Robert Berger Makes a Return Trip to A&B

Forest Lawn's "Wee Kirk o' the Heather" Chapel

There is a book called "The WPA Guide to the City of Angels" originally published in the 1930s, and penned by writers working under the auspices of The Federal Writers Project. This guide highlighted venues in and around Los Angeles and included maps, photos, illustrations and general information about various communities surrounding Los Angeles proper. It was the guide for anyone interested in LA communities, either for a a short visit or even a long stay.

In 2011, writer David Kipen resurrected the guide and, on a lark, I decided to visit some of the places discussed. I started with Glendale because I live in the community and because there are areas in this area I've never visited.

First, a little background about Glendale...

This sleepy little 'burb' resides to the northeast of Los Angeles, increasing in population from 300 in 1888 [when a "narrow gauge" steam engine railway connected Glendale to downtown Los Angeles] to 2,000 in 1906 [when it was incorporated] to 13,000 in 1920. The 2010 census put Glendale's population at nearly 192,000 which was increased to 192,674 in 2012.

Today, I visited the Forest Lawn venue, the Wee Kirk o' the Heather Chapel.

As I entered the Forest Lawn grounds, I asked for directions to the "Annie Laurie Chapel." The attendant gave me a blank stare, having no idea what I was talking about, so I decided to wander around the 220 acre property... and of course, came upon it almost immediately. It's a quaint chapel, fashioned after the Glencairn, Scotland structure where "bonnie" Annie Laurie worshipped and was eventually interred in 1764 [although there is some debate about this point...]. It is however, a beautiful structure and has been lovingly recreated using stone, slate roofing and solid oak entryways.

After visiting the chapel, I wandered the grounds for awhile, and observed that for the most part, tombstones [or memorials] are set into the ground, rather than above. [As the guide notes...] "unsightly" tombstones are not allowed here... merely brass plates on the grass. Although this is true, there are some [thoughtfully designed] tombs situated above ground in various parts of the cemetery.

A&B lecture on April 19 features a change of speakers

Due to a scheduling conflict, author/bookstore owner David Kipen will be unable to speak at the upcoming Architecture & Beyond Lecture Series.

Instead, the series is pleased to present award-winning filmmaker Bette Jane Cohen screening “The Spirit in Architecture: John Lautner.” This documentary features the only filmed interview with visionary architect John Lautner, famous for designs throughout the Western United States including the Chemosphere in Hollywood, Silvertop in Silver Lake and the Midtown School, now Lycee International in Los Feliz.

There will be a Q&A immediately following the screening with producers Bette Jane Cohen and Evelyn Wendel.

Architecture & Beyond at the Los Feliz Branch of the Los Angeles Public Library.
Located at 1874 Hillhurst Avenue [corner of Hillhurst & Franklin Ave]
323.913.4710 for more information
Doors open at 6:30 p.m.   Lecture from 6:45 to 7:45 p.m.

Please join us and remember, these lectures are always FREE to the public.
Skylight Books will have a selection of related books for purchase.

Sometimes in LA, Everything Old is New Again...

Earlier this month, an article appeared in the online post Preservation Nation, discussing the resurgence of neon and neon-related signage in Highland Park.

The recent restoration of the Highland Theatre and Manning's Coffee Store signage has greatly added to the largest historic neon district in Los Angeles, relinking the past with the present.

The Highland Theatre, designed by architect Lewis A. Smith, opened its doors in 1925 and is now a registered Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Landmark. Smith went on to design additional theaters in the greater Los Angeles area, including the Beverly Theater (now closed), the El Portal in North Hollywood, the Rialto in South Pasadena (currently closed) and, in the Los Feliz area, the Vista Theatre.

The Manning's Coffee Stores originally began in the Seattle area in 1908 as a coffee/tea stand. Eventually, the Manning brothers expanded their cafeteria/restaurant chain to 40 locations throughout nine western states; 19 of which were located in the Los Angeles area. The Highland Park location closed in the 1950s and today houses Las Cazuelas Restaurant (serving up Salvadorean/Mexican cuisine). After nearly a century, the last Manning Cafeteria (in San Francisco) closed its doors in 1984.

The outpouring of community support has moved this process forward in Highland Park, which is as it should be; ultimately, it is the community that will prosper from this resurgence.

David Kipen at the Los Feliz Library on April 19th

Author and bookstore owner David Kipen is the featured speaker at the upcoming Architecture & Beyond Lecture Series on Thursday, April 19th, 6:45pm at the Los Feliz Branch of the Los Angeles Public Library, located at 1874 Hillhurst Avenue in Los Angeles.

Kipen, founder of the Libros Schmibros lending library/used bookstore in Boyle Heights, will discuss the reissued "Los Angeles in the 1930s: The WPA Guide to the City of Angels.” Kipen wrote the introduction to the guide.

Before opening his Boyle Heights book shop in 2010, Kipen served as director of literature for the National Endowment for the Arts.

Previous speakers this year include: Kimberli Meyer from the MAK Center; Author Susan Morgan speaking on "Sympathetic Seeing: Esther McCoy and the Heart of American Modernist Architecture and Design" and Richard Stanley "How to identify and appreciate our local housing styles." The A&B Series at the Los Feliz Library has been hosting speakers for eight years.

For more information on this event, call the Los Feliz Branch of the Los Angeles Public Library at (323) 913-4710 or go online to http://www.lapl.org, and click Locations & Hours for the Los Feliz Branch.

Los Angeles at the Forefront

Go anywhere in Los Angeles and bask in the architectural richness that can only be found in LA.

One of my personal favorites is the Griffith Park Observatory. In 1896, Griffith J. Griffith donated 3,000+ acres to the city and in his will (he died in 1919), funding was donated for construction of the observatory. The structure, based on the original design of Russell W. Porter was developed by architects John C. Austin and Frederick Ashley, and completed in 1935.

In 2002, the Observatory underwent a massive restoration effort and expansion, reopening to the public in 2006.