Atomic Age Alliance

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Home > Archives for Preservation

2016

by

Chairperson

n.a.

Milestones in the Community

Meeting Locations

Events:

Covina Bowl Anniversary Party

Event produced by Chris Nichols that celebrates the 60th 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

20160211_201143

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

2015

by

Chairperson

Regina O’Brien, 2009-2015

Milestones in the Community

  • ModCom Turns 30

Meeting Locations

Advocacy

Church of Christ Scientist – aka Mosaic Church

Primary support for this preservation in 2015 came from http://www.saveresidentialhollywood.com/ however ModCom lent their support to the initiative.
https://www.laconservancy.org/locations/mosaic-church-fifth-church-christ-scientist

Kronish House

1954 Neutra Home in Beverly Hills Saved when it became a HCM in April 2015. Helped to solidy and activate the City of Beverly Hills preservation program.
https://www.laconservancy.org/locations/kronish-house
http://www.beverlyhillshistoricalsociety.org/

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
https://www.laconservancy.org/locations/norms-la-cienega-coffee-shop

Robinson’s Department Store

Beautiful retail complex designed by Pereira in Beverly Hills Lost

Etc.

The predominance of issues described in the LA newsletter are Modern Issues
https://www.laconservancy.org/sites/default/files/files/documents/Mar-Apr15.pdf

Events

ModCom Turns 30

Thirtieth Birthday party for ModCom on March 28, 2015 at the Pasadena Presbyterian Church. Slide shows and presentations are given by Peter Moruzzi, Alan Lieb, Chris Nichols and Regina O’Brien

IMG_20150328_201547 20150328_205111

Annual Holiday Party:

December 7

Modern Master Awards:

  • Disney Imagineer Bob Gurr
  • Architectural photographer Wayne Thom

Tangents

MAK Architecture Valley Tour

Tour in conjunction with Dwell on Design on October 18, 2015 featured classic works of architecture in the San Fernando Valley: Van Dekker House (R.M. Schindler, 1939-1940) Goodwin House (R.M. Schindler, 1940) Phineas Kappe House (Ray Kappe, 1956) Barsha House (Ray Kappe, 1959) Struckus House (Bruce Goff, 1982)

John Elgin Woolf Exhibit and Talk

Steven Price lecture on Hollywood Regency style at the Palos Verdes Art Center

Palm Springs Paradise

by Peter Moruzzi – July 1, 2015
https://www.amazon.com/Palm-Springs-Paradise-Peter-Moruzzi/dp/142363991X/ref=llvn-20

Tiki Style

by Sven Kirsten– February 15, 2015
https://www.amazon.com/Tiki-Style-Sven-Kirsten/dp/3836555085/ref=llvn-20

Crestwood Hills: The Chronicle of a Modern Utopia

by Cory Buckner (Author), Amy Inouye (Illustrator) – March 30, 2015
https://www.amazon.com/Crestwood-Hills-Chronicle-Modern-Utopia/dp/1626400245/ref=llvn-20

Shag Store Opens in L.A.

New store on Melrose September 2015

2014

by

Chairperson

Regina O’Brien, 2009-2015

Milestones in the Community

Meeting Locations

Events

Bowlerama Exhibit

Chris Nichols Bowling Exhibit at the A&D museum
DSC00555

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

2013

by

Chairperson

Regina O’Brien, 2009-2015

Milestones in the Community

Meeting Locations

Events

Venice Tour

Architecture of the 1970s and 1980s

Advocacy

Johnies Coffee Shop

Classic building at Wilshire and Fairfax is nominated for Los Angeles Historic Cultural Monument (HCM) Nomination on November 27, 2013. Nomination was written with the help of Alan Hess.

https://www.laconservancy.org/locations/johnies-coffee-shop

http://articles.latimes.com/2013/aug/27/news/la-lh-case-study-houses-national-register-historic-places-20130824

Gregory Ain Mar Vista Housing Tract

Successful HPOZ nomination of the. 52 one story homes. Nomination primarily written by Amanda Seward

Case Study Houses

CSH received National Register Status. Eleven original dwellings remained in Los Angeles, Sand Diego and Ventura counties. Work by Charles Eames, Craig Ellwood, Pierre Koeing, Eero Saarinen, and Rodney Walker. Ten of them ended up being successfully nominated by 2013. The eleventh was owner opposed. Volunteers who contributed to the successful completion of this effort include: Steven Kyle, _______________. The Modern Committee is given the Governor’s Preservation Award for its work on the Case Study house nominations.

