Meet Matt Stokes, Your Art Deco Divo

We like to call Matt Stokes our brother from another mother, because we share a love of Art Deco and Old Hollywood. About a year ago, Matt started tagging us on Twitter and sharing gorgeous pictures of Deco buildings, and we thought, "Who is this wonderful man?" We could not have been more excited when he approached us recently about starting up a brother blog to what we are doing, and we are thrilled to share this Q & A with you and let you learn a little about Matt, the Deco side of Toronto, and classic furniture restoration. And when you have a moment, hop on over to www.ArtDecoDivo.blogspot.com and check it out!

Not only is he handsome, but he loves Art Deco!

  
  1.      What is your day job? What can we find you doing in "real life?"

I work for hyper local magazine/newspaper hybrid called The Grid. It’s a lifestyle publication that targets a young, upwardly mobile reader that is interested in all that Toronto has to offer. From Food and Drink, to Real Estate, Dating and Design, The Grid approaches the city from a granular, behind the scenes perspective. We also run several city-wide events like Burger Week, Toronto Cocktail Week, with this year’s new additions being the Beer and Cider Festival and the Toronto Music Run. As we are a free publication, my job as an Account Manager is to generate advertising sales to make sure we keep printing! I oversee a plethora of both Retail and National accounts and also sell sponsorship and participation for our events. A cool fact about The Grid is that we’ve actually been awarded the World’s Best Designed Newspaper 3 years in a row by the Society for News Design, based in New York. Check us out at www.TheGridTO.com or on Twitter @TheGridTO.

 2.      How did the Art Deco love affair begin?

It’s tough to pinpoint a moment in time where my Art Deco love affair began, but I can definitely see where and how it cultivated over time. Growing up, we had my father parent’s occupy the second floor of our family home, and as both of my parents worked full-time, I spent a lot of time with them; my grandmother in particular. She was born in April of 1912, just after the Titanic sank, spent her youth partying in 1930’s England and thus grew up with Art Deco all around her. I just loved her stories, her furniture, and her furs, ha ha. In her youth, she was a model for Du Maurier!  Her living room in our home was a time capsule where I always felt comfortable. I guess I didn’t realize it at the time, but Art Deco was a slow burning fire within, and when I started to have my own apartments, I found myself looking at pieces that resembled what my nana had. From there it spread like wild fire and here I am today, Art Deco Divo.

3.      What do you love about the Art Deco era?

Oh, what a loaded question! What’s not to love?! I love the glamour of it all. The luxurious fabrics, the exotic woods, the patterns, the chrome, the lifestyle. I love Art Deco because it reflected a time where everyone took pride in the way they looked. You never left the house without looking flawless. Art Deco literally touched every aspect design, from skyscrapers to a credenza, a restaurant to a hairbrush; it really affected every facet of life. A complete, holistic, all encompassing style that reflects old world decadence and glamour. These are all things I feel that modern society has lost. I guess I’m an old soul!

4.      You're in Hollywood North, a.k.a. Toronto. What are some can't-miss Deco places to visit when in the city?

Toronto really is an Art Deco Mecca, if you keep your eyes peeled. As Art Deco Divo grows, I’ll show the world not only the most notable and grande locales, but the little known, often dismissed buildings that pepper the city. That being said, The Carlu, Tip Top Lofts, The Bank of Nova Scotia (King & Bay Streets), and the Bank of Commerce (CIBC – Yonge & King Streets) are absolute must visits! All these (and more)  will be big featured on Art Deco Divo.

5.      Tell us about your cool Art Deco bar and this business of restoring glamour to previously-loved pieces of furniture, please.

I love that bar, and there will be a feature on it! The back story to this bar is that my fathers’ father Alec was an architect in England. Unfortunately he passed away when my dad was 5, but he too, loved Art Deco and built the bar himself using a variety of woods. It was brought over with my grandmother Amy and her new husband Nathaniel when they decided to live with us. At some point, someone painted it this god-awful maroon colour and it just sat wasting away in our basement. When I moved out, I took it with me and decided that one I would do grandpa Alec proud and restore it.

