March 11, 2006
Save the 76 Balls!
As you may know, oil giant ConocoPhillips (dba Unocal) recently began a rebranding of their Union 76 chain of gas stations, and is quietly pulling down the iconic orange and blue balls that have represented the company since 1962. The signs are in the process of being replaced by a less-deserving "monument-style" sign in red and blue. This change promoted the circulation of a petition in January 2006, and a web-based campaign to "Save Ray's Ball's."
Union 76 is famous for its signs, which are large orange balls with '76' written on them and many were designed to rotate when the sign was lit. The first such sign was designed by Union 76 Creative Director, Ray Pedersen for the Seattle World's Fair in 1962. Pedersen is now behind the effort to Save The 76 Ball, started by Los Angeles-based bloggers Kim Cooper and Nathan Marsak. Cooper and Marsak, better known for 1947Project, Scram Magazine, and Los Angeles Neon, started an online petition and boycott campaign to Save the 76 Ball in January 2006.
The campaign has received coverage on the BBC, LA Business Journal, Brandweek, OC Weekly, KTLA, KFI, and KIRO radio Seattle. In response to all the media attention, ConocoPhillips finally issued the following statement:
ConocoPhillips is implementing a nationwide transition of its 76, Phillips 66 and Conoco branded stations to a common image. The intent of this transition is to leverage the strengths of each brand while also offering consistency in appearance across our brands. Thus, the formerly orange 76 logo is now red.We appreciate motorists' loyalty to the orange and blue ball, and hope they will continue to use ConocoPhillips' gasolines and motor products. Though our look is a little different, the quality of our products and our commitment to our customers remains the same.
Regards,
Lara Campbell ConocoPhillips Communications and Public Affairs
If you would like to support the campaign and learn more about the 76 Balls, be sure to visit http://www.savethe76ball.com. There you can sign the online petition, contribute images to the website, and share your comments.
See additional coverage at:
Can we have our balls back, please?
"The so-called "76 Balls" are the distinctive signs of Union 76 petrol stations, but the historic spheres are under threat, prompting a web-based plea for their preservation reminiscent of the effort to save London's double-decker Routemaster buses..."
Parking in Historic Eagle Rock
The Eagle Rock Association (TERA) reports that they are currently working with the ERCPR and the Eagle Rock Valley Historical Society to convince the City of Los Angeles to follow its own Zoning Code regarding parking for designated historic landmark buildings, and to not require additional parking for those buildings when there is a change of use.
In a recent newsletter, TERA explained that there are businesses currently in Eagle Rock attempting to relocate into historic buildings, but that are having difficulty doing so because of statements in the Colorado Boulevard Specific Plan requiring additional parking for restaurants. Complicated this is the fact that the exemption for new parking for historic buildings that already exists in the Zoning Code is not being allowed. The article continues:
This makes it virtually impossible for viable, popular businesses to locate in historic buildings which “historically” have been unable to provide parking sufficient to meet modern code requirements. The end result of this kind of policy has been the demolition of the City’s older buildings in order to provide the land necessary to park cars for new businesses. This is contrary to the intent of the Specific Plan, which states, “To the maximum extent feasible, cultural resources, architecturally-significant or historic structures or community related landmarks shall be preserved.” As was reported previously in the E-Letter, the City Planning Department is currently drafting an ordinance which will amend the Colorado Boulevard Specific Plan and allow on street parking to be applied as a credit against the needs for commercial and retail uses along Colorado Boulevard. ERCPR, with the help of Civic Enterprise Associates, LLC has been working hard to make this happen as quickly as possible to assist these businesses and others that may be waiting to locate in the remaining historic or potentially historic buildings along Colorado Boulevard. We are looking for and indeed expecting the assistance of Councilmember Huizar in pushing through this ordinance, which will be used as a model for parking in other parts of the City having the same issues. This is a collaborative effort of businesses, residents, and preservationists to do something quickly that will result in benefits for the entire community. We look forward to making it happen.
Visit the TERA website at: http://www.tera90041.org.
