Atomic Age Alliance

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Home > Archives for Mary-Margaret Stratton

2007

by

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).

DSC00114 DSC00138

Mondo Lounge Atomic Frolic

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

mlaf (5) bop_swat1 bop_fezguys

A Prolific Year for ModCom ‘family’ Books

The Leisure Architecture of Wayne McAllister

Book written by Chris Nichols is published March 9, 2007
https://www.amazon.com/Leisure-Architecture-Wayne-McAllister-Nichols/dp/1586856995/ref=llvn-20

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

by Steven Heller  (Author), Jim Heimann  (Editor) – March 12, 2007
https://www.amazon.com/Shop-America-Mid-Century-Storefront-1938-1950/dp/3822842699/ref=llvn-20

Los Angeles Neon

by Nathan Marsak (Author), Nigel Cox (Author) – July 1, 2007
https://www.amazon.com/Los-Angeles-Neon-Nathan-Marsak/dp/0764315420/ref=llvn-20

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

by Domenic Priore  (Author), Arthur Lee (Foreword) – July 12, 2007
https://www.amazon.com/Riot-Sunset-Strip-RocknRolls-Hollywood/dp/1906002045/ref=llvn-20

Forgotten Modern: California Houses 1940-1970

by Alan Hess  (Author), Alan Weintraub (Photographer) – September 11, 2007
https://www.amazon.com/Forgotten-Modern-California-Houses-1940-1970/dp/1586858580/ref=llvn-20

Frank Lloyd Wright Mid-Century Modern

by Alan Hess  (Author), Alan Weintraub (Photographer) – October 23, 2007
https://www.amazon.com/Frank-Lloyd-Wright-Mid-Century-Modern/dp/0847829766/ref=llvn-20

Tiki Modern Hardcover

Sven A Kirsten 2007
https://www.amazon.com/Tiki-Modern-Sven-Kirsten/dp/3822847178/ref=llvn-20

SHAG With a Twist

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

2003

by

Chairperson

Alan Lieb, 2001-2004

Milestones in the Community

Hollywood Star Lanes Bowling Alley – filming site of the Big Lebowsky is torn down.

 

 

Meeting Locations

Event: “Built by Beckett Centennial Celebration”

Tour of buildings by Welton Beckett and Associates. Event also includes a presentation at Beckett designed Cinerama Dome. Members of the Beckett family are in attendance.

beckett-cinerama-GenaroMolinaLAT beckett2 beckett7 beckett10 beckett-slides2 beckett-interior-LAT

Download Tour Map as a PDF

Advocacy

Holiday Bowl

Designed by Armet and David in 1958 – part of a long preservation battle that concluded with the salvation of the coffee shop. The bowling alley is demolished.

Ambassador Hotel Presentation

Panel Discussion on preservation options

limo front-petenix coffeeshop fromaudience

Tangents:

Mondo Tiki and Mondo Vegas Tour

Mondo Tiki event at the Hard Rock Hotel and Mondo Vegas bus tour on Friday Night, April 18thconducted by MM Stratton and Eric Lynxwiler ended just in time for cocktails at 9PM at Taboo Cove (Designed by SHAG and ___at the Venetian. Highlights included: The Infamous Giant Aku Aku Moai from the Stardust Hotel, 1950s and 1960s Boulder Highway Googie motels, Neon Sign Museum at Fremont Street, 1955 National Register Moulin Rouge, Narrated History of Vegas and the Strip.

logo

Apartment Living is Great

Leslie Marlene Siegel produces an exhibit and book celebrating Los Angeles graphic dingbats at the Outre Gallery in Melbourne, Australia

Art Cars at the Petersen Museum

Event is introduced by Michael Palumbo, former ModCom chair

MAK Architectural Lovell Houses Tours

November 1, 2003 tour featured the two houses designed for Philip Lovell: Lovell Health House (Richard Neutra, 1929) and Lovell Beach House (R.M. Schindler, 1926).

Book of Tiki signing

Book signing at La Luz de Jesus Gallery and Wacko book store solidifies the important place of Tiki in preservation of Mid Century architecture and design

Southern California in the ’50s: Sun, Fun and Fantasy

Book by Charles Phoenix is published June 1, 2003
https://www.amazon.com/Southern-California-50s-Sun-Fantasy/dp/1883318491/ref=llvn-20

2000

by

Chairperson

Michael Palumbo, 1999-2001

Milestones in the Community

  • National Trust For Historic Preservation Conference – Conference held in Los Angeles. Several tracts on Modernism with participation by Modcom members. In addition a special 1 day bus tour version of the How Modern Was My Valley conducted by Mary-Margaret Stratton.
  • Dwell Magazine is launched.

Meeting Locations

  • El Paradiso ModCom Meeting
    modcom photo

Events

How Modern Was My Valley Two Day Tour

Tour – more info on website:
www.HowModernWasMyValley.com

valleytour_spread1

Mid Century Riverside Tour

Ad hoc, yet comprehensive self-driving tour of the greater downtown Riverside area on 9-30-2000. Produced by Daniel Paul. Coincides with the “Everyday Modernism Conference at UCR

Your Government in Glendale

Ad hoc walking tour produced by Laura Friedman. Laura later went on to become a Glendale city council member and mayor.

Advocacy

Holiday Bowl

Bowling alley designed by Armet and David 1958 becomes a long preservation battle – concludes in 2003.

Lincoln Place

Garden city apartment complex by Ralph A. Vaughn & Heth Warton, 1949-1951 become a ten year long effort to save. Efforts conclude in 2010.