It was a much bigger undertaking that I had thought, with over 30 hours of sanding, cutting/polishing marble, and multiple coats of stain and varathane, but was it ever worth it. From there I started purchasing beat-up Art Deco and Mid Century furniture for pennies, and would restore them to their former glory. Resurrection. It was at that moment that I realized many people have what they consider junk in their basements or attics, and from there Restoring Hope was born. We accept these cast-aways as donations, restore them and re-sell them with 50% of the proceeds going to a charity of the donators choice. As we don’t have an indoor workshop, it’s a backyard, summertime venture but it is rewarding, and it scratches my itch to restore (it’s almost therapeutic!).

6.      Is there a building you would love to visit in person one day?

I’ve seen a lot of Art Deco in major cities around the globe but there is one building that I recently fell in love with, and it’s the recently restored Niagara Mohawk (Nimo) Building in Syracuse, New York. Seeing photos took my breath away – I can only imagine standing in front of it!

7.      Do you have a favorite classic film or song?

All About Eve, hands down! First of all it’s got Bette Davis and that’s a reason enough, but the writing is incredible. The plot is just amazing and I don’t think there’s another film with as many quotable one-liners. Also, all the wardrobe was designed by the legendary Edith Head. Enough said! When it comes to music from a bygone era, I have a sweet spot for the ever-tortured Billie Holiday. I used to listen to her a lot with my mother, so it takes me back to those memories.

8.      How can we follow all of your adventures? (Twitter, Instagram, Blog, etc.)

My personal adventures can be followed on Twitter: @mattdstokes, and Instagram: mattstokes
Then of course there is Twitter: @ArtDecoDivo, Instagram: @ArtDecoDivo, and the blog www.ArtDecoDivo.Blogspot.com

And a bonus question...

9.      We'd love to hear about the fabulous cat whose pictures we see on Instagram.

He’s a little rascal, but I love him to pieces. His name is Percival, he’s 7 months old and I’ve had him since he was a mere 6 weeks new. From 0.8lbs to the 9lbs he is now, I wonder if he’s part Puma as he’s lean but really big. I’ve been really affectionate with him since a young age and as a result, he is incredibly cuddly and has turned such a handsome young man! He loves to jump all over the furniture which gives me heart palpitations as I’ve personally restored every piece in the house and don’t want anything scratched. Luckily, he’s really well behaved apart from his 4:00am- 7:00am witching hours where he feels the need to run around the place at 90MPH, like a cheetah after a gazelle. I’m sure he’ll make an appearance on the blog at some point.
 

Three Tips for Old Hollywood Starlet Style

[Here is a part of our new book, From the Corner of Hollywood and diVine: Your Guide to 30 Old Hollywood-Inspired Spots in Southern California, that didn’t make it into the final manuscript. The book guides you through what a day as an Old Hollywood Starlet, Heiress, Hipster, Hot Mama and Working Girl might look like, with six places in SoCal assigned to each iconic personality type. All of the places we recommend are open as of the writing of the book, and many of them have been around since the Art Deco era (1925-1940). We wanted to include a section on how to style yourself to get the look of each gal, but we were ending up with a book that was way too long, so we will be sharing some of the style guide stuff here on the blog. First up: The Starlet!]

“You can have anything you want in life if you dress for it,” said Edith Head, famed costume designer for Paramount Pictures and Universal Pictures. And Edith knew what she was talking about; she won eight Oscars, outfitted actresses like Ginger Rogers and Bette Davis for their films, and also designed many of her clients’ wardrobes for their personal lives. She believed (and showed, through her work) that the right attire could turn the girl-next-door into a ravishing beauty, and vice versa. (The Dress Doctor, Prescriptions for Style, From A To Z, Edith Head, p.7) So how can someone who does not have an army of “fitters, drapers, cutters, figure makers, beaders, dyers, and milliners” in a studio wardrobe department working practically 24/7 to help them look perfect get Starlet style? (Gowns By Adrian, Howard Gutner, p. 26) These three tips will get you off to a great start!

    1. When it comes to the fit of your clothing, a dress should be “tight enough to show you’re a woman, and loose enough to prove you’re a lady.” (The Dress Doctor, p. 49 ) The dresses and gowns in the 1930s had moved away from the low waistlines and boxy shapes of the twenties to embrace a woman’s curves, with the waistline hitting in the proper place and fabric skimming over hips and breasts. You want to go for snug, not sleazy, to transform into a Starlet. And when we think bombshell Starlet, a form-fitting, drapey, floor-length gown is usually what comes to mind. And remember, if you find a vintage gown that’s a steal due to a small imperfection, it can sometimes be repaired by a skillful tailor while she’s making sure your dress fits you perfectly and is the proper length for the shoes you will wear with it. 

