Cool, but long forgotten promotional campaign for ODU basketball.. The Big Blue Beast.

The mascot was some kinda' non-descript, barely contained ghoul, that (by implication) bit fans. The catch line was, I got bit by the Big Blue Beast.. and I loved it.

The Beast was escorted around (a half empty) Scope by cheerleaders & Monarch mascot.

Honestly, it looked like something that would've been picked up and resold by Jawas.

A unique ad campaign, from Old Dominion's Sun Belt days.

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Abandoned McDonald's at the intersection of Lynnhaven Parkway & South Lynnhaven Road.. (South Lynnhaven runs like an arc, so it intersects Lynnhaven Parkway twice. This is the intersection directly across from Potters Rd.) 

Not sure when it closed, but remember well from it's 80s/90s prime..

 

(the facade remodeled)

At some point it was remodeled and now houses an animal eye doctor. Seems like a noble, necessary field, but who knew animals had optometrists..

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Beach's bygone zine culture..

Samples of old Virginia Beach skate zines,

Page from Speed Wobble zine, explaining what skaters from WW (Windsor Woods neighborhood) were about. You used to see that referenced logo (with the Ws & fork in between) around Trashmore, etc.

From Soul Skate zine, really great photo.. and the old '8os 17th logo (that has been resurrected.)

Unrelated to the skate culture, this was my favorite Beach zine, circulating in the mid 9os. And this ad was (presciently) published years before Cosby's scandals. John A. & Loose Screws had a good staff of contributors..

If anyone has some vintage zine pages, send 'em to me. I appreciate them- nat.rain@gmail.com

Obscure 1982 Virginia Beach themed game, All About Town .. I assume designed to promote (mostly small) Beach businesses. Bought a used one years ago..

(ghoulish father & son, showing off their enormous fish.. but I do think the art on the Norwegian Lady and the Lynnhaven House is good)

These are some of the game cards, resemble old Monopoly type cards..

Details on the defunct Pavilion..

Oceanfront Inn. I like the early 80s appropriation of Pac-Man as their letter c. Old 804 area code.

Tandom's, where the WaWa on Virginia Beach Blvd (by Hobby Lobby) now operates.

Kinda like this logo, a seagull contorted in to a 'B' initial.. wonder if anyone ever took them up on their complimentary gift.

Game board & style of play basically resembled the game of LIFE. Actual Beach businesses were used as stops along the course. It's cool nostalgia now.

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               Ruins of the old McDonald's on General Booth Boulevard (intersection wtih Birdneck).

Like the sign says, thankful for 33 years.. I remember this location (mostly) from the '9os. I liked their stone work, which I think was somewhat unique for a McD's exterior.. Nice '80s flavor.

(Dining patio, with the tables long gone.)

Footprint of the (once) Golden Arches.

Their 2018 farewell banner would date their original opening as 1985.. which makes sense, that's probably when Jungle Falls (turned Ocean Breeze) started taking off. There were probably a lot of patrons looking for nearby gruel. 

Rest in peace.

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Extinct, obscure one (I say obscure, because I couldn't find any images, or vintage postcards of it online, but who knows).. This ad's from a 1970 accommodation directory I have.

Building is no longer standing, but moving laterally from it's original location, there are a couple similar buildings. An almost identical set of apartments on 23rd, then the MacThrift on 22nd.. which has a two-story strip of rooms similar to The Virginian.

Back in the day, as a carefree low-life, I stayed in the MacThrift for a couple weeks, so I have a mental image of what The Virginian's interior likely looked like.. 

I notice as I go thru this 50 year old directory, the independently owned, bygone motels often used names & marketing invested in regional and local identity.. now most of the oceanfront hotels are essentially indistinguishable, cookie cut members of uniform chains.

If anyone has pics, or postcards of The Virginian to share, I'd like seeing them:  nat.rain@gmail.com

Couple years back Regatta Bay strip mall near Rosemont & Virginia Beach Blvd received a makeover and rebranding. 

Mid-metamorphosis from it's 80s red brick, to it's 21st century look.. 

The transformed utilitarian look & name Regatta Center. A no-nonsense name that conjures images of Soviet Bloc-style retail.

Bon Voyage Regatta Bay.

Early Regatta Bay lineup, from the 1988 Va Beach City Directory.. Guess the publishers weren't feeling Regatta Bay's oasis imagery.. it received generic billing as Office Building. 

contact: nat.rain@gmail.com