Annual Holiday Party:

USC Religious Center

Modern Master Awards:

Tangents:

Palm Springs ModCom and Preservation Foundation

ModCom members continue to participate and advocate for preservation in Palm Springs, CA.

palm springs

Sheilah Graham’s Hollywood Drive Tour

Great Autos of Yesteryear produces a self driving car rally tour focused on location and dates of “September 1956”

MAK Architecture Venice Tour

Venice Area tour on June 23, 2013 featured architecture related to Everything Loose Will Land in the Getty Foundation’s Pacific Standard Time Presents: Modern Architecture in L.A. Houses included: Spiller House (Frank Gehry, 1980) Alan Voo House (Neil M. Denari Architects, house renovation / extension, 2007) Peter Alexander Studio (Peter Alexander, 1999) Petal House (Eric Owen Moss, 1982)
2-4-6-8 House (Morphosis, 1978)

A. Quincy Jones: Building for Better Living

Hammer Museum’s first major museum retrospective of the Los Angeles-based architect’s work. Also included two days of exclusive architectural tours of some of Jones’s most remarkable built projects on June 22 and June 29, 2013.

The book A. Quincy Jones: Building for Better Living by Brooke Hodge is released June 25, 2013
https://www.amazon.com/Quincy-Jones-Building-Better-Living/dp/3791352652/ref=llvn-20

Overdrive: L.A. Constructs the Future, 1940-1990

One of 17 museum and gallery multi-institution collaborative events featured in Pacific Standard Time Presents: Modern Architecture in L.A.. Opened April 9, 2013 at the Getty, celebrates Mutual Housing Association in Crestwood, Richard Neutra’s glass box houses in Silver Lake and Frank Gehry’s Walt Disney Concert Hall downtown. Overdrive is what its similar-sounding 2011 counterpart did for art.

2011

by

Chairperson

Regina O’Brien, 2009-2015

Milestones in the Community

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.

wigwam piano1 gang

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.

rat pack moment 2011

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

2009

by

Chairperson

Alan Lieb, 2008-2009

Regina O’Brien, 2009-2015

Milestones in the Community

  • Modern Masters Awards are established

Meeting Locations

Events

City of Seekers L.A. Unique Spiritual Legacy

Tour of buildings of the 20th century that have ties to unusual spiritual movements.

It’s a Mod, Mod, Mod, Mod City

Tour was part of a year-long program called “The Sixties Turn 50” to highlight the fact than many of our mid-20th century buildings are now eligible for historic landmark status.
http://ellenbloom.blogspot.com/2009/11/its-mod-mod-mod-mod-city.html

Advocacy

Johnnies Broiler

Downey which was determined eligible for the California Register in 2002 is unceremoniously AND illegally demolished in 2007. Jim Louder agrees to rebuild the Broiler as a new Bob’s Big Boy restaurant along with assistance from the City of Downey Redevelopment Agency.

CBS Columbia Square

Saved March 2009

Columbia Savings

1965 bank building on Miracle Mile demolished in 2010.
https://www.laconservancy.org/issues/columbia-savings

Annual Holiday Party:

Los Angeles City Hall

Modern Master Awards

  • Jack Laxar
  • Leland Lee
  • Julius Shulman
  • Marvin Rand

DSC01993 DSC01995

Tangents

MAC Architecture Tour

Annual tour focus Silverlake and Los Feliz on October 4, 200 including seven residences dating from 1926 through 1964, by seminal architects R.M. Schindler, Gregory Ain, Raphael Soriano, Harwell Harris and Craig Ellwood.