 

2.     Pay attention to your posture. To rule the red carpet (or your company holiday party) and show off your carefully chosen dress, you need your shoulders back, your spine straight, and your hips slightly tucked. You could even visualize a glam Art Deco skyscraper, like the Chrysler Building, standing tall to get yourself into the proper frame of mind. Better yet, check out a Pilates class to strengthen your core and help your posture, or try this exercise at home: Back up to a wall, and now make sure the back of your head, shoulders, small of your back, hips, and heels are all touching the wall. When it feels like your gut is going to explode from sucking it in, you’ve got proper alignment.

3.     Be realistic about your resources. Starlets at the top of their game never wear the same thing twice, but they’ve got huge budgets and freebies arriving constantly from designers, so they can go for some big statement pieces because they have bottomless closets. If you’re an up-and-coming or wannabe Starlet, you might be tempted to splurge on something elaborate and feathered or sequined or with 17 colors so you’ll stand out, but before you slap down your credit card take a cue from MGM costume designer Gilbert Adrian (who just went by Adrian and dressed gorgeous gals like Greta Garbo and Joan Crawford) and keep it simple; invest in a black sheath dress and change out your accessories to keep things looking fresh while you wear the dress over and over. (Gowns By Adrian, Howard Gutner, p. 22)

 Purchase From the Corner of Hollywood and diVine: Your Guide to 30 Old Hollywood-Inspired Spots in Southern California, by Lara Scott and Cori Linder, at www.IconicReviews.com.

Stay in Old Hollywood Style in Southern California

My (Lara) latest guest post at Vintage Shopper is up! You'll find out about the Culver Hotel in Culver City, Millennium Biltmore Hotel (pictured) in Downtown Los Angeles, and Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood. Which one was rumored to have a secret tunnel to the MGM lot? Which one had silent film superstars Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks for investors? And which one hosted the Oscars in the thirties and forties? Click here to find out!

Our Book is Here! From the Corner of Hollywood and diVine: Your Guide to 30 Old Hollywood-Inspired Spots in Southern California

After two years...it's finally here!

Cori and I (Lara) are so excited to share From the Corner of Hollywood and diVine: You Guide to 30 Old Hollywood-Inspired Spots in Southern California with you. My intention with this book was to shine a spotlight on so many special places here in SoCal that have been around since the Art Deco era, or at least capture that vibe. It's a perfect guide if you are coming to LA for a visit, as you'll discover some really cool places that most tourists have never heard of. And if you live here in Cali, you might discover some places you've been passing by for years without giving them a second glance.

In our book, you'll find out the answers to these questions, and so many more:

Which Art Deco palace (that now hosts live stage shows) was once owned by Howard Hughes?

Which glamorous restaurant (that also hosts big band concerts and old-school radio shows) was once a fancy men's store?

Which pyramid-topped building in Downtown Los Angeles contains THIS glorious room?

You can grab From the Corner of Hollywood and diVine at www.IconicReviews.com! Thank you so much for reading my blog and supporting this work. It's exciting to think that together we can get the word out about how important it is to preserve historic buildings, and a piece of our past.

P.S. The answers are...Pantages Theatre, Cicada Restaurant, and Los Angeles Central Library.

Building Focus: What's Up With The Wallis

What do you do with an historic post office in the middle of Beverly Hills that is no longer being used as a post office? Turn it into a world-class performing arts center, of course, while preserving the original architecture and wonderful sense of history! Meet The Wallis Annenberg  Center for the Performing Arts, affectionately known as "The Wallis." I truly hope that what's been done here can be used as the blueprint to save so many other buildings that are no longer serving their original purpose. What a fantastic alternative to simply tearing them down and starting over!!!

The above picture is a side view of the building, and below is a shot of my friend Kimberly and me hanging out in the Grand Hall, which serves as the main lobby. Look at those marble-clad walls!

Here's the entrance (which faces Santa Monica Boulvard) back in the early days of the Post Office, complete with smartly-dressed postal workers...

...and the same entrance in March, when my son and I attended a fabulous children's play called White. That is one thing that I think is really wonderful about The Wallis: shows for kids! We saw White in the Studio Theater, which was the original mail sorting room, and we sat on the floor. A show and setting like this is perfect for introducing little ones to the joys of the theatre, and nice for parents because they don't have to worry that their child might make noise or want to get up or disturb someone.