March 09, 2006
Theater Conference Recap
Contributing Writer, John Clifford, recently attended a conference on how to finance the rehabilitation of historic theaters. Here is what he had to report about the experience:
The League of Historic American Theaters (LHAT) held a conference on “Financing Historic Theater Rehabilitation Projects,” February 8-9 at the Wilshire Grand Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. Attending the seminars were theater owner/operators from around the country, including Oregon, Nevada, Alaska, Massachusetts, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, Michigan, and Texas. From California, there were representatives from Fontana, Fresno, Pomona, Riverside, Fullerton, Santa Cruz, and the Wilshire Theater and Los Angeles Theaters in Los Angeles. Each had a historic theater that was in some stage of restoration and/or operation as a theater.
Prior to the start of the seminar, attendees were given a personalized tour of the historic Los Angeles Theater on Broadway in downtown Los Angeles. Theater manager Cary Upton, explained the current condition of the Los Angeles Theater, its operations, and the future plans for the 12-theater Broadway Theater District proposal.
The two-day seminar series featured first day speakers: Killis Almond, theater project architect and Dennis Sankovich, executive director of the Riley Education and Performing Arts center at Mississippi State University, each of whom have been involved is several theater restoration/operations. They discussed the challenges in financing a historic theater from the point of view of the operator. Subjects included working with boards of directors, what kinds of consultants are necessary, fundraising, marketing, and construction. Real life examples were sited throughout of successful theaters, both production and presentation houses, and how they’ve dealt with and overcome these challenges.
The second day of the seminar was a more nuts and bolts discussion of utilizing historic preservation tax credits and new market tax credits. Speakers for this session were: Chris Fedukowski and Kirk Carrison of the National Trust Community Investment Corporation, who package tax credit funding and have funded theater projects with tax credits, Ralph Megna from Empire Development Solutions in Riverside, and Herb Stratford, executive director of the recently opened Fox Tucson Theater, and Craig McPike of Snell & Wilmer L.L.P.
Tax credit financing for up to 20% of actual construction costs has been a boon to many historic restoration projects. However, the process is not for the faint of heart. A project must be at least a $10 million project in order to make the financing worthwhile, both to the project and the funding organization, and requires complex partnership agreements between the theater owner and the organization providing the tax credit funding. Since the tax credits are available for corporations with a tax liability and most historic theater projects are non-profit, and thus have no use for the tax credits, a mutually beneficial partnership must be arranged between the non-profit and the funding organization. In the discussed case of the Fox Tucson, this was a very complex arrangement that included a city redevelopment agency, the Fox non-profit, the tax credit funding organization, and three different for-profit partnerships created for the project. This project took advantage of both Historic Preservation tax credits and New Market tax credits available for projects in designated economic development areas. However, with the tax credits providing up to 97 cents on the dollar of upfront funding, this arrangement ended up providing the capital necessary to complete the much heralded project, which opened on New Year’s Eve, 2005.
The conference was capped with a reception/tour of the Pantages Theater in Hollywood. Expanding beyond the attendees of the conference seminars, the reception included other theater owner/operators including the El Capitan, Music Box, El Rey, Orpheum, and other LHAT members. The reception also served as a “preview” of the upcoming League of Historic American Theaters Annual Conference and Theater tour which will be held in Hollywood, July 19-22. The annual conference includes workshops on professional development in such areas as fundraising, presenting and programming, technical aspects of theater restoration and operation, and board and staff development, among other topics. Additional information on LHAT and their programs is available on their website at: http://www.lhat.org.
Article by John Clifford. Mr. Clifford has served as a board member and officer of Hollywood Heritage, Pomona Heritage, and the Pomona Fox Corporation. A long-time preservationist, he lives in Pomona with his wife Deborah and daughter Ariel.
March 08, 2006
12 Distinctive Destinations
The National Trust for Historic Preservation has named its "Dozen Distinctive Destinations" for 2006. Two California communities were selected to appear on the list - Monterey and Palm Springs - out of a total of 93 nominated destinations in 39 states.
Monterey, California: Made famous in the classic John Steinbeck novel, Cannery Row, coastal Monterey offers not only a stunning setting but an endless supply of visitor delights, including a world-class aquarium, a bustling wharf, historic canneries and centuries of Native American, Spanish-Colonial and Mexican heritage sites.
