Braniff Exhibit in Palm Springs

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A colorful Braniff 727Here's a short video we shot in Palm Springs during Modernism Week last year.

One of the highlights in 2011 was a Braniff Airlines exhibit. This intrigued us since Braniff was a "local" airline that started in Oklahoma City, later headquartered in Dallas.

But that didn't interest the crowd in Palm Springs. They were there to see the colorful uniforms and far out paint schemes that Braniff introduced in the Sixties. And a few of those in the crowd came to reminisce.




Getting to meet these ladies who actually "worked the aisles" was a great privilege.

As a follow-up to the exhibit Design Onscreen presented the film Art & Copy, a documentary about the advertising industry. While not specifically about Braniff, it does include a good deal on Mary Wells and the advertising campaigns she created for Braniff.

More...

Location: Palm Springs, CA, USA

Comments

AAdvantage Geek said…
There's another Oklahoma connection: Harding Lawrence was born in Perkins. He was inducted into the Oklahoma Aviation Hall of Fame in 2001.

I always enjoy your blog, and really enjoyed the video. Thanks for sharing!
March 10, 2012 at 11:52 PM
john said…
Aaahhh..when the 'flight attendants' were all pretty, the seats were comfortable and people 'dressed' to get on the plane - as opposed to being undressed now. Braniff was a crap airline by the time the design changes came around [ my Dad would go way out of his way to avoid them if at all possible ] but their planes and uniforms were certainly distinctive, fun, and easily recognisable.
Interesting post - thanks for putting it together. And who would've thought that someone might collect old stewardess uniforms?
March 11, 2012 at 7:02 AM
Anonymous said…
Hi Rex,

Adding to your email, I was invited to see and tour the domestic version of Braniff's Flying Colors when the plane visited Tulsa. It was a special promotion for travel professionals, media and some people in the arts. Alexander Calder designed the exterior and personally painted and signed one of the engines. Alexander Girard did the interiors. None of the Tulsa arts people knew that Calder painted and signed one engine. And the local Braniff folks didn't either. It was the outside engine on the opposite side of where passengers entered the plane.
The First Flying Colors flew between the US and South America. There were only the 2 Flying Colors Braniff airplanes. And, Emilio Pucci designed the uniforms. Mary Wells advertising agency handled the Braniff account.
Then there were the Braniff clubs. Designed by Alexander Girard. Lots of custom Herman Miller furniture with Alexander Girard fabrics. There was a very large Braniff club at Love Field in Dallas. Even the Braniff ticket office in Tulsa on Main Street had Alexander Girard designed furniture.
The whole Braniff experience was quite a package. Branding at its best!!!!!!!! I miss those days when travel was an experience.

Design on Film produces some great films. My curator David Hanks is on their board. I sent some info to Lee Anne about their programming.
I had talked to Rand Suffolk about this for Philbrook. He was not interested, unfortunately.

Cheers!

George
June 29, 2012 at 3:30 PM
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