1961 Custom Residence of James C. Dodd, FAIA For Sale
James C. Dodd was Sacramento's first African-American licensed architect and worked on several key Sacramento landmarks in the 1950s, 60s and 70s. In 1982 he was admitted to the AIA (American Institute of Architects) College of Fellows for outstanding contribution to the profession and public service.
Mr. Dodd's personal custom residence is currently for sale. I am not an agent or affiliated with one, but I was honored to take photographs of this home to celebrate Mr. Dodd's memory and document his work. The home has true mid-century details and materials throughout. It needs some patience, vision, and mid-century modern love to make it shine. It is located in the Golf Course Village neighborhood, right below Bing Maloney Golf Course. Here are two historical ads I found while looking at microfilm (1, 2) from 1955 that reflect other modern homes in the neighborhood.
Mr. Dodd graduated from UC Berkeley in 1952. He became a member of AIA in 1957. In addition to working at the firms of Baravetto +Thomas and McCabe, Cox + Liske, he opened his own firm in 1960.
Mr. Dodd's projects (per his self report to the AIA, his obituary, and my research) in Sacramento region included:
- Brutalist-style Crocker Art Museum Herold Wing expansion (1969) (Associate architect with McCabe, Cox & Liske);
- Aerojet Prototype Housing, 1969;
- Sacramento Community/Convention Center;
- Shiloh Baptist Church, 1961;
- Sacramento Capitol City S.D.A. Church;
- science building at UC Davis;
- the redesign of Sacramento High School;
- Rescue Elementary School in El Dorado Hills;
- Jackson Elementary School in El Dorado Hills, 1969;
- Holly Heights in Willits;
- Walnut Village in Ukiah;
- Cypress Ridge (a solar energy project) in Fort Bragg;
- Sunshine Manor in Lakeport;
- Highlands Village in Clearlake Highlands.
Of note, the Center for Sacramento History recognizes the importance of Mr. Dodd's contribution as Sacramento's first African American architect and has an archive record of several drawings as well as a few photographs taken of him at the height of his career.
Mr. Dodd worked tirelessly in the community, including but not limited to: doing public service for Big Brothers; being president of the Central Valley chapter of the American Institute of Architects; giving speeches with Toastmasters and serving as chairman of the Board of Governors of the CA Community Colleges.
I am posting this as a public service to those who are interested and love MCM design and architecture as much as I do. I was happy to document this home for historical purposes and to honor the memory of Sacramento's first African-American architect.
Armet & Davis in Sacramento: Remembering Eldon Davis
Sad day in Googieland, my friends. Eldon Davis, of Armet, Davis, Newlove Architects in Los Angeles passed away last Friday. I've posted before about their work here in Sacramento and wanted to elaborate further today. More on that below but first a little history.
(Aside: I've been hobbling around post-surgery and became aware of Mr. Davis' passing via the personal and public Facebook pages of Alan Hess, Mid-Century Modern Fresno, John Crosse of Southern California Architectural History, MH of Modernesia, and SH of Modern Tulsa to name a few. Many thanks to them for alerting me to the news.)
Per Mr. Eldon's obituary from the Los Angeles Times:
"With architect Louis Armet, Davis opened a local firm in 1947 and developed a reputation for being willing to try almost anything to catch the attention of motorists who sped by.
The architects were chief proponents of Googie, named for a now-defunct cafe in West Hollywood, and derided by critics in the 1950s and 1960s 'who didn't think a lot of our work but we didn't care,' said Victor Newlove, a partner in the firm who started as an intern in the 1960s.
With their soaring and exaggerated roof lines, their buildings appeared to defy gravity, a structural innovation for which Davis was largely responsible....
Neon signs became a trademark, and they devised an animated sign for Pann's, a coffee shop in Westchester. Run by the same family since it opened in 1958, the restaurant is probably the best preserved example of Davis' work, Newlove said....
Other Davis designs include prototypes for local Denny's and Bob's Big Boy restaurants, blueprints that were exported across the country.
