Issue 256 June 2nd 2021

The Headlines

That Far Corner: Frank Lloyd Wright In Los Angeles

From KCET (the public broadcaster serving SoCal) comes the documentary, That Far Corner: Frank Lloyd Wright in Los Angeles. During his time spent in Southern California in the late 1910s and early 1920s, Frank Lloyd Wright accelerated the search for L.A.’s authentic architecture that was suitable to the city’s culture and landscape. Writer/Director Chris Hawthorne, architecture critic for the Los Angeles Times, explores the houses the legendary architect built in Los Angeles. The documentary also delves into the critic’s provocative theory that these homes were also a means of artistic catharsis for Wright, who was recovering from a violent tragic episode in his life. You can watch That Far Corner online. More here.

Historical Society Plans Bus Trip To South Side Mansions

The Mount Prospect Historical Society of Illinois has planned its second bus trip on Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021.

This year, the Society will be exploring historic delights on the South Side of Chicago -- first, the Frank Lloyd Wright Robie House on the campus of the University of Chicago and then the Pullman neighborhood, where Pullman railroad cars were once built.

The Frederick C. Robie House in the Hyde Park neighborhood was built between 1909 and 1910 and was placed on the very first National Register of Historic Places list in 1966. At the time that he commissioned Wright to design his home, Robie was only 28 years old and the assistant manager of the Excelsior Supply Company, which was owned by his father. He and his wife, Lora Hieronymus Robie, a 1900 graduate of the University of Chicago, selected the property in order to remain close to the campus and the social life of the university.

After lunch on your own near the university, the tour will continue south to the Pullman neighborhood.

Historic Pullman was built in the 1880s by George Pullman as workers' housing for employees of his railroad car company, the Pullman Palace Car Company. He established behavioral standards that workers had to meet in order to live in the area and charged them rent. The distinctive row houses were comfortable by standards of the day, and contained such amenities as indoor plumbing, gas and sewers.

This was the site of the two-month-long Pullman Strike in 1894 that eventually required intervention by the U.S. government and military. After Pullman died in 1897, the Illinois Supreme Court required the company to sell the town because operating it was outside the company's charter. In 1889, the town and other major portions of the South Side were annexed by Chicago, and within 10 years the city sold the houses to their occupants.

Tickets for the trip are $65 per person and include tour admissions and bus transportation. The tour bus will depart from the Mount Prospect Historical Society, 101 S. Maple St., promptly at 9 a.m. and is expected to return by 5 p.m. Lunch will be on your own. Comfortable clothing and shoes are strongly urged.

Space is limited, so if you are interested, contact the office at (847) 392-9006 or visit www.mtphist.org/bustour2021. More here.

Florida Southern To Reopen Tourism Center, Resume Tours Of Wright Structures

The Sharp Family Tourism and Education Center and GEICO Gift Shop at Florida Southern College will reopen to the public on Tuesday, the college said in a news release. Visitors will be able to sign up for future guided tours or purchase Frank Lloyd Wright-themed merchandise.

Souvenir maps will be available for self-guided walking tours, and limited-capacity guided tours of campus will resume on June 15. All Wright-related campus tours and events halted in March 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. More here.

Bismarck’s Thompson House

Prairie Public Broadcasting has a piece on a Taliesin Associated Architects-designed Bismarck, North Dakota house.

Ralph and Marjorie Thompson purchased the land for the Bismarck house in 1954. Both were interested in architecture, and they hoped to have a local architect design their home. They asked their friend and local architect Donald Froeschle, but he was too busy.

Unsure what to do, they decided to check in with Frank Lloyd Wright. They wrote to him in late 1958, requesting his services. Eugene Masselink, his secretary, wrote back, requesting a list of what they wanted and needed, with information and photos of the land. However, Wright died a few months later. Four days after his death, the Thompsons received a letter stating that the lot was small, but that the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation was willing to accept the commission. After some discussion, they agreed to have their home designed by Allen Lape Davison of the Taliesin Associated Architects. More here.

E.E. Roberts: Oak Park's Other Architect

WGN Radio has a segment on the second best-known architect in Oak Park, Illinois, E.E. Roberts, who actually designed more buildings than best-known architect in Oak Park, Frank Lloyd Wright.

Roberts designed many grand residences in Oak Park—some in the Prairie School vernacular, but others are an eclectic mix of styles—likely helping to explain his success in getting his designs built. Listen to learn more here.

Build Your Own Scale Models Of Iconic Frank Lloyd Wright Buildings

The Little Building Co., a fine architectural model set company, is offering three highly detailed models of the Frank Lloyd Wright’s most iconic structures. The kits include a 1:150 scale replica of Unity Temple, a 1:100 scale replica of the first Jacobs House, a 1:500 scale model of the SC Johnson Wax Administration Building, and, of course, a 1:500 scale of the world-renowned Guggenheim Museum in New York City. The miniature structures are crafted from a variety of premium, sustainably sourced materials such as American cherry woods and high-quality Aspen wood.

The miniature properties mirror the original architectural design plans and come with an assortment of lifelike details such as trees, benches and even birds to help create a sense of realism. Based in Australia, the Little Building Co. created the replicas to appear as if “they could have come out of the architect’s own studio.” The DIY models, which come with instructions for assembly, were designed to help buyers unplug and enjoy some analog time away from daily distractions.

To bring a little Frank Lloyd Wright into your home, follow the link to order your favorites. The only thing you’ll need to pick up is a reliable wood glue to hold it all together. More here.

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