Chris Nichols

2016

January 1, 2016 by Futura Girl

Chairperson

n.a.

Milestones in the Community

Sadly, although the individuals formerly involved still are devout preservation proponents, Modcom has been essentially disbanded by the Los Angeles Conservancy. Although the Los Angeles Conservancy states there will be quarterly meetings and educational workshops, these do not transpire.
https://www.laconservancy.org/modcom-events
The Working Group page has not been updated since November 2014:
https://www.laconservancy.org/modcom-working-group

Meeting Locations

Events:

Covina Bowl Anniversary Party

Event produced by Chris Nichols that celebrates the 60^th birthday of the center. Gil Stratton was the sportscaster announcer at the opening day in 1956. His son Cary Stratton dressed up in a vintage suit and tie and hosted in homage to his father. The 1956 bowling alley was designed for brothers Louis, Leonard, and Angelo Brutocao by architectural firm Powers, Daly, and DeRosa. The Covina Bowl is also an advocacy issue.
https://www.laconservancy.org/locations/covina-bowl

Advocacy

Van De Kamps

The giant Dutch Windmill (now Denny’s) on top of the 1967 Route 66 (Huntington Drive in Arcadia) folded plate roof coffee shop starts to operate again– the first time since 1989. Thanks in great part to the ModCom preservation efforts in 1999.
https://www.laconservancy.org/locations/dennys

Mission Hills Bowl

New development threatens the 1957 Bowling alley designed by Martin Stern Jr.
https://www.laconservancy.org/locations/mission-hills-bowl

Tangents

Trousdale Estates: Midcentury to Modern in Beverly Hills

Book appreciating the Hollywood Regency style towards the end of Modernism by Steven M. Price – October 25, 2016
https://www.amazon.com/Trousdale-Estates-Midcentury-Modern-Beverly/dp/1941393373/ref=llvn-20

2014

January 1, 2014 by Futura Girl

Chairperson

Regina O’Brien, 2009-2015

Milestones in the Community

Meeting Locations

Events

Bowlerama Exhibit

Chris Nichols Bowling Exhibit at the A&D museum

Let’s go bowling with Chris Nichols

Advocacy

Norms Las Cienega

After the sale of the iconic eatery in 2014, a nomination was rushed to the city council. 1957 Googie by Armet and Davis received HCM on January 15, 2015

Annual Holiday Party

Richard and Dion Neutra Museum

Modern Master Awards:

Richard Bradshaw
Raul Coronel
Pat B. DeRosa, AIA
Ray Kappe, FAIA
Malcom Leland
Gordon Powers, AIA
Kent Twitchell
Tom Van Sant

Tangents

MAK Architecture Silverlake Tour

MAK Center celebrated its 20th year by opening a set of exemplary private houses in Silver Lake by R.M. Schindler. May 17 – May 18, 2014 featuring: How House (1925) Elliot House (1930) Bubeshko Apartments (1938/1941) Wilson House (1938) Falk Apartments penthouse (1939) Droste House (1940)

Southern CaliforniaLand: Mid Century Culture in Kodachrome

Colorful photo coffee table book by Charles Phoenix published June 2014
https://www.amazon.com/Southern-Californialand-Mid-Century-Culture-Kodachrome/dp/1883318424/ref=llvn-20

Eames: Beautiful Details

by Eames Demetrios (Author), Charles Eames (Author), Ray Eames (Author)– November 1, 2014

Tiki Pop: America imagines its own Polynesian Paradise

by Sven Kirsten– August 1, 2014

Pacific Ocean Park: The Rise and Fall of Los Angeles’ Space Age Nautical Pleasure Pier

by Christopher Merritt (Author), Domenic Priore (Author), Brian Wilson(Foreword) July 22, 2014

2011

January 1, 2011 by Futura Girl

Chairperson

Regina O’Brien, 2009-2015

Milestones in the Community

https://www.laconservancy.org/sites/default/files/files/documents/JulAug11.pdf

Meeting Locations

Events

Eldon Davis Memorial

On April 22, 2011 Eldon Davis Passes away. The Modern Committee gathersa few days later at Pann’s in Culver City in memorium.

Nichols Birthday Party at WigWam Hotel

Showcase of ModCom talent at Nichols’ annual birthday party.

Advocacy:

Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Building

Office designed by Paul R. Williams in 1949 is successfully nominated as a HCM I Los Angeles and lobby murals are preserved in situ.

DWP Headquarter

Successful nomination of the Department of Water and Power headquarters designed by Albert C. Martin and Associates in 1965 and seen in so many movies and image of quintessential Los Angeles.

Glendale County Building

Modcom keeps a watchful eye out for this 1959 government building along with the City of Glendale and the Glendale Historical Society when the AOC proposed to demolish the existing annex “and much of the existing building.”
https://www.laconservancy.org/locations/glendale-county-building

Annual Holiday Party:

UCLA Faculty Center

Modern Master Awards:

Robert Burman
Victor Cusack, FAIA
James De Long, FAIA
Edward Fickett, FAIA
Harry Gesner, AIA

Tangents

Rat Pack Moment

The Atomic Age Alliance in Las Vegas conducts a bus tour in which one of the highlights is finding the exact location of where the Rat Pack (Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford) stood for the famous picture of them in front of the Sands Hotel sign on the Strip. Many ModCom members are present.