'They brought modern architecture to the daily life of the average Angeleno,' said Alan Hess, who wrote the 2004 book "Googie Redux."
'There's a great deal of interest and affection for their buildings,' Hess said. 'The work of Armet and Davis is as significant to Southern California as Richard Neutra or Rudolph Schindler.'"
Alan Hess did a great interview with Madeline Brand of Southern California Public Radio yesterday. Have a listen.
During my microfilm searches, I've run across three buildings by Armet & Davis in Sacramento thus far. The following is by no means an exhaustive list but simply what I've verified to date.
1962: SAM'S BIG TOP RESTAURANT. (Note the similarities to Norm's in picture above!)
From my microfilm research, Sacramento Bee, February 11, 1962, page D12 -- "DOWNTOWN RESTAURANT -- Construction is scheduled to start at 16th and K Streets about March 1st on the Big Top, a restaurant to be operated by Pioneer Restaurants, Inc., headed by Sam Gordon. The facility will occupy the site of the former Stan's Drive in. Containing 3,650 square feet of floor space, the restaurant will feature 24 hour booth and counter service. It will have seating accommodations for 97 persons and parking space in the rear for 45 cars. The restaurant will be decorated in a circus theme."
Sadly, Sam's Big Top Restaurant at the corner of 16th & K Streets is no longer there. But thanks to the power of microfilm research, we can enjoy the pictures of it after it was newly constructed:
1964: EPPIE'S COFFEE SHOP. I've written about this still existing but unoccupied building before. But here are some "new" pictures from my microfilm research.
Rendering from the Sacramento Bee, Sunday Jan 19, 1964 p. C6 -- "Angular roof lines are key feature of Louis Armet's design for Eppie's Coffee Shop, a $250,000 development on which work has begun at 30th and N Streets"
Photo from my microfilm research - Sacramento Bee, Sunday June 21, 1964 p. D24 -- "OPERATING - Eppie's Restaurant and Coffee Shop, a $285,000 folded roof structure, opened last week at 30th and N Streets, a corner on which one motel was recently built and construction of another is about to begin. The restaurant is operated by Sacramento caterer Eppie Johnson under a lease from Edwin J. Bedell, former capital hotel man and restauranteur. The structure was designed by the Los Angeles architectural firm of Armet and Davis."
1968: EPPIE'S COFFEE SHOP #2
Photo from my microfilm research, Sacramento Bee, Saturday August 17, 1968 p. D5 -- "NEW AREA RESTAURANT - Eppie's Restaurant No. 2 opened last Thursday at 6431 Florin Road. The restaurant has a California modern decore (sic) in an orange color scheme. The Lawrence Construction Co. of Sacramento was the contractor for the 4,000 square foot building designe by the architect (sic) firm of Armet & Davis of Los Angeles. The restaurant represents a total investment of $390,000."
I'll be keeping an eye out for more Armet & Davis designs in Sacramento. For more pictures and information on Googie architecture in Sacramento, please visit my incomplete and ever-expanding Flickr set.
Life at Dreyfuss & Blackford in 2011
I'm so happy to be sharing a fun video recently posted by Jason A. Silva et al. of Dreyfuss & Blackford Architects. It's a glimpse into their life and work at D&B in the present -- with a nod to their past, of course. Their firm put this together for an open house event with AIACV. Love this!
2011 Dreyfuss & Blackford Life from Jason A. Silva, AIA on Vimeo.
You can keep up with their current and future work by checking out Jason's other Vimeo posts, Dreyfuss & Blackford's Flickr photostream and website.
I've posted before about the work of Dreyfuss & Blackford in three separate posts (see 1 2 3). There is still so much to say about this Sacramento architectural firm who has been going strong for over 60 years!
2011 Dreyfuss & Blackford Life from Jason A. Silva, AIA on Vimeo.
You can keep up with their current and future work by checking out Jason's other Vimeo posts, Dreyfuss & Blackford's Flickr photostream and website.
I've posted before about the work of Dreyfuss & Blackford in three separate posts (see 1 2 3). There is still so much to say about this Sacramento architectural firm who has been going strong for over 60 years!