In the Grand Hall, there are eight fresco murals. They were funded under FDR's administration, and each one portrays something having to do with the postal service or labor force. There is one that depicts the pony express, for example, and another with an airplane on it. The end of the hallway in the picture below is where the original Post Office building ends, and the new addition begins.

There is a wonderful outdoor space with a sculpture garden! I love that you can be right in the middle of bustling Bev Hills and still feel calm.

This is the Goldsmith Theater, where the major productions happen, and it is part of the new addition to the building. The accoustics are fantastic, and I was blown away by the production when I saw Noel Coward's Brief Encounter here in March.

And like you need another reason to check out The Wallis... but there's a gourmet candy store there!

Contact Info:

Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts
9390 North Santa Monica Boulevard
Beverly Hills, CA 90210

310-246-3800

http://www.thewallis.org/

Twitter and Instagram: @TheWallisBH

Our Interview with Vintage Shopper is up!

 I (lara) was so honored to be interviewed by Lav at Vintage Shopper! I talked about the book that Cori and I have coming out called From the Corner of Hollywood and diVine,  some of my favorite Old Hollywood spots in Southern California, and which famous cowboy used to keep a cow on the terrace of the Sunset Tower Hotel back in the day. And, if you have ever thought about writing a book, there are some things in there that might inspire you to get started. You can read it here!

Hooray for Preservation! Plus, James Cagney, Fred Astaire, and Rita Hayworth.

It is always weird writing about yourself in the third person, but here's an article I wrote recently about my involvement with Old Town Music Hall in El Segundo, a non-profit theatre dedicated to preserving classic films and music, and why preservation in general is so important to me.

 Lara Scott is a mom on a mission.

When she walked into Old Town Music Hall in El Segundo, CA, for the very first time, she felt like she had been transported back in time to the 1920s or 1930s. “I thought that this was what my grandparents must have meant when they talked about how going to a movie used to be a glamorous experience, and something powerful enough to distract them from the fact that they were living through the Great Depression,” she said.

Lara feels like classic films are so important, not just because they are great entertainment and have to rely on a compelling story rather than special effects to hold an audience's attention, but also because they show us who we are and where we have come from, giving us a glimpse into a world that has vanished. And they have a personal connection for her, too. She says, “Some of my earliest memories are of watching old movies with my dad; I remember being a little kid and watching James Cagney tap dance down the White House stairs in Yankee Doodle Dandy, and Fred Astaire and Judy Garland singing together in Easter Parade. When I see these films now, I feel like it brings me closer to my dad, even though he lives on the other side of the country.”

The very first movie she saw at Old Town Music Hall was 1923’s The White Sister, a silent film starring Lillian Gish and Ronald Colman, accompanied live by owner and host Bill Field on the Wurlitzer Theatre Pipe Organ. Lara was blown away, saying, “It was incredible. I had always thought silent films were boring, but watching it on the big screen with the live music and sound effects that Bill added brought the story to life in a way that had me in tears.”

Lara’s day job is co-hosting the morning show on local radio station 95.9 The Fish, and hosting the internationally syndicated World Chart Show. In 2012, she started a blog called “Old Hollywood, New Glitz”  that celebrates her love of classic film, Art Deco, and the Great American Songbook. She is also working on a forthcoming book that will spotlight Old Hollywood spots and experiences in Southern California. While looking online for places to review she stumbled across Old Town Music Hall.

“I thought that maybe they hosted a screening or two a month, but was so impressed to look at the schedule and realize that they are showing classic films every weekend on the big screen, along with hosting 2-3 concerts a month on Sunday nights. And when I realized that Bill, along with a small group of dedicated volunteers, had been doing all of this on his own for years I was even more impressed. He is a very sweet and incredibly talented man.”

After attending a few more movies, including Yankee Doodle Dandy and Bittersweet, she became concerned that not enough people knew about the theater and were coming out to support it for it to stay open. Lara offered to set up an Old Town Music Hall Twitter account, and continues to update it daily.

“There is a book I love called Vintage Los Angeles,” she said, “but there is a list at the back of the book of historic places that have been demolished. Even some of the places that the author wrote about in the book as places you could visit had closed by the time I tried to go see them in the year after the book came out. I also hear about the great work that the Art Deco Society of Los Angeles and the LA Conservancy do when it comes to saving places that are in danger of destruction, and I felt like I had to do something, too. My heart actually hurts when I hear about a historic building being torn down, because I think of the beauty and the stories that are lost, things that we will never be able to get back. Since I’m not able to do a lot of volunteering in person at this point—I’m usually either at work or with my son—I decided to take my activism online.”

