Googie Mother Ship

[Brian Moore]

The "Theme Building" at Los Angeles International Airport.

Olympus XA and Fuji Neopan 400, processed in Rodinal.


Googie Mother Ship by brian-moore, on Flickr

 

[Davie Hudson]

beautiful !!

 

[Pete Askew]

And you've even included some stars, clever!

What a bizarre building (or is it just Chris' dedicated parking spot?). And I really like the period feel that it has - for some reason 'The Conversation' comes to mind.

 

[Brian Moore]

beautiful !!

Thanks, Davie.

 

[Brian Moore]

And you've even included some stars, clever!

What a bizarre building (or is it just Chris' dedicated parking spot?). And I really like the period feel that it has - for some reason 'The Conversation' comes to mind.

Pete I often include stars in my foties because they are a good talking point; perhaps they appeal to the astronomer in you.

By your response I sense that you're not familiar with the building. (Darren Bradley is undoubtedly much more knowledgable than I about it, but I'll give you what I know--or think I know!.)

The glass portion is--or was--a restaurant. It has had several uses over the years and was--or maybe is--a nightclub. But, the original design housed a restaurant, and it slowly rotated 360 degrees so that diners not in a hurry would eventually see the entire airport from their table. (It doesn't rotate any more, though, I don't think.)

I read that it was opened in 1961. (The airport itself dates from '59, I think, although I suppose there was probably an airfield of some kind on the land before that.) I also read that the original designs for the airport included a central enclosure--a kind of giant dome--from which passengers would access the various terminals. However, the dome idea got shelved. The Theme Building was built on the part of the airport where the dome would have been.

Thanks for your comments, Pete. (Glad you like my stars.)

 

[Pete Askew]

Interesting, thanks Brian. It seems it's still a restaurant and only rotates after the 6th glass of malt!

Encounter Restaurant & Bar: Genesis of the Encounter and FAQs

 

[Brian Moore]

Did someone say malt,...?

 

[Pete Askew]

You must be able to smell the 1993 Lagavulin I'm indulging in at the moment. A bit too smoky for me but that's all that's left!

 

[Brian Moore]

You must be able to smell the 1993 Lagavulin I'm indulging in at the moment. A bit too smoky for me but that's all that's left!

Hod oan! I'll book a flight--Hamburg this week ain't it?

 

[Pete Askew]

Potsdam. You'll need to go via Frankfurt to Berlin though. There's only about 1/3 litre left though so you'd better hurry!

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Love this building - it's so LA!

Great angle with the palm trees Brian

You're lucky you didn't get arrested for photo terrorism

 

[Brian Moore]

Thanks, Chris.

 

[Dave Moss]

So this is where Chris lives!! Great looking building

 

[Darren Bradley]

I would love to live here, myself. It's definitely up my alley. Anyway, Brian got the facts right so not much more to add. It is still a restaurant and nightclub, yes. It doesn't rotate anymore, alas. Wish it did. Initial design was by James Langenheim and Gin Wong from the office of Pereira & Luckman. I have posted other buildings by his firm on this site before. Others on the design team included other well-known and very respected architects of the time, including Paul Williams and Welton Becket. When it came to LAX, everyone got in on the act, I guess. Anyway, those names probably mean little or nothing to most of you, but to modern architecture fans, they read like the starting line up for the English National Football team at the World Cup.

 

[Nihat Iyriboz]

Nostalgic image, Brian. I'd wish to be in that era.

 

[Brian Moore]

Thank you, Nihat.

 

[Stephen McCullough]

Fascinating history.

I've seen the building many times, and it always left me feeling a bit bewildered. No more.

I enjoy this photograph. Good perspective. It reveals the shaping very effectively. And the stars, love the stars...

 

[Brian Moore]

Thank you, Stephen. (And I'm glad you like the stars I included. )