A Route 66 quiz

Save the Fuller House in Forth Worth Texas!

Known as the Andrew Fuller House and designed by modernist A. Quincy Jones in Fort Worth Texas, the house isn’t selling, so they’re tearing it down. The December 1950 issue of the magazine Architectural Forum featured a “Builder’s House of the Year” designed by A. Quincy Jones. The same issue also awarded the innovative Palo Alto building magnate Joseph Eichler “Subdivision of the Year”. Eichler then invited Jones to tour the Palo Alto development he

Raising Retro Kids: Pedal Cars

Pedal car history goes back to the 1890’s when toy makers took their cue from real cars on the road. At the turn of the century, the cost meant that these cars were playthings for only wealthy families especially with many families reeling from the financial devastation of The Great Depression. No pedal cars were produced in the mid-1940’s when all metal production was directed to the World War II effort. Pedal cars experienced a

1950’s Modernism: A guide for the clueless.

What is characteristic of Modernist architecture? Do the major design features involve steel and glass? Was the design machine-inspired? (does it look somewhat like a machine?) Do the upholstery’s and fabrics look like those found at www.maharam.com? Does the design lack unnecessary details? Does its form follow its function? Does the design emphasize linear qualities? Are there a lot of horizontal and vertical lines? So, when exactly did Modernism develop as an architectural style? Modernism

Retro Roadtrip: The Blue Swallow, Tucumcari, NM

We have had the Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, NM in our Motel Directory for a long time.It’s as much of an icon along Route 66 as the WigWam Motels. Owner Lillian Redman, a legend along Route 66 ran the motel from 1958 to 1997. By a stroke of luck, owners over the years after she sold the motel managed to restore instead of modifying (and thus destroying the charm) the old motel. The rooms