While visiting Old Town Music Hall in March 2013, Bill Field introduced Lara to Oscar-winning producer and director James Moll, who has a long history with the theatre. His mom and stepdad were introduced by Field and his late business partner Bill Coffman in the 1970s, and James has been coming to see movies and concerts there ever since. When he attended a movie in December 2012, James realized that Bill needed some help, and stepped in to put together a new movie schedule and make some improvements to the historic 1921 building. When James invited Lara to join an Old Town Music Hall advisory committee that he was forming to spread the word about the theater, she eagerly accepted.

Lara is excited about the growing buzz surrounding Old Town Music Hall, and is honored to be playing a small part of its resurgence. She also says that her interest in helping to save Old Town Music Hall is with an eye on the next generation. “My son is four, and right now anything starring Thomas the Train is his favorite movie. But one day, I can’t wait to bring him to Old Town Music Hall and tell him who Rita Hayworth was, or show him what Los Angeles looked like when W.C. Fields was filming crazy car chases through the streets, and hopefully create some memories that will be special to my son when he is my age.”

Art Deco Building Focus: Saban Theatre In Beverly Hills

I (Lara) went the the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills for the first time recently (to see a performance of Stomp!) and just fell in love with the place. It's such a little Art Deco jewel (there is no balcony) that I wanted to pick it up and put it in my pocket and take it home with me. Even my hubby, who is not so much into the Deco stuff but has been dragged to decorative places all over town, said that the Saban is by far his favorite.

The Saban opened as the Fox Wilshire in 1930 with the premiere of the Marx Brothers film Animal Crackers. I'm guessing that Groucho's famous eyebrows went up in surprise at the sheer lavishness of the theater and the building that housed it. It was built for the Fox Film Corporation, and there was even an Art Deco penthouse at the top for the Vice President of Fox; the Oviatt Building in Downtown Los Angeles (home of Cicada Restaurant) also has a Deco penthouse.

Architect S. Charles Lee designed the Saban. If his name sounds familiar, it's probably because he did many famous buildings in Southern California, like the Tower Theatre, Bruin Theatre, and Los Angeles Theatre. There are so many lovely features to enjoy at the Saban, like ziggurats over doors, a terrazzo sunburst at the entrance, Art Deco wall sconces, and a spacious rotunda that reminds me of the Wiltern Theatre. The theatre was renovated, but they did a wonderful job sticking close to the original design!

Originally, the Saban was a  first-run movie house that also featured some live theatre. Remember that back in the day, film companies had their own theatres to show their own films, so it must have been very exciting for Fox to set up camp in such a glamorous neighborhood. Plus, talking pictures were still new when the theatre opened, so I'm sure people came in droves to take them in.

The Saban has not shown films since the 1980s, but now hosts live events. I absolutely recommend going to a show so you can enjoy some entertainment and hang in this beautiful theatre!

Takeaway Tips:

1. There is a parking garage next door under an office building, but it gets really jammed right before showtime and right after. You can also look for street parking.

2. There is a cute little bar/restaurant adjacent to the Saban, but--like the garage--it is packed just before shows. Get there really early, or plan to grab a bite somewhere else in the neighborhood.

Contact Info:

Saban Theatre
8440 Wilshire Boulevard
Beverly Hills, CA 90211

323-655-0111

www.SabanTheatre.org
www.twitter.com/Saban_Theatre

Q & A: Where To Dine/Dance In Socal

If you need  a recommendation for somewhere glamorous/unique/Old Hollywood/Art Deco-y to go, email us! You can also browse through our previous posts, and we will give you 30 places in Southern California to check out in our upcoming book. 

Here's a note we recently received from Jim: 

Hi....really enjoyed your piece on the Cicada Club.....I am a former L.A.  resident (Fairfax, Westwood, Brentwood) coming back into town this weekend and was trying to find a place to dance on Saturday night....The CC came up (which led me to your blog story)...but not much else...(The Edison downtown?? Teddy's/Roosevelt Hotel in H'wood?))  Any ideas to help out an old kinda neighbor?

And our response: 

Hi Jim!