Thanks for joining us at the Crocker Art Museum for Visual Acoustics
Introductions by Ian Merker, AIACV and Gretchen Steinberg, SacMod
Many, many thanks for those of you who joined us at the successful screening of Visual Acoustics at the Crocker Art Museum on Thursday, April 7, 2011. We were pleased and humbled to see the event almost sold out. Thanks to the Crocker Art Museum for collaborating with AIACV and SacMod and letting us use their new and beautiful state-of-the-art venue. Thanks also to Director Eric Bricker for making his wonderful film (his first!) and taking the time out of his busy schedule to join us.
 |
| Our educational display with photos taken by Julius Shulman in Sacramento |
 |
| Eric Bricker, Director of Visual Acoustics and Gretchen Steinberg, SacMod |
 |
| Dane Henas from SacMod being goofy -- doing his best Vanna White impression, ha ha! |
 |
| Jerry Blomberg and Dane Henas with an original copy of an ad featuring Jerry's Sacramento home |
 |
| Director Eric Bricker leading a post-screening discussion |
Here are more photos taken at the event. Thanks again to everyone who made the event possible; and a shout-out to Midtown Monthly and to Sacramento area bloggers Davis Life Magazine, Mimomito, Rebecca Crowther of Sac History Happenings (Sacramento Bee), Capitol Creative Collective, Glitter and Grunge and our Twitter friends for helping spread the word.
Did you know that Julius Shulman photographed several Sacramento buildings?
We will be sharing some of these photographs with you in person at Crocker Art Museum's Film Frame: Visual Acoustics this Thursday evening. My favorite photos of the bunch are of a residence designed by Sacramento architect George Muraki for the Blomberg family. You may recall that Mr. Muraki's personal home was featured in the Sacramento Mid-Century Modern Home Tour last June.
Why not come directly to the Crocker after work? Remember -- admission includes access to the museum. Have a bite to eat at the Crocker Cafe and relax with a cocktail.
See Crocker's website for details on buying tickets. Hope to see you there.
Why not come directly to the Crocker after work? Remember -- admission includes access to the museum. Have a bite to eat at the Crocker Cafe and relax with a cocktail.
See Crocker's website for details on buying tickets. Hope to see you there.
Visual Acoustics at the Crocker with Director Eric Bricker on April 7, 2011 at 7PM
 |
| "Stahl House (CSH#22)” photographed by Julius Shulman (1960) |
A special screening of the documentary Visual Acoustics: The Modernism of Julius Shulman will be held at the Crocker Art Museum on Thursday, April 7, 2011 at 7:00 PM. This film celebrates the life and career of Julius Shulman, whose photographs brought modern architecture and progressive architects into American mainstream. Director Eric Bricker will introduce the film and lead a post-screening discussion. Anyone with an interest in Modernism, photography, architecture, and design should enjoy this film.
 |
| “Kaufmann House” photographed by Julius Shulman (1947) |
Part of Crocker Art Museum's Film Frame series during "Thursdays 'til 9", Visual Acoustics is being presented in collaboration with SacMod -- an organization dedicated to promoting, preserving and protecting modern art, architecture and design in the Sacramento region -- and AIA Central Valley, the local chapter of the American Institute of Architects.
Tickets to the event are $6 for Crocker Art Museum members and $12 for non-members. Admission to the film includes admission to the museum, which will be open until 9:00pm. Food and drink will be available for purchase at the Crocker Cafe until 8:45 PM. For more information and to order tickets online, go to http://crockerartmuseum.or
 |
| Julius Shulman, from VISUAL ACOUSTICS, an Arthouse Films release 2009. Copyright Aiken Weiss. |
I've been digging and cross-referencing about Julius Shulman taking photographs in Sacramento. As an added treat for folks who join us at the screening, I'll be sharing these photos.
 |
| “Julius Shulman and Richard Neutra” (1950) |
Visual Acoustics highlights the importance of great design and underscores the need for further celebration, education and preservation of excellent mid-20th century architecture. The architects that Shulman worked with believed they could change the world through better design. That spirit and excitement is alive and well here in Sacramento's design community; I would like to see this further encouraged and nurtured.