Palm Springs Holiday: A Vintage Tour from Palm Springs to the Saltan Sea

by Peter Moruzzi – September 1, 2009
https://www.amazon.com/Palm-Springs-Holiday-Vintage-Saltan/dp/1423604768/ref=llvn-20

Autumn’s Come Undone

A radical departure in SHAG’s style away from satirical pop Modern look – to a dark and foreboding feeling. New book by Shag– October 15, 2009
https://www.amazon.com/Autumns-Come-Undone-Shag/dp/0979330734/ref=llvn-20

“William Krisel, Architect”

Film is produced by Design on Screen
http://www.designonscreen.org/dvds/william-krisel-architect/

Case Study Houses June 2009

by Elizabeth Smith (Author), Peter Gossel (Editor), Julius Shulman (Photographer)
https://www.amazon.com/Case-Study-Houses-Elizabeth-Smith/dp/3836510219/ref=llvn-20

Southern California Eats

A fresh look at Southern California’s roadside eateries. Embark on a road trip to out-of-the-way Route 66 landmarks, futuristic Googie coffee shops, and exotic Polynesian paradises. Part-homage and part-guidebook, this photo essay captures the flavor and character of Southern California’s most unique eating establishments. By John Eng and Adriene Biondo.
https://www.amazon.com/Southern-California-Eats-John-Eng/dp/0764333321/ref=llvn-20

2008

by

Chairperson

Adriene Biondo, 2005-2008

Alan Lieb, 2008-2009

Milestones in the Community

  • Dwell on Design Conference is launched. this conference later adds tours of Modern Homes to its offerings

Meeting Locations

Event

The ultimate Nichols wedding at historic Agua Caliente.

Advocacy

Lou Ehlers Cadillac

1955 car showroom designed by Stiles Clements Associates. One of the most significant automobile showrooms in the country. After a brief preservation effort, it was quickly demolished before advocacy could occur.
https://www.laconservancy.org/locations/lou-ehlers-cadillac-demolished

Tangents

MAK Architecture Tour

Tour produced in partnership with the Hammer Museum groundbreaking exhibition Between Earth and Heaven: The Architecture of John Lautner on view July 13-October 12, 2008 in Westwood, focused on the work of John Lautner. Included: Harpel Residence (1956), Tyler Residence (1953) Schwimmer Residence (1982) Jacobsen Residence (1947), Harvey Residence (1950) Reiner-Burchill Residence also known as Silvertop (1963) Sheats-Goldstein Residence (1963).

Shag: A-Z: A BLAB! Storybook

by Shag  (Author), Monte Beauchamp (Editor) – March 5, 2008

Havana Before Castro: When Cuba Was a Tropical Playground Perfect

by Peter Moruzzi– August 1, 2008
https://www.amazon.com/Havana-Before-Castro-Tropical-Playground/dp/1423603672/ref=llvn-20

Frank Lloyd Wright the Buildings

by Alan Hess  (Author), Alan Weintraub (Photographer), – October 21, 2008

2006

by

Chairperson

Adriene Biondo, 2005-2008

Milestones in the Community

  • Palm Springs Modernism Show & Sale by Dolphin Promotions and an annual symposium is organized by the Palm Springs Art Museum’s Architecture and Design Council, showcase the world-renowned midcentury modern architecture of Palm Springs. This was an outgrowth of an earlier “20th Century” show that began in 2000.

Meeting Locations

Event

Spectacular Vernacular Tour

details

Advocacy

Capitol Records Building

HCM Nomination written by ____

The Foster Residence in Balboa Highlands

Successful HCM #848 nomination of Mid Century Modern home designed by A. Quincy Jones and Frederick Emmons. Nomination written by Mary-Margaret Stratton.

HCM 848 1

 

Mullen and Bluett building

1949 department store designed in great detail by Stiles O. Clements was demolished in 2006 alongside the 1936 Phelps-Terkel store by Morgan, walls and Clements.
https://www.laconservancy.org/locations/mullen-and-bluett-demolished

Tangents

MAK Architecture Tour

The 2006 fundraiser tour on October 1, 2006 featured houses by Modernist masters including Irving Gill, Frank Lloyd Wright, Rudolph Schindler, John Lautner and Pierre Koenig. It concentrated on residencies around the Hollywood Hills.

Americana the Beautiful: Mid Century Culture in Kodachrome

Coffee table book written by Charles Phoenix published in June 2006
https://www.amazon.com/Americana-Beautiful-Mid-Century-Culture-Kodachrome/dp/1883318548/ref=llvn-20

Oscar Niemeyer: Houses

by Alan Hess  (Author), Alan Weintraub  (Photographer) – May 16, 2006
https://www.amazon.com/Oscar-Niemeyer-Houses-Alan-Hess/dp/0847827984/ref=llvn-20

Organic Architecture: The Other Modernism

by Alan Hess  (Author), Alan Weintraub  (Photographer) – August 2, 2006
https://www.amazon.com/Organic-Architecture-Modernism-Alan-Hess-ebook/dp/1586858572/ref=llvn-20

