Shopping Spree - Part 3

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Shopping in Luleå in the north parts of Sweden was the first indoor shopping mall in Europe. Built in 1955, designed by the famous architect Ralph Erskine, who wanted to create a mall for people to enjoy and socialize - even with the cold winter climate of northern Sweden. Apparently he got the idea when visiting a outdoor shopping mall in Canada during the winter.

Shopping had a very modern and futuristic look, often referred to as "Nybrutalism". Raw concrete pillars, walkways with catwalks connecting the different levels in the mall. At the top of the complex was a car exhibition, a symbol of the promising 1950's. The cars were lifted to the top using lifts, from the outside.

The mall was instantly a hit, with soon to be bond-girl Maud Adams posing on various postcards and billboards. Shopping also featured a rather large movie theatre that was modelled after a cave, unfortunatly it was closed in 1988 and has not been open since then.



Shopping. Luleå, Sweden, 1970's


Shopping. Luleå, Sweden, 1960's


Shopping. Luleå, Sweden, 1960's (Maud Adams)

The last day of the trams

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Trams are a thing of the past. Nowadays, they have been replaced by buses, subways or cars. Sweden have had its share of trams. I can name at least five major cities that had them. Stockholm was one of them, but the Stockholm transport authority decided to remove them when Sweden switched from left side, to right side traffic in 1967. The cost of replacing cars and what not would have been too big.

Malmö (third biggest city in Sweden) on the other hand, decided to convert their remaining tram cars to right side traffic, which prolonged the tram service until 1973. When it was decided that too few people used the remaining lines and cars. The transport authority felt that buses were cheaper and easier to maintain. I have been lucky enough get hold of some photos taken on the last day of the tram service in Malmö, April 27, 1973. I've always felt that a tram service in a city makes it more alive and more pleasant. But I guess, it really is a thing of the past.


Malmö, Sweden, April 27, 1973


Malmö, Sweden, April 27, 1973


Malmö, Sweden, April 27, 1973


Malmö, Sweden, April 27, 1973

Swedish Googie architecture

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I recently discovered a Swedish website that featured abandoned and disused places, buildings and what not. One of the locations was one of those old motel / restaurant / bar establishment thingies that was a common sight along the Swedish highways up to the 1980s. The interesting thing about this place is the design. It looks like nothing I have seen before, at least not in Sweden and I was delighted to find out that even a small country like Sweden got a touch of the famous Googie design that was very common in California / USA in the 1950s and 1960s. You can also clearly see it was inspired by the American model of combining roadside motels and diners together.

The place is called "Brännebrona Wärdshus och Motell" (Brännnebrona Diner and Motel) and I guess it is located near Brännebrona on one of the main roads. It is no longer in use and probably haven't seen a customer for a decade or so, although I hear they are trying to find a new buyer for the place to fix it up (numerous people have tried and failed). I guess the location is not that great.

If nothing interesting happens I assume they will level the place to the ground in a near future. Would be better to leave it as a museum or roadside architecture for people to enjoy and remember a past time, when things were a bit simpler and happier.

More photos here


Brännebrona Bar och Motel, Sweden (Photo Jan Jörnmark)

Movie recommendations - Part 1

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I have a keen movie interest and I try to fit as many movies as possible into my busy schedule each week, although my spare time seams to have become smaller and smaller recently. However, I would like to recommend some lush movies I have seen the past. Most of them are what most people would refer to as "oldies" (why does that name have a bad ring to it?), but I think some of the best movies was made in the 50s, 60s and 70s.

If you are thinking that I am going to recommend huge masterpiece by famous directors, you are wrong. I watch movies that make me feel good, happy or movies that has a certain feel to them. And that is all that counts, here are the nominations... sorry the recommendations for this batch.


The Best of Everything, Jean Negulesco, 1959
Very nice timepiece showing the life of some career women of the 1950s. Think of "Working Girl" meets "Sex and the City". Has some great New York shots and a swank musical score by Alfred Newman.


Lady in Cement, Gordon Douglas, 1968
Frank Sinatra had a brief movie career and this is the second movie about his alter ego Tony Rome who works as a private detective in Miami, Florida. Great music by Hugo Montenegro and some very nice Miami shots. I believe they used the same hotel as they did in "Goldfinger" in one of the scenes.


The Out of Towners, Arthur Hiller, 1970
This is the original movie, not the crappy remake with Steve Martin and Goldie Hawn. The premise is about the same though. Jack Lemon is going to New York with his wife where he is about to take a new job. But the trip turns out to be a one way to hell and back.


Airport, George Seaton, 1970
Melodrama about a bomber on board an airplane, an airport almost closed by snow, and various personal problems of the people involved. Nominated for 10 Oscars, but only won one for best actress in a supporting role. George Kennedy is hilarious, Dean Martin plays a airline pilot.


Pillow Talk, Michael Gordon, 1959
The first movie in a series of three starring Doris Day, Rock Hudson and Tony Randall. This is one of those 60s sex comedies about trying to get the opposite sex attracted to you. Very light weight entertainment which will appeal to anyone who like comedies. If you have seen "Down with Love" you will instantly recognize where the screenwriter got the inspiration from.