Daveland Blog Anniversary: 15 Serendipitous Years

It’s hard to believe that fifteen years have gone by since I wrote my first blog post, but yes…that’s the case. Like all things, the blog has changed over the years, going from seven days a week to M-F (or less if I decide it’s time to disconnect).  It’s called Daveland after all, so I have allowed the blog to reflect the multitude of interests I have held through the years, rather than strictly Disneyland content. Being a Gemini who truly believes in serendipity, I have found that when I allow the Universe to take control, amazing experiences can happen. As a result, I plan to put out a book within the next year, featuring vintage images from my personal collection alongside the photos I have shot myself. There’s been a lot of travel, wall climbing, and exploration of hidden places going on the last 40 years or so and it’s time for me to celebrate it!

I have the book segmented into chapters about Disneyland, James Dean in Indiana…

and in Hollywood:

My work as a tour guide for the restoration of the West Baden Springs Hotel in Indiana:

I will probably work in my love for Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture (just not sure how, yet).

and some of the cool peeps I have gotten to know along the way, like Tippi Hedren:

The Chateau will take up a few pages I am sure, as it is my home away from home.

The book wouldn’t be complete without my obsession for Shirley:

And my faithful companion, Willis, who brings me joy every day.

Stay tuned for updates. See more photos at my main website.

Frank Lloyd Wright's Imperial Hotel

The Imperial Hotel in Tokyo is one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s “lost” works. The images here from my collection are all from 1949 and show the exterior of this masterpiece.

Wright’s design lasted from 1922 until 1967, when it was demolished to make way for a new structure. While Wright’s design was beloved, the engineering (specifically the foundation) had some flaws that caused the building to sink over the years.

Most of Wright's building was destroyed, but the central lobby wing and the reflecting pool were taken apart and reassembled at The Museum Meiji-mura in Inuyama, near Nagoya, where they are open to the public. From their website:

Beautifully located on a hillside facing Lake Iruka, it occupies an area of 1,000,000m2, where currently over sixty Meiji buildings have been brought and rebuilt. Meiji was a period in which Japan opened her doors to the outside world and laid the foundation for Modern Japan by absorbing and assimilating Western culture and technology.

A few more shots from my collection of the original building as it looked in 1949:

I received an email from the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust the other day that a video showing the exterior AND interior of the hotel was available to see. Two years in the making and based on a Japanese publication of original plans and historical photos, Frank Lloyd Wright: The Lost Works - The Imperial Hotel is a comprehensive digitally-animated recreation of the exterior and interior of this masterpiece. It is pretty incredible to be able to “visit” this masterpiece:

See more Frank Lloyd Wright architecture photos at my main website.

Neglect of a Frank Lloyd Wright Treasure

An interesting yet sad article on the Curbed website shines a very unflattering light on USC's School of Architecture and their neglect of a lesser known Frank Lloyd Wright treasure.

I had never heard of the Samuel Freeman home when I visited it three years ago and was astounded that yet another Frank Lloyd Wright masterpiece existed right under my nose. Built in 1924 for Samuel Freeman and his wife Harriet, it was inspired by their love for Wright’s Hollyhock House in East Hollywood. The exterior has approximately 12,000 textile blocks, minus the ones that have been stolen over the years.



The Freemans ran their house as an artistic and political “salon” until 1986, when the Freemans donated their house to USC. According to the Frank Lloyd Wright website, the building was stabilized in 2005 and is undergoing additional renovations due to earthquake damage. When I visited, our guide told a different tale. A change in the faculty at the school had shifted interest, and other than having students act as live-in caretakers, the house had basically been frozen in limbo with very little work done on it for years. This information is echoed in the Curbed article, along with stories of missing/stolen furniture and light fixtures that USC has allegedly been aware of but kept very quiet about.



Looking at the photos I shot, you can see that this diamond is very much in the rough and needs more than just TLC.



The views of Hollywood Boulevard and Franklin Avenue are incredible:





…but the interior looks as if it was picked clean.



Wright must be rolling over in his grave over this living situation:





Here’s to hoping USC steps up to the plate and puts some attention (and money) towards fixing this tarnished treasure.



See more Frank Lloyd Wright photos at my main website.

2018 Reflection

Like any other year, 2018 had its ups and downs. It was an amazing year for Daveland with the usual travel (I keep saying I'm going to slow down) and growth opportunities for my photography. Here goes my Reader’s Digest version of the last year.

In an attempt to get back into shape, I ramped up my running, completing a few short ones and doing my first half marathon in over a year. While my time was not impressive, it still felt good to be back in the game.



It seemed like a good year for love as I did one surprise engagement shoot:



And two weddings:





So much for “I don’t shoot weddings!”

I climbed to the top of the California Tower to observe some incredible views of Balboa Park:



A number of shots from my vintage collection were included in the Taschen published book by Chris Nichols' titled “Walt Disney's Disneyland.”



Here I am seeing the book at the Taschen store:



...and the actual image from my collection featured on the two-page spread:



As the official Going To Guides photographer, my work was included in Shannon Laskey’s DCA update book. Here are a few of the images:



How about this blast from the past?







The biggest thrill was running into Shannon at the Chateau Marmont of all places!



My shot of a Frank Lloyd Wright home in Marion, Indiana made the cover of Indiana Preservation magazine:



A number of my photos were purchased over the year as well, including these from New Orleans:



Indianapolis:



and Santa Rosa:



Favorite trips included New York City where I met the bestie, Christy, and also got to lunch with super talented artist and Gene Marshall creator Mel Odom:



I also did my best to recreate a classic James Dean shot. I don’t think modeling is in my future. I can hear Mr. Mackey now: “Smoking is bad!”





Shooting with Broadway and film dancer/actor Julius Anthony on the steps of St. Thomas Church was another highlight of NYC:



A visit to the actual house used in “A Christmas Story” when I visited Cleveland:



My first trip to Miami yielded a magazine cover from one of my shoots:



The late Shirley Temple’s 90th birthday provided the opportunity to meet her daughter Susan:



...and son Charlie:



They had come to Santa Monica to celebrate the reunion of Shirley’s scepter, crown, and gown from the dream sequence of 1939’s “The Little Princess.” Members of Shirley’s Army (including Melissa, aka “The Colonel”) pose proudly by the display at the Santa Monica History Museum:



Melissa’s return to California in November gave us the opportunity to visit some of the locations used in Shirley’s films:



Of course there were a number of visits to my favorite place on earth, the Chateau Marmont, where I got to stay where it all began back in 2001, Room 16:



Actress (and friend) Amanda Kruger visited for breakfast and a few photos during this particular stay:



Willis continues to enjoy his visits to the Chateau, which is his hotel of choice:



A home in the Hollywood hills provided the perfect backdrop for my last photo shoot of the year:



What’s in store for 2019? With three trips already on the docket, I know there will be posts about those as well as the usual vintage shots that I collect along the way. It’s been two years since my last visit to Disneyland, and chances are slim that 2019 will see my return. As my mom says though, “Never say never!”

I have really enjoyed exploring other things that this wonderful universe has to offer. Thanks for the visits, comments, and continued encouragement! See you on the next post!

View more of my photography at my main website.