Philly Makes, The World Takes: Ladies And Gentlemen, The Trackstar Singles Ads
Back in the day — you know, before everyone got hooked on heroin at that one Spiritualized show and “screamo” was having its humble beginnings in the garages and VFWs of Doylestown and South Jersey — a young running enthusiast named Bryan Poerner started up a humble little DIY label called Trackstar Records. Trackstar quickly, almost accidentally built a community online via its infamous message board (which begat many, many others in its wake). But at its height, Trackstar became most notable for its singles ads, where readers of the board would submit small personal ads that eerily predated, in order, makeoutclub.com (who basically jacked his whole concept and then promptly shat the bed), Friendster, MySpace, Facebook… all of it. Poerner eventually shut down the label — he now raps in The YMD and runs the TRKFLD bag company — but the influence of the singles ads, primitive and simple as they were, is now felt everywhere. Poerner was kind enough to hand us over the original HTML files of the singles ads for a brief time, and today, we present them to you, over 70 pages in all, in their entirety. Someone you know is definitely in here, most likely sporting a Dr. Spock haircut. (Hi, DALE!) Anyway, here they are:
· TRACKSTAR SINGLES: FEMALE ·
Enjoy the rest of your afternoon. Philly Internet History Week returns tomorrow.
August 26th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
I forgot all about this. Who knew so much blackmail could be on one website?
August 26th, 2008 at 4:48 pm
hey dale!
August 26th, 2008 at 4:58 pm
Lol. Dale is everywhere. Oh and that sound you hear is dale’s junk being kicked in by sweenhate.
August 26th, 2008 at 5:28 pm
HEY!!! I pretty much look the same, but with a mustache
August 26th, 2008 at 5:32 pm
ps, that was no way a spock haircut.
August 26th, 2008 at 5:36 pm
dale is built like ‘can of pepsi’, if you get my drift
August 26th, 2008 at 6:07 pm
ps, I remember that I only did this because Char did it first
August 27th, 2008 at 11:01 am
i must profess my undying love for philebrity at this point.
i could not possibly have laughed harder at this-the original post and the links included within.
ohhh i remember going to scope out the boys on trackstar back in the day…(that is on the days i wasn’t busy scoping them out at sorted anyway)
i would looove to see a “where are they now” on all the single lonelyhearts from trackstar.
speaking of,ummmm isn’t this douchebag (third one down) mr. ashlee simpson now??
http://philebrity.com/singles_ads/male_singles_13.html
August 27th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Based on that picture I woulda answered Dale’s ad, but judging from the ages of these young young boys, I would have been too old for Trackstar personals even 10 years ago (and cougars weren’t in yet).
The bangs are wrong for Dale to be rocking a full on spock. I was always a fan of boys in funny haircuts, but alas the love was never mutual.
Thanks for the memories, Philebs.
August 27th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
a “where are they now” would be funny; however, most of the people i know on there are still doing the same thing.
i was the December Bachelor of the Month, and while i received zero dates from such exalted status i am now engaged. i did have to resort to “real life” to find my wife-to-be, though.
August 28th, 2008 at 12:27 am
Anna! if you read what stephanie says points out, that is Pete Wentz… and that goes to prove to you that I was the original. hah!! in your face anna and jenna
August 28th, 2008 at 7:47 am
Seriously this might be the best reminder that the late 90′s where a great time for our indie lives. Look back and laugh at yourself today…I know I am. What was Dale’s old AIM ROBOSUSHI?? Something alone those lines.
August 28th, 2008 at 7:47 am
ALONG
August 28th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
good news, dale. those 15yr olds you were hitting on 9 years ago are now legal!