Thanks so much for your kind words. I'm so glad to hear that you enjoyed our blog on Cicada!
 

 A wonderful place you could check out is The Sky Room in Long Beach. It's at the top of the historic Breakers building (with a view to die for), and it looks like a sleek nightclub Fred and Ginger would have waltzed across back in the day.  There's a  dance floor and a really nice crowd. The food is also fantastic--I absolutely recommend having dinner and staying to dance...it is definitely worth the drive.

If you're staying more in the DTLA or Hollywood area...The Edison is amazing (mellow at dinnertime, more of a young club vibe later in the night and definitely make a dinner reservation), The Roosevelt is great for dinner at any of their restaurants and just hanging out, and I LOVE Cleo at The Redbury (right at the corner of Hollywood and Vine) for dinner. Sadly, there aren't too many supper clubs like Cicada and The Sky Room that have dinner and dancing to bands...but, hopefully that will change.

Also, have you heard about the Deco ball on Catalina every May? It's amazing, and it's held in the Casino and put on by the Art Deco Society of Los Angeles with a big band and dancing all night. 

Let me know if you check out any of these places, and how you like them.  Have a wonderful visit!

Lara

Contact Info:
The Sky Room
40 South Locust Avenue
Long Beach, CA 90802
(562) 983-2703
TheSkyRoom.com

Tour: A Historic Afternoon in Culver City

Culver City (founded by Harry Culver and incorporated in 1917) was once looked at as the perfect halfway point to stop and rest when coming from Southern California's beautiful beaches to a wild night out in Hollywood. It is still a great layover stop, but now has so many fun things to do that it's also a great destination all on its own! Here are four Old Hollywood/New Glitz-y places to check out when you've got a few hours or a whole weekend to spare.

1. The Culver Hotel

Affectionately known as "The Pie Slice" because of its shape, this boutique hotel (which once housed stars like Clark Gable and The Munchkins while they filmed at nearby MGM) has the charm of the Golden Age of Hollywood and lots of modern amenities. Plan an overnight stay, or pop in for live music in the evening or Sunday brunch.

You can also sneak up the stairs off the lobby to the Mezzanine Lounge and kick back on a comfy couch and zebra print rug. This intimate, luxurious area would be perfect for hosting an event! www.CulverHotel.com


2. MGM (Now Sony Pictures Studios and Home of Columbia Pictures )

Here's a picture of the Irving Thalberg Building, which houses all of the Oscars that Columbia Pictures has won for Best Film. You'll get to see the actual statues in the lobby of this building when you take the studio tour, which is reasonably priced and about two hours long. You'll also see things like the soundstage where Judy Garland recorded "Over the Rainbow" and the sets of game shows like Wheel of Fortune, along with getting to shop in the studio store (where we bought a shirt for a toddler that said "Sony Pictures Director").

If you're an Art Deco fan, keep an eye out for lots of Deco details on the tour, like vertical features, symmetrical windows, rounded corners, and speed lines on buildings, along with metalwork that's reminiscent of flowers, plants, and waves. http://sonypicturesstudios.com/


3. Helms Bakery District

The Helms Bakery (opened in 1931) was the official bakery that supplied bread for the 1932 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. The bakery closed in 1969, but the complex has found new life as a shopping and dining destination. Don't miss Arcana: Books on the Arts and HD Buttercup, which had me (Lara) wanting to redo my whole house with furniture from this gorgeous store. To give you energy to spend the whole day here, grab a latte at La Dijonaise!

Wouldn't you love to see this stylish Streamline Moderne truck/van roll up to your house with freshly baked goodies? http://helmsbakerydistrict.com/

4. Kirk Douglas Theatre (formerly the Culver Theatre)

The Culver Theatre opened right next to MGM in 1947, and was built in the Streamline Moderne style. Originally a movie palace, it's now known as the Kirk Douglas Theatre and is a great place to see a play! A recent renovation has freshened things up but kept some of those wonderful Art Deco details, like the the tower and the box office. Try to drive by at night so you can see it lit up in all its glory!  http://www.centertheatregroup.org/

If you've been to Culver City, what's your favorite place? Email us or leave a comment!

MAD ABOUT MARIONETTES: THE BOB BAKER THEATER

 In a world of high-tech everything, where we freak out if something takes more than two seconds to download (or maybe that’s just me?), there is something incredibly charming about the simplicity of the Bob Baker Theater. But simple does not mean boring, as my delighted three-year-old and I will tell you after our recent visit for the Halloween Hoop-De-Doo, one of the theater’s most popular offerings that is running through November 3^rd.