August 14, 2014 marked the reopening of Lincoln Place, a historic 38-acre, 1951 garden apartment complex off Lincoln Boulevard in Venice.  thanks to Amanda Seward for her leadership as the ModCom residential committee chair and for her work on the California Register nomination.

www.laconservancy.org/gardenapartments

https://www.laconservancy.org/locations/lincoln-place

Tangents:

The Architecture of John Lautner

by Alan Hess  (Author), Alan Weintraub  (Photographer) – January 1, 2000
https://www.amazon.com/Architecture-John-Lautner-Alan-Hess/dp/0847822222/ref=llvn-20

Rancho Deluxe: Rustic Dreams and Real Western Living

by Alan Hess  (Author), Alan Weintraub  (Author)  – March 1, 2000
https://www.amazon.com/Rancho-Deluxe-Rustic-Dreams-Western/dp/0811824209/ref=llvn-20

MAK Architecture Tour

Sites included: Buck House (R.M. Schindler, 1934), DeKeyser House (R.M. Schindler, 1935), Dunsmuir Flats (Gregory Ain, 1937), Bonnet House (Richard Neutra, 1942), Fitzpatrick House (R.M. Schindler, 1936), Mackey Apartments (R.M. Schindler, 1939), Hailey House (Richard Neutra, 1958), Kallis House (R.M. Schindler, 1946), Kings Road House-Studio (R.M. Schindler, 1922), Shulman House and Studio (Raphael Soriano, 1950), Bergren Residence (John Lautner, 1951). And cocktails at Case Study House #22, designed by architect Pierre Koenig.

1999

by

Chairperson

Chris Nichols, 1998-1999

Michael Palumbo, 1999-2001

Milestones in the Community

  • LottaLiving Online Community is born. Initiated by Mary-Margaret Stratton in order to widen the net of preservation to advocates beyond the Southern California area.
    www.lottaliving.com/bb
    online_lotta2
  • Palm Springs Modern Committee – PS Modcom is founded in part by ModCom member Peter Moruzzi
    www.psmodcom.org

Meeting Locations

Advocacy

Van De Kamps Windmill

Denny’s propses to demolish the giant Dutch windmill on top of the 1967 Route 66 (Huntington Drive in Arcadia) folded plate roof coffee shop designed by Pasadena architects Harold Bissner and Harold Zoo. Mary-Margaret and Cary Stratton don handmade paper windmill hats that garner much needed publicity at a rally. The building is preserved. The windmill actually starts to operate again in 2016 – the first time since 1989.
https://www.laconservancy.org/locations/dennys

windmill 

Tangents:

Cruising the Pomona Valley 1930-1970 Tour

Ad hoc tour and booklet produced by Charles Phoenix that also included an in-depth tour of the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds. Given on June 15, 1999
https://www.amazon.com/Cruising-Pomona-Valley-1930-thru/dp/0967292107/ref=llvn-20

Leis, Luaus, and Alohas: The Lure of Hawai’i in the Fifties (Island Treasures)

Book co-written by Fred E. Basten and Charles Phoenix published in July, 1999
https://www.amazon.com/Leis-Luaus-Alohas-Fifties-Treasures/dp/0896103978/ref=llvn-20

Fabulous Las Vegas in the ’50s: Glitz, Glamour and Games

Book of pure kitsch from Elvis to Liberace, Ann Margret to Sinatra and more, co-written by Fred E. Basten and Charles Phoenix published October 1, 1999
https://www.amazon.com/Fabulous-Las-Vegas-50s-Glamour/dp/188331805X/ref=llvn-20

Sins of the City: The Real Los Angeles Noir

The author, Jim Heimann, gives a lecture on the other sinful side of L.A. at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. The book is releases May 1, 1999
https://www.amazon.com/Sins-City-Real-Angeles-Noir/dp/0811823199/ref=llvn-20

1998

by

Chairperson

Chris Nichols, 1998-1999

Milestones in the Community

  • Modern Committee Website is launched initiated by Mary-Margaret Stratton
    320_983699530
  • Charles Phoenix First “Americana” Slide Show first showed his slides to ModCom members. His first public event, entitled “God Bless Americana: The Retro Vacation Slide Show of the USA”, was held at the California Map and Travel Store in Los Angeles in 1998. What begins as a friendly get-together mushrooms into a phenomenon. His outreach ends up bring Modern kitsch images to the masses
    http://www.charlesphoenix.com/
    _DSC0281

Meeting Locations

Events

A Place in the Sun: Architecture of Wayne McAllister 1928-1961

Exhibit honors the influential work of Wayne McAllister showcasing his career from 1930s drive-in restaurants to Las Vegas hotels in the 1950s

wayne3

Terminal Island Long Beach Tour

 

Ad hoc self-driving caravan tour produced by Daniel Paul

1998 terminal island tour

Advocacy

Albert Frey Gas Station in Palm Springs – check this date

Modcom travels to speak on behalf of the Tramway Gas Station at the PS City Council

Cinerama Done

Pacific Theaters, proposed a project that would have destroyed the theater’s existing plaza, box offices, and marquee. Modcom contributed to the efforts of Doug Haines to save the iconic theater in Hollywood (along with Hollywood Heritage and Friends of Cinerama) which was made an HCM on December 18, 1998.
https://www.laconservancy.org/locations/cinerama-dome

Tangents

MAK Center Schindler Tour

Tour on November 6 – 7, 1998 presented: Sachs Apartments (1926-1928, 1934-1940), Grokowsky House (1928), Elliot House (1930), Yates Studio (1938, remodeled 1998), Falk Apartments (1939-1940), Roth House (1945), and Laurelwood Apartments (1946-1949).

May I Take Your Order: American Menu Design 1920-1960

A book which sheds light on many obscure Los Angeles eateries by Jim Heimann  June 1, 1998
https://www.amazon.com/May-Take-Your-Order-1920-1960/dp/0811817830/ref=llvn-20

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