Atomic Ranch: Design Ideas for Stylish Ranch Homes

by Michelle Gringeri-Brown  (Author), Jim Brown (Photographer) – August 29, 2006
https://www.amazon.com/Atomic-Ranch-Design-Ideas-Stylish/dp/1423600029/ref=llvn-20

Eichler Network

The Eichler Network Newsletter changes its name to CA-Modern Magazine since 2006

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

1997

by

Chairperson

Peter Moruzzi, 1992-1997

Milestones in the Community

Meeting Locations

Events

Cruising Industrial Los Angeles

Tour produced by Peter Mouruzzi which roughly follows the Los Angeles River and Major rails lines to discover the industrial backbone of Los Angeles. Stops include:

  • Sparkletts Water
  • Vernon Light and Power Plant

http://articles.latimes.com/1997/oct/03/local/me-38740

Advocacy

Grandma Prisbey’s Bottle Village Tour and Cleanup – check this date

Ad hoc tour of the folk art environment built between 1955 and 1983 in Simi Valley produced by Daniel Paul

Tangents

Modern Architecture in Palm Springs California, USA

A weekend Tour November 8 & 9 and Slide Show October 20. Produced entirely by Tony Merchell in conjunction with his presentation to the DOCOMOMO Conference in Germany. The tour becomes the foundation for future Palm Springs Modernism Advocacy.

1997 ps tramway gas station

SHAG Show

SHAG’s has his first solo gallery exhibition is in 1997. His seminal show “J is for Jetsetter” later in January 2001 at La Luz de Jesus Gallery at their original upstairs location on Melrose firmly cements the image of hip MidMod style in the arts community.

1996

by

Chairperson

Peter Moruzzi, 1992-1997

Milestones in the Community

  • McDonald’s Corporation rededicates the Golden Arches Downey McDonalds and adds an historic museum to the site.
    mcdonalds 1996

Meeting Locations

Events

Society for Commercial Archeology Conference

Tour coincides with the Society for Commercial Archeology Conference at the Biltmore Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles. Four-day “Life in the Past Lane” conference is co-sponsored by the Automobile Club of Southern California. Over 200 people attend. Panels of historians, architects, preservationists and critics will tackle such topics as “The Four Level Stack as Los Angeles Icon,” “The Stucco Box,” and “Booze, Bread, MGM, Ham and Giant Dogs: The Emerging Urban Landscape of Washington Boulevard, 1920-1940.” Auto Club historian Matthew Roth speaks. Chris Nichols dances along to stock film footage of Los Angeles roads and streets during the decades that commercial archeologists most love–from the 1920s to the ’60s. John English, leads two bus tours Sat: San Gabriel Valley and Anaheim tour and Sun: Central Los Angeles

Advocacy

Bullock’s Pasadena

Ongoing preservation issue to save the Welton Beckett designed sprawling Pasadena Bullocks – now a Macy’s. A project that would completely surround the former Bullock’s Pasadena on South Lake Avenue. Modcommers worked in association with Pasadena Heritage. In an unforgettable moment of preservation activism, Michael Kiralla opens an umbrella up at the Pasadena City council meeting and claims: “It’s raining lies in Pasadena.” The issue dragged on for 2 years until success in 1998.

Van De Kamps headquarters

Modcom stages a rally at the Dutch revival headquarters in Glassel Park. The bakery closed in 1990 and the building became threatened. It becomes a HCM landmark in 1992, but is threatened with demolition.

Tangents

20th Century Tiki

Group show at La Luz de Jesus. Co-curated by Otto von Stroheim and Sven Kirsten that included the work of SHAG and the birth of pop surrealism when Mark Ryden showcases his definitive piece “Exotica.”

Car Hops and Curb Service: A History of American Drive-In Restaurants 1920-1960

by Jim Heimann March 1, 1996
https://www.amazon.com/Car-Hops-Curb-Service-Drive-/dp/0811811158/ref=llvn-20

1994

by

Chairperson

Peter Moruzzi, 1992-1997

Milestones in the Community

  • Downey McDonald’s issue gets ModCom national exposure.
  • First Los Angeles Modern Show. Years later it was bought by Dolphin Promotions who produce the annual Palm Springs Modernism Show.