Palm Springs, California: Long a weekend getaway for the rich and famous, Palm Springs boasts a near-perfect climat/2006/palmsprings.html">Palm Springs, California: Long a weekend getaway for the rich and famous, Palm Springs boasts a near-perfect climate, a desert location ideal for golfing, swimming or loafing and a dazzling array of inspired buildings designed in the Modern style.
Since 2000, the National Trust has honored 84 Dozen Distinctive Destinations in 41 states. This year nearly 93 destinations in 39 states were nominated by individuals, preservation organizations and local communities.
The 12 winning communities met the following criteria: well-managed growth, a commitment to historic preservation with a protected historic core and meaningful context, interesting and attractive architecture, cultural diversity, activities for families with children, an economic base of locally-owned small businesses, and walkability for residents and visitors.
In each community, residents have taken forceful action to protect their town’s character and sense of place. Whether by enacting a local preservation law to protect historic buildings against demolition, rewriting zoning codes to prevent commercial sprawl, removing regulatory barriers to downtown housing, making downtown areas more walkable, enacting design standards, or taking some other major step that demonstrates a strong commitment to their town, residents have worked hard to preserve the historic and scenic assets of their communities, with rewards that transcend town limits.
Read more about the National Trust's Dozen Distinctive Destinations in the following Los Angeles Times article, or visit: http://www.nationaltrust.org.
A Dozen U.S. Places for Tourists to See
By CARL HARTMAN, Associated Press Writer
12:40 PM PST, March 7, 2006
WASHINGTON -- People looking for a new vacation spot might try one of 12 unusual places reachable without a passport, such as Lewes, Del., called "the first town in the first state," a town whose history goes back 375 years.
The suggestion comes from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which, each year starting in 2000, has named a "Dozen Distinctive Destinations" appealing to tourists' taste for historic places.
Wallace Neff Lecture
On Thursday, March
On Thursday, March 16th, Los Feliz resident and author, Diane Kanner will discuss the work of architect Wallace Neff and her recent book Wallace Neff and the Grand Houses of the Golden State
Where: Los Feliz Library, 1874 Hillhurst Avenue
Los Angeles, CAWhen: March 16th, 6:45 to 7:45 p.m. Cost: Free!
Coming on Thursday, April 20th:
Arnold Schwartzman, author of Deco Landmarks, Art Deco Gems of LA. will be at the library discussing the exquisite works of art deco dotting the Los Angeles landscape.
Skylight Books will have a selection of architecture books for purchase at the lecture series.
Doheny Murder at Greystone
Carolyn Kellogg at LAist.com recently posted an excellent account of the murder of Ned Doheny, son of oil tycoon Edward Doheny, in 1929. February 16th marked the anniversary of this grissly murder. The tragedy took place at the historic Greystone Manor in Beverly Hills, a magnificent local landmark publicly owned and operated as a city park.
A brief history of Greystone Mansion, courtesy of the City of Beverly Hills:
In 1925, Edward Doheny, the most successful oil producer of his time, gave his son Edward "Ned" Lawrence Doheny, Jr. a 12.58-acre land parcel. It was part of the original 425-acre Greystone land parcel, the largest family estate in the history of Beverly Hills.
Construction of Ned Doheny's estate began in February of 1927 and was completed a year later at a cost of $3,166,780. Ned, his wife Lucy, and their five children moved into the mansion in September of 1928. The home included 55 rooms in 46,054 square feet of living space. The estate also included tennis courts, a swimming pool, a green house, a fire station and kennels. Sadly, Mr. Doheny was murdered in this home, a very rare unsolved mystery in Beverly Hills.
In 1954, the largest portion of the property was sold to Paul Trousdale Corporation and became the adjacent residential neighborhood of very beautiful "Trousdale Estates" homes. In 1955, the remaining 18.3 acres of land, including Greystone Mansion, were sold to Henry Crown of the Park Grey Corporation, Chicago, for $1.5 million, but Mr. Crown never occupied the site.
The mansion remained vacant until 1965, when the City of Beverly Hills purchased the property from Mr. Crown for $1.3 million, planning to locate the City's largest water reservoir, a 19-million gallon tank, on the site. In 1971, the entire site, including the mansion, was formally dedicated as a City of Beverly Hills public park. In 1976, Greystone Mansion was recognized as a historic landmark and placed on the Registry of Historic Places. It is the site of many civic events, weddings, filming, a summer day camp and the City's tree farm.