Bob Baker has been a puppeteer and marionette maker since the 1940s, and has created puppets for iconic films like A Star Is Born and Bedknobs and Broomsticks. He designed all of the marionettes at the theater, and for the Hoop-De-Doo there are over 100 Halloween-themed puppets.

Now in its 53^rd season, the Bob Baker Theater is the oldest of its kind in the United States, and has been declared a Los Angeles historic cultural monument. Bob’s creations have been entertaining kids here since 1960, and I have even heard that Liza Minnelli used to come  when she was a child!

The theater is tucked away under an overpass in Downtown Los Angeles, with a paid parking lot next door and lots of street parking. After walking past a clown blowing a horn at the entrance, you will enter the theater, which is very beautiful and romantic and decked out with crystal chandeliers and velvety purple drapes and curtains. 

Shows are performed in the round, with a large square of gray carpet serving as the stage. Kids can sit on the floor right in the front (with parents behind them in chairs), which makes it easy for the puppets to come right over and sit in their lap or pat them on the head, making the audience a part of the show! Every seat is a good one, and I think everyone gets to feel like they are part of the action. 

The insanely talented puppeteers are part of the show, too; dressed all in black, they walk and run around the room while manipulating the marionette strings to allow them to talk, sing, dance, and play the guitar. In one number, a marionette even appears to twerk! That is amazing, especially considering that I can’t even manage to keep my Iphone cord free of knots. After each hour-long show, you can meet the puppeteers, buy a souvenir puppet, and have refreshments in the theater’s colorful party room.

Some of our favorite numbers from the Halloween Hoop-De-Doo (which debuted in 1963) were the Purple People Eater, the Invisible Man, and the black light numbers, featuring glowing skeletons (some with twirling tassels on their lady parts). Catch the Halloween Hoop-De-Doo while you can; the shows change every season. Something tells me we will be back soon for the Holiday Spectacular!

Contact Info
 
  
The Bob Baker Marionette Theater
 

1345 West First Street

Los Angeles, CA 90026

www.bobbakermarionettes.com

www.twitter.com/bobbakertheater

(213) 250-9995

Performance Info:

Bob Baker’s Halloween Hoop-De-Doo runs through November 3rd.

Bob Baker’s Holiday Spectacular opens November 9^th.

Tuesdays through Fridays at 10:30am

Saturdays and Sundays at 2:30pm

Children and Adults $15.00

Children under Age 2 Free

Call the Box Office For Required Reservations

A Quick Update and Book News

Isn't Bullocks Wilshire a glorious sight? It is a great joy and honor for us to share our favorite Art Deco spots with you!

We wanted to let you know that we will be taking a bit of a break from blogging. We're in the editing phase of writing our book, so that's going to be our focus for a bit. The book is going to give you the scoop on some incredibly special--and very glam--Old Hollywood spots that you can visit, along with lots of insider tips to make your visit the best visit ever.

So please keep in touch with us! We're on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram @ArtDecoDivas (updating them daily), and we will be popping in here on the blog from time to time.

Love and ZigZag Moderne,
Lara and Cori

The Culver Hotel and Munchkinland

The munchkins totally partied here.

Fig: The Culver Hotel Lounge. So inviting!

That was my (Lara’s) first thought as I walked into the pie-slice-shaped Culver Hotel in Culver City with my fellow divas, Michelle ("The Actress") and Chandra ("The Makeup Artist"), and marveled at all the big-time glamma packed into a small space.  Our Fourth Diva, Cori ("The Writer"), was home nursing a sore throat and sounding a lot like Demi Moore.  

I hoped I had the courage to convince my friends that they should join me and dedicate the next year to writing a guidebook about Art Deco and Old Hollywood. For someone who talks for a living (I guess that makes me "The Voice"?), I was sweat-trickling-down-the-back nervous. I was going to need a trough of liquid courage (caffeine) for this. Latte, please. Or six. Add in another shot.

But back to the munchkins. Even though the hotel has hosted tons of superstars, from Clark Gable to Lana Turner to Judy Garland to Ronald Reagan, it’s all about the little people for me. Is it because I had a thing for the Lollipop Guild when I was a child, and wanted them to welcome me to Munchkinland?  Perhaps. 