John Lautner 100th Birthday Tour

MAK Center partnered with The John Lautner Foundation for a house tour on the occasion of John Lautner’s 100th birthday July 23, 2011. Included the Harpel House (1956), the Jacobsen House (1947), the Schwimmer House (1982), and the Sheats/Goldstein Residence (1963/1989).

AIA “East and West of 405”

Tour on March 2011 – four houses for its first spring Modern home tour.

Dapper Day at Disneyland

Retro fashion event, “Dapper Day” at Disneyland is started by Justin Jorgensen.

Modern Tract Homes of Los Angeles

Modern Tract Homes of Los Angeles touches on the history of modern architecture and explores five housing tracts built between 1948 and 1964. By John Eng and Adriene Biondo.
https://www.amazon.com/Modern-Tract-Homes-Los-Angeles/dp/076433865X/ref=llvn-20

2007

January 1, 2007 by Futura Girl

Chairperson

Adriene Biondo, 2005-2008

Milestones in the Community

Johnnie Broiler is illegally demolished and galvanizes the community towards preservation.

Meeting Locations

Advocacy

Johnnies Broiler

Downey coffee shop which was determined eligible for the California Register in 2002 is unceremoniously AND illegally demolished in the middle of the night. Efforts to rebuild go on through 2009.

Driftwood Dairy

Successful nomination of the drive-thru retail spot built in 1960-1961 in El Monte. Registered to the California Register of historic place in 2007-2008
https://www.laconservancy.org/locations/driftwood-dairy

Glen Luken’s House

Historic-Cultural Monument #866 in 2007
https://www.laconservancy.org/locations/glen-lukens-house

Tangents

Atomic Age Alliance

Preservation group founded in Las Vegas by ModCom member, Mary-Margaret and Cary Stratton and Palm Springs preservationists, Jay Nailor and MiShell Modern

(This is what this site has become!!!)

MAK Architecture Tour

The tour focused on the work of Archibald Quincy Jones (1913-1979) on October 6 – October 7, 2007. Featured Jones’s work on the groundbreaking cooperative community built for the Mutual Housing Association (MHA) in the Crestwood Hills area of Brentwood from 1946-1950. Seven homes opened for the tour, and Jones’ first work, his own home and studio in Laurel Canyon (1938, in partnership with Ruth Schneider), and St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church (1962) in Studio City. In addition, the tour featured The Lohrie House (Rodney Walker, 1947) and Bernheim House (Ray Kappe, 1961).

Mondo Lounge Atomic Frolic

Mondo Lounge event moves to the Thunderbird Hotel in Las Vegas and features many ModCom members.
http://www.mondolounge.com

A Prolific Year for ModCom ‘family’ Books

SHAG With a Twist

Stage Ballet Show moves to Las Vegas
http://www.shagwithatwist.com

Chairperson

Milestones in the Community

Meeting Locations

Events:

Covina Bowl Anniversary Party

Advocacy

Van De Kamps

Mission Hills Bowl

Tangents

Trousdale Estates: Midcentury to Modern in Beverly Hills

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Chairperson

Milestones in the Community

Meeting Locations

Events

Bowlerama Exhibit

Advocacy

Norms Las Cienega

Annual Holiday Party

Modern Master Awards:

Tangents

MAK Architecture Silverlake Tour

Southern CaliforniaLand: Mid Century Culture in Kodachrome

Eames: Beautiful Details

Tiki Pop: America imagines its own Polynesian Paradise

Pacific Ocean Park: The Rise and Fall of Los Angeles’ Space Age Nautical Pleasure Pier

Share this:

Chairperson

Milestones in the Community

Meeting Locations

Events

Eldon Davis Memorial

Nichols Birthday Party at WigWam Hotel

Advocacy:

Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Building

DWP Headquarter

Glendale County Building

Annual Holiday Party:

Modern Master Awards:

Tangents

Rat Pack Moment

John Lautner 100th Birthday Tour

AIA “East and West of 405”

Dapper Day at Disneyland

Modern Tract Homes of Los Angeles

Share this:

Chairperson

Milestones in the Community

Meeting Locations

Advocacy

Johnnies Broiler

Driftwood Dairy

Glen Luken’s House

Tangents

Atomic Age Alliance

MAK Architecture Tour

Mondo Lounge Atomic Frolic

A Prolific Year for ModCom ‘family’ Books

The Leisure Architecture of Wayne McAllister

Shop America: Mid-Century Storefront Design, 1938-1950

Los Angeles Neon

Riot on Sunset Strip: Rock’n’Roll’s Last Stand in Hollywood

Forgotten Modern: California Houses 1940-1970

Frank Lloyd Wright Mid-Century Modern

Tiki Modern Hardcover

SHAG With a Twist

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