March 07, 2006
A Wandering Tour of L.A.
A Wandering Tour of Los Angeles beginning in Hollywood, 1909. From Hollywood to Los Angeles.
By Melinda Pillsbury-Foster
The Hollywood of 1909 was a quiet place, mostly large homes on one or two acres of land. Most families were beginning to exchange their horses for automobiles; their barns converted to auto garages while harness and other gear often lingered on hooks next to the collection of parts and tools the adventurous automobilist needed to keep his vehicle moving.
One such family lived on the corner of what was then North Palm Boulevard and what had recently been renamed Hollywood Boulevard. Their home was set on two acres and rose to two stories; fruit trees and a railroad the three children could sit in to ride wandered through the small orchard at the rear of the property.
Ernest , Jr. was as thin as a rail with a headful of soft, brown hair; Grace was decidedly determined but always wore a large bow in her hair. The youngest, Arthur, was blond with large, expressive eyes and a sunny smile.
For the children's pleasure a small roller coaster also held court near the back. The children played baseball there as well and occasionally the ball would be hit 'out of the park,' landing in the neighbor's property next door. Retrieving balls could be hazardous because the curmudgeon who lived there, a former journalist and writer, would pelt the kids with fruit if he caught them coming over the fence. They learned to peer over first to see if he was in the yard and run for the fence if the back door opened. The neighbor's most popular book would eventually be made into a movie in Hollywood. Although the kids owned a copy, reading it always reminded them that apples and lemons could sting even if Dorothy did find her way back to Kansas.
Many prosperous businessmen and professionals lived in Hollywood, commuting to Los Angeles via the Big Red Cars. The Pacific Electric Railway was established in 1901 by Henry Huntington and by 1914 the system had begun to reach out, creating communities along the routes of the railway. It was fast and cheap transportation.
Dr. Ernest S. Pillsbury, the father of the three children whose retrieval missions so annoyed their neighbor, took the Big Red Car from the corner near their home into his office in Downtown Los Angeles every day. He took his paper along to read on the trip.
Los Angeles was then a middle sized town with a sprinkling of taller buildings still girded by nicer housing, separated by broad fields and farms in every direction.
Many things were happening in 1909; aeronautics was beginning to capture the interest of more Americans all the time. Automobiles had moved from being the hobby of the wealthy to a frequently reliable form of transportation. And roads were beginning to keep up with the changes, thanks to the efforts of the Automobile Club of Southern California.
Sometimes Mrs. Pillsbury took the children into Los Angeles to have lunch with her husband. The family enjoyed a short excursion on the Los Angeles Incline Railroad, also known as Angel's Flight. Built in 1901 by Col. J.W. Eddy, it gave residents of the lovely Bunker Hill area, with its elaborate and brilliantly painted Victorian homes, access to the shopping available Downtown.
Arthur loved to hold his own nickel and pay for his own ride on the Flight.
At the top of Angel's Flight was also the Lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Dr. Pillsbury had joined the rapidly growing organization several years before because of the good works the Brothers did and also because Lodge No. 99 had a wonderful dining room where he could take the family for lunch and for other events. After lunch the family walked Dr. Pillsbury back to his office.
The family was also looking forward to the annual Convention of the B. P. O. E., which was to take place in Los Angeles between July 11-17 of that year. Past annual events had brought out tens of thousands of Elk members from across the country. This would be the Forty-fifth Grand Lodge Session and 23rd Order Reunion. The Pillsbury family was not disappointed. 60,000 Elks and their families from all across the country met in Los Angeles for a program that included a long parade and musical events.
The Elks had been founded by a tiny group of actors in New York in 1867 for the purpose of providing for their members insurance against the uncertainties of life. One of the members of what had originally been called the Jolly Corks, a drinking group, had died and left his family destitute and unable even to pay for his burial. His drinking friends had pitched in to provide for the widow and children and decided that the world would be a better place if they could ensure that each knew such necessities would be paid for if necessary. Within just a few years there were dozens of Lodges across the United States.
