Quote:
Originally Posted by tovangar2
The Egyptian style house was interesting, particularly the relief over the door:
Herman J. Schultheis Collection
The West got a case of Egypt-mania after boy-king Tutankhamun's tomb was discovered in late 1922. It influenced fashion, design (like the original Camel cigarette packet) and most obviously and importantly architecture as we are all well-aware. Egyptian-inspired design blended with French Deco to produce some of our best buildings here. |
I noticed the relief but was more transfixed on the fact that building was designed to appear wider at the base than its top. This was as I tried to picture the building inverted so that the white area becomes a real pediment.
Is an upside down design connected with King Tut's Curse?
Mindful of your observation, it is noteworthy that the recently depicted Long Beach Theater has a decidedly Beaux-Arts festooned with obelisks. An homage to Place de Concorde, Thebes or Boris Karloff? Suppose one might argue that the orb at the top of the stairwell obelisks is Egyptian rather than French-Beaux Arts?
Notice the globed street lighting near the marquee.
And of course no discussion of the above would be complete without referencing . . . The Sphinx Ranch in Altadena and Sphinx Realty.
1920 - 537 North Fairfax Avenue
(Before "death before disco graffiti.)
Lapl
1922 - "View of an access road (now Pepper Drive) near New York Drive on Sphinx Ranch in Altadena. A large "T", which has been marked into one of the lower peaks of the San Gabriel Mountains above Altadena, is visible in the background on the right. The ranch was owned by William Allen, who had spent 23 years in Egypt thereby coming up with the name 'Sphinx.' Allen Avenue, named after William Allen, marked the western boundary of his property."
Lapl
1922 - "View of Eaton Canyon on Sphinx Ranch in Altadena. The ranch is owned by William Allen, who bought the land in 1878 and built the house visible on the left. Eaton Canyon lies nestled in the foothills of these San Gabriel Mountains. Originally called 'El Precipicio' by the Spanish settlers because of its steep gorges, it was later named after Judge Benjamin Eaton, who built the first Fair Oaks Ranch House in 1865 not far from Eaton Creek."
1887 - Group portrait at Eaton Canyon.
1887 - Allen Family at their Altadena Sphinx Ranch
1893 - Christmas Decorations
1898 - Sphinx Ranch Tennis afficionados.
1911 -
All from
Lapl