Please join AIACV and SacMod at the Crocker to see this wonderful film.
All photos from VISUAL ACOUSTICS, an Arthouse Films release 2009. Copyright J. Paul Getty Trust.
Please join AIACV and SacMod at the Crocker to see this wonderful film.
All photos from VISUAL ACOUSTICS, an Arthouse Films release 2009. Copyright J. Paul Getty Trust.
Your Eichler Hostess is Calling....
Notice anything different around here? *blink blink blink*
That's right, I got a makeover. Many thanks to Ben Della Rosa for the new 'do! Check out the cute extra graphics in the left margin as you scroll down. I feel swell!
I've been slaving away in the kitchen working on serving up some new posts about mid-20th century Sacramento. I have several things on the burner and can't wait to dish them out!
In honor of my new look, thought I'd share the above ephemera with you: It's a door knob tag used by Eichler hostesses. What's an Eichler hostess? Thought you'd never ask.
Per a December 10, 2000 article by Patricia Leigh Brown for the New York Times:
Per a December 10, 2000 article by Patricia Leigh Brown for the New York Times:
"In model homes, Eames and Bertoia furniture mingled with hanging salamis and the aroma of roasting turkey, making modernism homey. 'We weren't selling, we were educating,' said Catherine Munson, a Marin County real estate broker who has sold some 3,000 Eichlers since 1958."
According to an article written by Marty Arbunich from the Eichler Network quoting the lovely Ms. Munson:
"the Eichler organization had this concept that these hostesses were to be some sweet, little housewives who told the potential buyers as they walked through how groovy it was to live in an Eichler home. We were supposed to look pretty and decorative, demonstrate the swivel table, and serve chocolate milk and graham crackers to the kids."
Consider me your Eichler hostess; I'm not selling, I'm educating.
Design Matters: Helping Disaster Victims
via Rob Dobi (with special thanks to Flyer Design Goodness)
I've been looking around for a way to best help the people of Japan and elsewhere in the aftermath of earthquakes, tsunamis, and difficult conditions with low supplies. I found a couple of organizations who have helped disaster victims in meaningful and creative ways:
ShelterBox - well-designed, efficient disaster relief specifically tailored to each situation.
If you build it, they will come
I'll bet you're wondering what I've been up to and if I've run out of things to say. On the contrary, I've been so busy researching, learning, and living that I simply haven't had time to share my findings here.
Speaking of learning, there will be a free screening of "I Build the Tower" at AIACV tonight at 5:45pm, hosted by the ASLA California Chapter and AIACV Emerging Professionals. This documentary is about the life and work of Sam Rodia, the Italian immigrant who built the world-famous Watts Towers. The film also includes one of the last interviews of R. Buckminster Fuller.
Speaking of learning, there will be a free screening of "I Build the Tower" at AIACV tonight at 5:45pm, hosted by the ASLA California Chapter and AIACV Emerging Professionals. This documentary is about the life and work of Sam Rodia, the Italian immigrant who built the world-famous Watts Towers. The film also includes one of the last interviews of R. Buckminster Fuller.
Check out the trailer for this film below -- I find this sort of building/sculpting absolutely fascinating. Several years ago I visited the Dickeyville Grotto and am always interested in learning about people who feel compelled to create things.
This is one of many exciting events that AIACV will be presenting this year.
As a matter of fact, AIACV and SacMod (we brought you the Sacramento Mid-Century Modern Home Tour last June) will be screening the documentary Visual Acoustics at the Crocker Art Museum auditorium on April 7, 2011 at 7pm. Also present will be director Eric Bricker, who will be introducing the film and responding to questions about the film after the screening. I'll be sharing more details about this in an upcoming post.
As a matter of fact, AIACV and SacMod (we brought you the Sacramento Mid-Century Modern Home Tour last June) will be screening the documentary Visual Acoustics at the Crocker Art Museum auditorium on April 7, 2011 at 7pm. Also present will be director Eric Bricker, who will be introducing the film and responding to questions about the film after the screening. I'll be sharing more details about this in an upcoming post.