Los Angeles was a wonderful place to grow up in at that time. The community centered on Downtown and was surrounded by rolling hills, fields, and farms that separated L.A. from the towns that all now meet. Vibrant, busy, and set like a jewel in the broad plain, Los Angeles possessed wonderful rapid transit, and heady possibilities. The Pillsbury Kids saw many of those changes take place.
Next month: Tea on Mt. Washington
Article by Melinda Pillsbury-Foster, President of the Arthur C. Pillsbury Foundation. http://www.acpillsburyfoundation.com
Hollywood House Threatened
Hollywood Boulevard’s Oldest Structure Threatened
by John Clifford
The 1904 house, located at 1717 Bronson in Hollywood, is the oldest surviving example of the homes that once dotted Prospect Avenue during the early part of the 20th century, prior to the Avenue being renamed Hollywood Boulevard in 1910. The home had a large front yard, like most of those of the period. When development of the area began in earnest in the 1920s and 30s, that yard was converted to commercial use, as were many others.
Like the 1905 Janes House, which once had a gas station in its front yard, was moved, and is now restored behind a shopping center at 6541 Hollywood Boulevard, the home at 1717 Bronson also had commercial structures built in front of it. For this reason, the home was turned 90 degrees so that it now faces on Bronson Street.
In four historic surveys, conducted from 1986 to 2003, the home was listed as a historic structure with great significance. Two of those survey’s were for the City of Los Angeles, one was for the State of California, and the fourth was for a National Register survey. However, a developer who wants to tear down the property hired a consultant to reassess the property, who determined it was no longer historic. Based on this newest report, the city has issued a Negative Declaration to clear the way for its demolition.
Hollywood Heritage has responded to this Negative Declaration in an effort to point out the incongruity of allowing a developer to determine the historic significance of a structure that they want to tear down. It is this kind of action that has prompted Hollywood Heritage, according to their December Newsletter (page 12), to review their legal options to halt the demolitions such as this or the one that occurred at the Villa Capri restaurant. According to Robert W. Nudelman, preservation issues director for Hollywood Heritage, “Our historic resources are being illegally threatened with demolition. Hollywood Heritage, as guardian of our history, is obligated to take a strong stand against these illegal actions.”
Read Hollywood Heritage's response to this issue at: http://www.hollywoodheritage.org/preservation/bronson/1777_Bronson_Avenue_Neg_Dec.htm
Article by John Clifford. Mr. Clifford has served as a board member and officer of Hollywood Heritage, Pomona Heritage, and the Pomona Fox Corporation. A long-time preservationist, he lives in Pomona with his wife Deborah and daughter Ariel.
March 06, 2006
Preservation Headlines
Metro 417, Pacific Electric Lofts Earn Top Honors
Downtown L.A. - "Two Historic Core housing developments in former transportation hubs shared top honors at the Los Angeles Downtown News' fifth annual Downtowners of Distinction awards last Tuesday night..."
Subway Terminal Building: History Lesson
Downtown L.A. - "After Falling Out of Favor as a Commercial Property, LA's Historic Subway Terminal Building was Adapted to Luxury Rentals by Forest City West..."
More Trouble at the Frontier Hotel
Downtown L.A. - "The City Attorney's office launched an investigation last week into why the owner of the Frontier Hotel at Fifth and Main streets was nearly $75,000 late in paying Department of Water and Power (DWP) bills during February. The action came as the owner is undertaking a $12 million renovation of the structure..."
Hollywood Faces Consequences of Residential Binge
Hollywood - "The sizzling rate at which Hollywood office buildings are being converted into expensive residences is getting too fast for even some of its original proponents – the city of Los Angeles and members of the local business community..."
Owner wants items back
Tujunga - William Malouf is restoring Weatherwolde Castle to its former glory, but he is missing a few household items - taken by neighbors for safe-keeping when the building was threatened with demolition.
Spanish style still defines central pocket
Reynier Village - "Residents say Reynier Village was named for a family whose house stood on what is now a small and well-used public open space, Reynier Park. Today, that park is at the center of residential life..."
Lawndale's Old Times Not Forgotten
Lawndale - "History buffs mark the community's 100th birthday, in part to show it is older than its 1959 incorporation date and not just another