Fig. The Culver Hotel Dining Room.
Join us for a dinner party?!

Legend has it that when filming was going on for The Wizard of Oz, an underground tunnel was built to usher the Munchkins from the hotel to nearby MGM (now Sony) Studios. Later, not wanting a good tunnel to go to waste, it was utilized to ferry alcohol and women during the Prohibition Era. Holla! How do I get a tunnel between my casa and Starbucks?

Legend also has it that the munchkins got up to all kinds of naughtiness while throwing some wild parties. I want to go to there, this munchkin shindig. Ain’t no party like a munchkin party ‘cause a munchkin party don’t stop. However, they must not have trashed the place too badly because their picture still hangs on the bathroom door that’s just off the grand lobby.

As I thought about how this place was once just empty land, and then Culver City’s first movie theater, and then this beautiful hotel, I remembered this quote: “Everyone who got where they are had to start where they were.” 

Maybe it was the spaciousness of the lobby, the startling print on the black and white wallpaper, the tiny projector to the right of the bar, or the piano music that was being piped in from somewhere (the secret tunnel?), but I found myself opening up to Sugar and Michelle and sharing from my heart about this dream I’ve had for a few years now of writing the book that I would like to read on Art Deco. But not just a straight-up guide book, or a book that is just about history and design, but one that shares how the beauty of Art Deco can change a life and reveal beauty in every woman.

Our book would be full of tips on everything from how to make a vintage cocktail to how to put together a kick-ass playlist from the ‘20s and ‘30s (I’m talking about your delightful, de-lovely songs, Cole Porter). How I’ve found that, as I’ve started to add things like reading books about design, and going to historical buildings, and drooling over 1920’s beaded flapper-style dresses from The Way We Wore online into my own life I’ve started to crave quality, glamour, and fun in the every day things.  

And how my mindset has changed as I’ve been exposed to incredible images. I’ve started to feel like maybe, just maybe, my best years aren’t behind me, and that the future could be very bright indeed.

Thankfully, my girls didn’t run screaming for the Hollywood Hills when I shared all of this with them, especially the part about how it’s all going to be a process, and right now we have no idea where we’re going to end up (Barstow, maybe?). I could have kissed their stilettos, because they were actually excited at the prospect of throwing themselves into something new. I do think that the yummy omelettes and waffles (Sugar had one of each!) may have helped bring them around to Mama’s way of thinking. 

That morning at the pie slice, we planned our very first Deco Day, and will be hitting the Roosevelt Hotel and Egyptian Theater in Hollywood in the very near future to look for the ghost of Marilyn Monroe.

P.S. We’re excited that you are joining us on this journey, too.

If you find yourself poking around at the Culver Hotel and perhaps trying to convince your friends to join you for a random project, try the waffles and don’t miss these five things:

Fig. The Green Chair!
(Was it in the Emerald City
in the land of Oz?)

1. The Mezzanine Lounge, perfect for a cozy meeting with a lovahhhhhhhh.
2. The bathroom off of the Mezzanine Lounge. The mirror, the wallpaper…we felt glamorous while blowing our nose in here.
3. The vibrant green chair you see as you enter through the door by the valet.  If your dogs are barking after a long day, take a load off here, fanny.
4. The sparkly private dining room. We wanted to wear the se napkins as a hat, and then felt inspired to buy some for our own house, instead of handing people a roll of paper towels when they come over and saying, “We’re not fancy around here.” 
5. The bird/duck/falcon? faucet in the downstairs ladies room.  And by the way, gentlemen, it’s worth sneaking in to take a peek at this beauty of a bird/duck/falcon. Oh, the detail! We swoon. 

Fig: Bathroom sink in The Culver Hotel.
We think it's some type of cool cross-breed.

And just a side note, let us know if you find that secret tunnel.  We have some alcohol and women we’d like to ferry through. 

Culver Hotel

www.culverhotel.com

www.twitter.com/CulverHotel

9400 Culver Boulevard  Culver City, CA 90232
(310) 558-9400

Fun Note: The “Jewel of Downtown Culver” City was branded a skyscraper (at what looks like six stories!) in 1924 when it first opened its doors. Culver City and the hotel were created by Harry Culver as the ideal stopping ground for people going from the beach to the wonderful Hollywood Nightlife, a drive that now takes about 20-25 minutes without traffic.  But it’s still fun to stop in CC for a little refreshment with sand stuck between your toes.