The Women’s History Month factoid about Willa Brown – who was the first Black woman to earn both a pilot license (1938) and a commercial license (1939), courtesy of Long Beach Airport (LGB).
And the announcement from Tampa International Airport (TPA) about TPA To Go – a new food delivery service in the airport.
NOW PLAYING: "Letters of Fire" by Glen Milner. Actor @DominicWest narrates explorer Ernest Shackleton's observations on the unforgiving nature of Antarcticaâs landscape in this short that evokes the regionâs fragility. Watch the short film: https://t.co/IUZl6r8KIt#VideoArtsSFOMpic.twitter.com/DVw8jcLEMz
Flying Merkel twin-cylinder racer 1912- courtesy SFO Museum
If we can’t fly anywhere right now, how about a ride on a motorcycle?
A new exhibition by the SFO Museum at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) explores the history of motorcycling from the 1890s to 1915. On display are fourteen motorcycles that were made prior to 1916, rare engines, and photographs from the pioneering era of motorcycling.
Harley-Davidson Model 6 1910 – Courtesy SFO Museum
From the exhibition notes:
“Along with the automobile, the motorcycle was one of the earliest and most exciting applications of another new invention, the gasoline-powered internal combustion engine. Motorcycle technology progressed rapidly during the early 1900s, and as motorcycling gained traction, riding evolved from a novelty to a hobby, sport, and reliable source of transportation. By the 1910s, there were approximately 100 motorcycle manufacturers in the United States, all vying for consumer attention with distinctive attributes and designs.
Today, early American motorcycles are prized by collectors around the world who showcase their bikes on vintage rides, endurance runs, and at special events.“
Here are some photos of the motorcycles on display in the Early American Motorcycles exhibitionin the International Terminal of San Francisco International Airport. The exhibition will be on view through September 19, 2021.
Jefferson twin-cylinder racer 1914 – Courtesy SFO Museum Pierce Four Cylinder 1911- Courtesy SFO MuseumTwo women on a Pierce Four and sidecar c. 1910 Courtesy of Pierce-Arrow Museum
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is home to the SFO Museum, which does a great job of bringing top drawer exhibits to the terminals.
The SFO Museum’s newest offering runs through August 22, 2021, in Terminal 1, Departures Level 2, and is all about hairstyles and styling aids.
Objects in the exhibit include historical tools, hair products, and novelty items ranging from early curling irons and hair dryers to one-of-a-kind hair sculptures.
“The Flip” – Jeff Hafler, Beauty Bubble Salon and Museum
Here are more images from the exhibition, courtesy of the SFO Museum, as well as some exhibition notes about hairstyles in the 20th century:
Short bobs of the 1920s were made famous by entertainers such as Clara Bow and Josephine Baker.
Waves prevailed in the 1930s, and movie star Jean Harlow became Hollywoodâs first âblonde bombshellâ with her novel platinum tresses.
During the 1940s, large, voluminous curls, called Victory rolls, adorned the tops of womenâs heads.
The late 1950s and â60s gave way to voluminous hair, namely the bouffantâwith hair puffed high at the crown and curled under at the sides.
Counterculture hippies preferred to wear long, free-flowing hair in the late 1960s. Around this time, a growing sense of ethnic pride inspired many African Americans to embrace their hairâs natural texture and wear afros.
During the late 1970s, actress and model Farrah Fawcett established one of the most iconic styles of all time with her feathered locks. Millions of women and girls went to salons requesting the âFarrahâ cut.
Polar cub electric hair dryer  c. 1923 – The A.C. Gilbert Company
If we were traveling around this month, we’d certainly be spending a lot of time in airport gift shops buying Christmas chocolates and other treats.
Some of that chocolate would even make it home and into nicely-wrapped gift boxes.
Instead, we’re home and keeping an eye on what airports and airlines are doing to be festive and still keep us safe during an unusual travel season.
SFO Airport is charming us with lights, music, and dancing
We love the giant light switch in this holiday message from SFO and we’re ordering one installed in our home office.
In the most extraordinary of years, our thoughts around the holidays remain the same: We are thankful for our blessings and wish for our guests and employees to find peace and happiness in the New Year. Happy holidays from #SFO! pic.twitter.com/73bbnRIqs9
— San Francisco International Airport (SFO) âď¸đˇ (@flySFO) December 14, 2020
We also love this ‘put your mask on’ music video starring and produced by some incredibly talented people who work at SFO airport.
It looks like they had so much fun with the pumpkin decorating contest at Halloween that now 13 shops at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport are competing in a wreath-decorating contest.
The public is invited to weigh in on which is best.
“Energetic and melodic with little or no vocal accompaniment, instrumental surf music originated in Southern California along with a booming interest in surfing and the subsequent pop-cultural craze,” the exhibit notes tell us.
“The most authentic surf music reflected a youthful lifestyle and started at the grassroots, often by teenagers who formed bands to play dances and other functions.”
Here are some of our favorite photos from the exhibit.
DoubleJunkâ Fender Jazzmaster/Jaguar 1992 & Weather King bass drumhead  1989
Howard custom double-neck guitar 1960 played by Duane Eddy, “The King of Twangy Guitar”
More surf tidbits from the exhibit notes:
“Surf music was influenced by the rock ânâ roll instrumentals of the late 1950s when many bands replaced vocal melodies with leads played by the saxophone, piano, organ, and guitar.
Duane Eddy and The Rebels scored a major guitar hit with âRebel Rouserâ in 1958, the same year that âRumbleâ by Link Wray & The Wraymen was banned by radio stations for its âsuggestiveâ title.
The Ventures refined instrumentals with brilliantly simple lead-guitar lines layered over rhythm- and bass-guitar melodies. In 1960 their arrangement of âWalkâDonât Runâ landed at #2, the first in a string of instrumental hits by the group.”
“By 1963, surf music was a full-fledged phenomenon that received national attention. A revival of instrumental surf music occurred during the early 1980s and spread worldwide in the 1990s. The music is now more diverse than ever, and there are active surf and instrumental scenes throughout the United States and in Mexico, Brazil, Australia, Japan, and across Europe.”