Meeting Locations

Event

Cruising PostWar Los Angeles

Self Driven tour produced by ______ and _____ of Mid Century Modern landmarks. Tour attracts more than 1000 attendees.

Advocacy

Downey McDonalds

Rallies and protests are created to garner public support to save the oldest standing Golden Arches. Chris Nichols dresses up as the original company mascot, Sir Speedy. John English dresses up at the new corporate mascot, Ronald McDonald. Ronald acts out stabbing Speedy to death. The building designed by Stanley Clark Meston and his assistant Charles Fish in 1953 gets front page coverage in the New York Times and the McDonald’s Corporation makes the decision to re-open the location.

CBS Television City

Fairfax District, Los Angeles (Saved)

Azusa McDonald’s

Original Asuza landmark was demolished

Wich Stand Coffee Shop

Ladera Heights coffee shop was  saved

Tangents

First Annual Tiki Mug Party

Party at Otto Von Stroheim’s home in Venice. Sven Kirsten meets SHAG for the first time.

Scram Magazine

In the era of “zines” one is produced by ModCom friend Kim Cooper with Nathan Marsak as one of the authors
https://www.amazon.com/Scram-Magazine-Family-Reynolds-Division/dp/B00BFLTXTC/ref=llvn-20

1993

by

Chairperson

Peter Moruzzi, 1992-1997

Milestones in the Community

  • Bob’s Big Boy Preservation Win
  • Nickodell – Famous Paramount Pictures adjacent eaterie on Melrose is closed

Meeting Locations

Events

Postwar Commercial Architecture in Los Angeles

Lecture and Exhibition focusing on Armet and Davis, the firm responsible for bringing the Googie Coffee Shop style to a broader American audience.

Advocacy:

Bob’s Big Boy

Designated a California State Historical Point of Interest. Designed by Wayne McAllister in 1949 in Toluca Lake. The process is difficult due to owner opposition. After designation it becomes the top grossing Bob’s Big Boy in the country.

Tangents

House Industries

A new company in Delaware begins that will influence the graphic world in the coming years. This type Foundry and font catalog allows people across the world to utilize fonts initiated by Southern California architects and artists since 1993.

Eichler Network

The Eichler Network begins to support the lifestyle of the thousands of homeowners in Northern and Southern California who own an ‘Eichler’ home. mid-century homeowners in Sacramento and southern California who live in Streng Bros., Palmer & Krisel, Cliff May, and other Eichler-like mid-century modern classics. CA-Modern, a quarterly full-color hard-copy magazine which contains a mix of features on California’s rich legacy of mid-century modern homes and the people that live in them, home maintenance solutions, and other features that focus on the modern home and its lifestyle. CA-Modern Magazine since 2006

Viva Las Vegas: After-Hours Architecture

An influential book on Las Vegas architecture arrives by Alan Hess with a forward by Robert Venturi in July 1, 1993
https://www.amazon.com/Viva-Las-Vegas-After-Hours-Architecture/dp/081180111X/ref=llvn-20

1992

by

Chairperson

Peter Moruzzi, 1992-1997

Milestones in the Community

  • Modern and Post-WWII Committee Group changes name to Modern Committee (aka ModCom)
  • Los Angeles Modern Auctions (LAMA) is founded by Peter Loughrey.
    https://lamodern.com

Meeting Locations

Events

Neutra in the 1930s

Tour and Lecture

Advocacy

Bobs Big Boy

Preservation Efforts to save the coffee shop drive-in in Toluca Lake begins.

Tangents

Los Angeles Forum for Architecture and Urban Design

Lectures at the Schindler House featuring Peter Moruzzi and Sven Kirsten and others

Welcome to the LottaLivin Family of Websites

the LottaLivin and LottaLiving family of websites are your most respected authority on all the things you love: Googie, Atomic Age, Mid-Century Modern Living, Modernism Furniture, design, art, architecture and Post War historic preservation. We also reach out to fans of International design, Art Deco, 20th century lifestyle, Roadside attractions, Travel tips, motels, coffee shops, drive-ins, bowling alleys, dinner houses, gas stations, giant objects, neon signs, vintage fashion, entertainment, exotica, lounge music, cocktail hour, space-age, swing, tiki, theme parks, dancing, nostalgia, go-go boots, hairdoos, ephemera, SHAG artwork, collectibles, ALL ARE WELCOME!

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