It's no secret that I love Rivieras. I've already posted a endearingly corny commercial linking the Riviera to la dolce vita, as well as photos of my old neighbor Richard's amazing 1963 model. Now my friend Keith has alerted me to a short video by his friend Kyle Knobel that features another vintage Riviera.
"This is the first video in a series of projects completed on my lunch breaks. I wanted to do some projects that were experiment based, that could be made quickly, and could work out some ideas that had been floating around in my head for a while. This piece was made using a simple point-and-shoot still camera.
"The car itself is gorgeous, and so much so of another era, especially given the prices of gas these days. I see the guy who diligently moves it each week when the street is cleaned. Long hair, beard. He looks like Greg Allman.
"I have a friend who owned a Riviera while in his early 20's. Champagne exterior with white interior. It was before I knew him. But I have heard the story where he stole away the girlfriend of a now famous musician, and drove her from LA up to the Sierras for sex in the backseat. And also of a midweek joyride from San Francisco to Yosemite Park and back in a single day. Those times too are of another era.
Despite the layoffs, the crime, a mayor with a rap sheet, and the fact that its most famous native son — Michael Moore — is actually from Davison, there's one thing Flint's leaders have never really lost, and that's the naive belief that someday, somehow, someway Flint will be a tourist attraction.
All I can say is keep dreaming that dream, you crazy dreamers!
"New radio ads are hitting the airwaves today with poetic lines recited by comedian Tim Allen promoting a tourist destination: Flint, Michigan.
"The radio ads and accompanying billboard campaign will hit key Michigan, Ohio and Indiana cities and air for three months as part of the statewide Pure Michigan campaign promoting tourism.
"The $200,000 tab is being split by the state and Flint Area Convention & Visitors Bureau."
Care to give a listen to this masterpiece? Just click here. And you must give it a listen. But be forewarned, once you hear this, you'll be scrambling to book a flight to Flint for a two-week vacation, so have your Visa ready.
"Bureau President Jerry Preston said the advertising agency talked about changing Genesee County's image from the state's 'most distressed community' to a 'vibrant getaway.'
"'We're trying to move the needle a little bit, from rock bottom to something above that,' Preston said."
Ah Jerry, such lofty goals. (What exactly is just above "rock bottom"? Low down? Piss poor? Really yucky?) This will certainly be money well spent. If you need any other ideas, Jerry, check out this video about Stoneybridge, Scotland, provided by my friend Keith Laidlaw, who hails from Edinburgh. The accents are a little thick, but all we need to do is change the word "Stoneybridge" to "Flint" and get Ben Hamper to redub the voiceover, then we'll have more tourists than we'll know what to do with. Let's hope they're well-armed.
