Cox Pilot Tribute

Quite awhile back I was excited and saddened by the acquisition of this 1958 shot showing the Flight Circle in Tomorrowland.



Although the closeup is grainy, I thought it might actually show Lee, aka Cox Pilot. He was one of the first followers of my blog to contribute information on what it was like to work at the Park in the early years. He generously supplied photos, memories, and encouragement. When he passed away a few years back, it was very sad to lose his kindness and generosity. Typically when I got an image like this I immediately emailed it to him excitedly waiting his commentary.



Just this week, I received these two images from April 1959 of the Flight Circle.



With this closeup I am almost positive that Lee is the one standing next to the boy in the red hat:



Compare with this shot of Lee:



A close-up of the Thimble Drome logo:



This second image from the same batch shows Lee from the back:





This shot has the added bonus of showing construction of the Matterhorn:



More Flight Circle photos at my main website.

Fiesta Friday

This April 1959 image shows the Gonzalez Trio at the Frontierland Gates. Perhaps it was also on a Friday that they were serenading the guests.

A closeup of the Trio themselves:



I call this second closeup "Bored Hipster Dad with Cool Hat."



More Gonzalez Trio photos at my main website.

The Wright Tour Pt. 9: The Huntington

My final post on this amazing tour courtesy of the Wright Trust takes us to the Huntington Library in San Marino (next door to Pasadena).



I had visited the gardens and galleries once briefly back in 1995 and was very happy to have another opportunity to see them.



Poor Medusa; always losing her head.



This bronze sculpture of Diana the Huntress has always been a fave:



Our tour was focused on the American Gallery, aka the Virginia Steele Scott Galleries:





Always a sucker for Art Deco styling:



The way the light was coming into this gallery almost seemed like something out of Star Trek.



Beam me up, Scotty!



A favorite painting:



The reason we were here was an exhibit including quite a few Arts & Crafts pieces. How about this dining room table. LOVE IT!



When our toured ended, I wandered over to the main house which also serves as a gallery.





The two paintings that draw the crowds in this gallery are "Pinkie" by Thomas Lawrence…



and "Blue Boy" by Thomas Gainsborough.



And then I was ready to go home. I missed Willis.



More Huntington beauty at my main website.

The Wright Tour Pt. 8: DTLA

We're closing in on the finish of this series…I promise! After viewing the Hollyhock House, we had a whirlwind tour of Downtown LA, which included the Frank Gehry designed Walt Disney Concert Hall.



I remember when I first saw photos of it I was not enthralled; definitely not my taste. However, the incredibly creative building has grown on me.



I dashed around the building snapping as we had very little time at each stop. Up on the building's rooftop garden is this piece of art called "A Rose for Lilly."



The Gehry designed fountain is in honor of Walt's wife, Lillian, and her love for Royal Delft porcelain vases and roses. The fountain is a large rose that’s covered in thousands of broken pieces of Delft porcelain and tiles.



The building looks gorgeous against a blue sky; a photographer's dream. Well…at least mine.



Next up was the Bradbury Building.



It has been used in a number of movies, most notably, "Blade Runner" with Harrison Ford.



The 1893 building was commissioned by Los Angeles gold-mining millionaire Lewis L. Bradbury and constructed by draftsman George Wyman from the original design by Sumner Hunt.



Every time I visit it, there are a number of people gawking over the impressive interiors.



It is jaw-dropping at wide-angle as well as closeup.







Two of my favorite things: vintage tile…



and vintage light fixtures (please note Darryl; a return to sanity).









On the right is a display of info and photos about "Blade Runner" and the Bradbury building:





We were also afforded quite a bit of time at the LA County Museum of Art; always an enjoyable visit.





This spaghetti-like art installation in the courtyard had people mesmerized walking in and out of its tentacles.





I loved the light in this hallway.



The late Gloria Stuart of "Titanic" fame (the older Rose) was also a painter. This one is from the 1960s and part of a series she did on the Watts Towers.



Another favorite discovery for me on this trip was this portrait of Dr. Felix J. Weil, 1926, by George Grosz, a German Painter.



This vintage Bluebird radio is right up my alley.





Loved the lighting and layout in this display also:



A statue from the outdoor sculpture garden:



More Los Angeles photos at my main website.