Going Home
Palm Springs. Much has remained the same yet much has changed since I was growing up there in the late 60s and 70s. It is well-known for being ground zero for mid-20th century architecture.
From February 17 to 27, 2011 Palm Springs Modernism Week will celebrate its rich architectural heritage and the people who created it: William Krisel, Donald Wexler, Albert Frey, E. Stewart Williams, William Cody, and others.
For a taste of various facets of Palm Springs and the desert, I recommend watching the following:
Desert Utopia: Mid-Century Architecture in Palm Springs from Design Onscreen.
Bagdad Café (1987) quirky film but perhaps my favorite depicting my homeland. From the sun-faded vintage signage and assortment of interesting characters, this is the desert I also knew and loved -- as much as the architecture.
Palm Springs Weekend (1963) - self-indulgent teens in the 60s; not the most flattering view but you can occasionally glimpse vintage PS in the background.
Part of Pee-Wee's Big Adventure featuring the Cabazon dinosaurs - my favorite childhood landmark of all time! I used to live ten miles from what used to be an awesome roadside attraction.
The dinos are still there but they have been taken over by creationists. Rrrrahwrrrr!
Some suggestions mentioned to me from my friend, Kimberly, over at Cinebeats:
The Satan Bug (1965) - per Kimberly, "a fun sci-fi/espionage thriller and it has some nice MCM interiors."
Diamonds Are Forever (1971) - "has some great scenes that are shot in the famous Elrod House in Palm Springs."
To this day I still consider the area my first "home". The desert's mid-20th century architecture and design undoubtedly imprinted on me. I encountered many incredible people while I was growing up in this area -- I believe it draws like a magnet all sorts of interesting folks. The desert is full of interesting eccentrics, exotics, innovators, scientists and other believers. I don't know of any other place on earth quite like it.
My grandparents lived in Banning and Beaumont, CA from 1946 or so to ~2005. I grew up in Beaumont with my grandparents almost all my life. We would travel to Palm Springs just about every weekend, where they had a second home in Cathedral City and later, Palm Desert.
As a child and teen, I rarely took notice of the desert's beauty. When I returned home during college, I was able to see the desert with a refreshed outlook and was enchanted by the subtle warm colors -- the oranges, pinks, yellows, purples.
From February 17 to 27, 2011 Palm Springs Modernism Week will celebrate its rich architectural heritage and the people who created it: William Krisel, Donald Wexler, Albert Frey, E. Stewart Williams, William Cody, and others.
For a taste of various facets of Palm Springs and the desert, I recommend watching the following:
Desert Utopia: Mid-Century Architecture in Palm Springs from Design Onscreen.
Bagdad Café (1987) quirky film but perhaps my favorite depicting my homeland. From the sun-faded vintage signage and assortment of interesting characters, this is the desert I also knew and loved -- as much as the architecture.
Palm Springs Weekend (1963) - self-indulgent teens in the 60s; not the most flattering view but you can occasionally glimpse vintage PS in the background.
Part of Pee-Wee's Big Adventure featuring the Cabazon dinosaurs - my favorite childhood landmark of all time! I used to live ten miles from what used to be an awesome roadside attraction.
The dinos are still there but they have been taken over by creationists. Rrrrahwrrrr!
Some suggestions mentioned to me from my friend, Kimberly, over at Cinebeats:
The Satan Bug (1965) - per Kimberly, "a fun sci-fi/espionage thriller and it has some nice MCM interiors."
Diamonds Are Forever (1971) - "has some great scenes that are shot in the famous Elrod House in Palm Springs."
To this day I still consider the area my first "home". The desert's mid-20th century architecture and design undoubtedly imprinted on me. I encountered many incredible people while I was growing up in this area -- I believe it draws like a magnet all sorts of interesting folks. The desert is full of interesting eccentrics, exotics, innovators, scientists and other believers. I don't know of any other place on earth quite like it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)