Aerial view of Westlake Park (now MacArthur Park) in 1937.
Photo from the Security Pacific Collection/Los Angeles Public Library “Curating the City” Debuts with Seven-Week Spotlight on Wilshire Boulevard
“Champs Elysées of the Pacific Coast.” “Fifth Avenue of the West.” “California ’s Most Famous Thoroughfare.” Visionaries, boosters, and planners have found many ways to praise Wilshire Boulevard, the symbolic spine of the city spanning nearly 16 miles from downtown to the ocean. Between October 2 and November 21, the Conservancy will showcase the history of Wilshire through a new educational initiative called Curating the City: Wilshire Boulevard. The wide range of programs include:
Exciting Events
A series of exciting events presented in conjunction with local cultural, community, and educational organizations, to take place along and about Wilshire Boulevard through November 21. Download a complete list of events here.
Dome Detail, Wilshire Boulevard Temple, 2000
Courtesy of Berger/Conser Photography
Preserving Los Angeles: Buildings, Congregations, Communities
Thursday, November 1| 7:30-9 p.m.
Co-presented by the Getty Conservation Institute, the Skirball Cultural Center, and the Jewish Historical Society of Southern California
Panel discussion addressing the challenges and significance of preserving historic religious architecture within the continually changing landscape of Los Angeles, presented in conjuction with the exhibition of photographs by Robert Berger, "Sacred Spaces: Historic Houses of Worship in the City of Angels."
- Free Admission to the exhibition and panel discussion. No reservations required.
- Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 North Sepulveda Blvd.
- Free parking.
"Moderne to Modern," Afternoon Tea and Fashion Show
Sunday, November 6| 1 p.m (tea service); 2:30 p.m. (fashion show)
Co-presented by the Art Deco Society of Los Angeles (ADSLA) and the Los Angeles Conservancy Modern Committee
Three-course tea and fashion show in the fabulous setting of the 1936 El Rey Theatre. From moderne evening wear of the 1930s to modern daywear of the 1960s, the show features the designs of L.A.- based women's clothing designers (and mother-daughter duo) Peggy Hunt and Jeanette Alexander, from the collection of Jacqui Hyland.
- $35/$30 ADSLA and LAC members; $15 for fashion show only. Limited seating; advance ticket purchase highly recommended. Purchase by PayPal at www.adsla.org, or call (310) 659-3326 for an order form.
- El Rey Theatre, 5515 Wilshire Blvd. (between Burnside and Dunsmuir Aves.)
- Self-parking lot ($5) 2 blocks east at Cochran Ave.
Wilshire Boulevard: The Miracle Miles
Co-presented by The Lab at Michael Berman Limited
Wednesday, October 19-Friday, November 18
Exhibition featuring the work of noted celebrity and architectural photographer Jim McHugh, whose series of noir images celebrates the historic architecture of Wilshire Boulevard and Los Angeles.
- Free.
- The Lab at Michael Berman Limited, 7215 Beverly Blvd. (between La Brea Ave. and Gardner St.)
- Hours: Tues.-Sat. 12-4 p.m. and by appointment, call (323) 93-4492.
- Street parking (check posted signs)
Kids' Guide to Wilshire Boulevard
A guide to Wilshire for kids of all ages, packed with activities, photos, even "Color by Numbers" and "Wilshire Bingo." Have one mailed to you for $1.50 (shipping & handling) or download the Kids' Guide to Wilshire (6 MB Acrobat .pdf) for free.
Website
A permanent website at www.curatingthecity.org where you can create individualized tours of Wilshire, contribute personal stories (or read those of others), and retrieve tons of great historical material.
Bus "advertisements"
Bus “advertisements” that offer historical images and information about several of the architectural gems one can see along the Wilshire route, tantamount to the labels accompanying objects in a museum. Looks for these cards inside Metro buses along Wilshire and on the Westside through November 21.
Wilshire Memories
Wilshire Boulevard means many things to many people. The 16-mile stretch from downtown to the beach boasts a remarkable range of sites and scenery, a treasure trove of cultural and architectural landmarks. Which places would you like people to remember, today and generations from now? Tell us! To complete the questionnaire click here.
Curating the City: Wilshire Boulevard is made possible by a grant from the Getty Foundation, the philanthropic division of the J. Paul Getty Trust in Los Angeles.
Sponsors:
The Lloyd E. Rigler-Lawrence E. Deutsch Foundation
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage--Greater Los Angeles Company
Additional support provided by:
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