask also creates an air of mystery that intrigues the crowd and intimidates his opponents. Given that the mask does all this, to be unmasked is a big deal! To unmask an opponent is the ultimate victory for the winner and the ultimate humiliation for the loser. The unmasked luchador in effect gets cut down to size, loses his status as hero or villain, appearing only human and average, just like the rest of us.

4. How did lucha libre wrestling start and how long has lucha libre-style wrestling been going on in Mexico?

One version of the story is that Don Salvador Lutteroth Gonzalez attended a wrestling match in Texas in 1929 and decided to bring the sport to Mexico. Things started off well enough, but it wasn't until the advent of television in the early 1950s that really launched the sport into the immensely popular and unique form of Mexican entertainment that it is today.



5. Who is the most famous luchador of all time? Who are some other famous luchadors?

It seems pretty well agreed upon that El Santo (The Saint) is the biggest luchador of all time. Rodolfo Guzmán Huerta, the man beneath the mask, innovated constantly, adding many new moves that are now commonplace in lucha libre. He had a certain presence that endeared him to the crowds. In the late 1950s he began starring in movies, further popularizing lucha libre and making him a superstar.

Other classic luchadors: Blue Demon, Mil Mascaras, Rayo de Jalisco, Fuerza Guerrera, Perro Aguayo - really the list goes on and on.



As lovers of retro kitsch, we're particularly fascinated by lucha libre in Mexican pop culture of the 50s and 60s, but of course, lucha libre is still huge today and only getting more popular!

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucha_libre
http://maskalucha.com/history-of-lucha-libre.aspx
http://www.bongo.net/papers/lucha.htm

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Happy New Year +

Happy New Year All-Pop customers and those who just happen to be dropping by. Welcome! Here's to a great 2012 for all of us.

Happened across this artist the other day and had to blog about him. Jiro Bevis, check him out.


This is an aesthetic I can relate to, lmao. There's definitely some sort of spiritual connection between his work and the sensibility behind All-Pop, even if it's not completely obvious. Enjoy!

Monday, December 19, 2011

Friday, December 9, 2011

Stocking Stuffers For Under $10

Did you know that ALL-POP sells A LOT of things for under ten bucks - and that a lot of them are great stocking stuffers? You probably did, but we're going to remind you anyway :)

And... this isn't even ALL of them! When you're done here, browse around on the shop some more and you'll find even more hard to find, but always affordable cooliosities.



Things for your house:
Cute red headed pin up girl calls out to you on this magnet.

Amusing examples of paint by numbers kits from days gone by make for great coasters. Check 'em out.

Mil Mascaros, Octagon, Fuerza Guerrera, Perro Aguayo show up in this magnet!

Know someone who can't get enough vintage images of pin up girls? They'll love these coasters.




Stuff for kids:
Cat and Canary Slide Whistle $4.49
It's a delightful inexpensive little slide whistle that makes an extra-amusing bird-ish warbling sound.



Cards and Paper Goods:
Veracruz Card $1.50
Delight the eyes of your friends and family with this beautiful greeting card featuring vintage Mexican travel art.

Hindu Hanuman Postcard $.99
The monkey faced Hindu deity graces this authentic Indian postcard.

Huracan Ramirez Card $1.50
The famous masked Mexican wrestler peers out fiercely on this example of Mexican lucha libre movie poster art.

Acapulco Greeting Card $1.99
A stylish, fun, colorful greeting card that will make you or whoever you give it to imagine they're there.


NyankoLand Memo Pad $3.49
Little nyanko kittens everywhere! The cute factor is off the charts with this sweet little memo pad.

Japanese Desserts Erasers $2
Little erasers in the form of cakes that you can take apart and use to erase things. Too cool.

Japanese Soup Erasers $2
Little erasers in the form of Japanese instant soups. Of course you want them - who doesn't?

Japanese Burger and Fries Erasers $2
Little erasers in the form of All-American burgers and fries. Yum!

Lucha Libre Blue Demon Notebook $3.50
Blue Demon is watching! This is a good thing!

Lucha Libre Postcard $1.50
Mil Mascaros, Octagon, Fuerza Guerrera, Perro Aguayo all pose on this muy macho postcard.





Soaps:
Be Good Elf Soap $8
A festive fun soap in the shape of an elf figurine. Cute!

Be Nice Elf Soap $8
A lavender colored soap in the shape of an elf figurine. Cute too!



Stuff for your car:
Virgin of Guadalupe Dashboard Saint $6
Ride with Mary!

Luchador Mexican Wrestler Keychain $6
There's something so right about a keychain with a luchador on it.

Bags:
Oilcloth Ditty Bag $9.50
Check out all the different, vibrant, lovely colors we have of this very useful small bag.



Good luck stuff for the new year!
Fortune-Telling Book of Dream Interpretation $9.95
This book will help you interpret dreams and then be able to tell the future. Now, tell me that won't come in handy!

Palmistry Poster $4
The human palm is loaded with mysteries. Discover what they are!

Little Good Luck Cat $6
Cute and lucky this little ceramic cat is (says Yoda).

Glow in the Dark mini Saint Figurines $1.95
Have a friend who needs some small little glow-in-the-dark saints? Of course you do!

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Artificial Christmas Tree Madness continues



Our festival of fake Christmas tree photos comes to an end with this last post's worth of beautiful, old pics from a time when Kodachrome film and low quality printing produced such photos full of kitschmas loveliness. We learned some fun facts about artificial Christmas trees and enjoyed many old photos of fake Christmas trees. Hopefully we'll do it again next year.


Just a child with their dog, walking through a snowy landscape, looking for that perfect artificial Christmas tree.


Another idyllic, wintery tableau of fake Christmas trees.

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Kitschmas Tree Festival (cont'd)


Do I ever tire of old photos of fake Christmas trees.

No!


And so we continue with more artificial Christmas trees, celebrating the kitschier side of Christmas.

The pinkish white fake tree above is a bit odd, no? You could pull off a branch and clean your bathroom with one of those. And what a lovely, tainted meat color too.


Lovely gold tree with blue balls.



Yes, you're right! That's Vincent Price posing with his prized artificial Christmas tree. Or something like that. It's a festive sight indeed.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Krazy About Kitschmas Trees Part Deux



All-Pop's artificial Christmas tree extravaganza continues.

Some fun facts about artificial Christmas trees (courtesy of wikipedia):

The first fake Christmas trees were made in Germany in the 19th century, and made from goose feathers dyed green. Huh.

In 1930 the Addis Brush company made the first artificial Christmas tree with brush bristles.

In 1958 the first aluminum artificial Christmas trees were made.

In the midcentury US, artificial Christmas trees became increasingly popular until they hit the peak of their popularity around 1965. That year the animated Christmas special, A Charlie Brown Christmas aired for the first time. Artificial Christmas trees were portrayed negatively in it, and the cartoon is credited for the decline in popularity of fake trees.

Nowadays, artificial trees are more popular again and sales are growing.