The Leisure Architecture of Wayne McAllister
By Chris Nichols
(Gibbs Smith Publishers, Paperback, 9781586856991, 160pp.)
Publication Date: April 2007
Categories: Individual Architect
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Description
The Leisure Architecture of Wayne McAllisterChris Nichols
Wayne McAllister was an iconoclast, a designer with no formal architectural training who changed the fabric of cities, a quiet conservative who created some of the most outlandish and sometimes garish spaces in North America. His works are defined by the monumental roadside sign at the edge of the highway, the rambling, relaxing scale of everything-a leisurely freedom of space spread over vast acreage, with rolling lawns, open patios, winding paths and miles and miles of neon beckoning to the automobile.
From the famous Sands, Fremont and Desert Inn hotels in Las Vegas to neon-laden drive-ins such as Bob's Big Boy, McDonnell's and Simon's to extravagant dinner houses like Lawry's the Prime Rib, Richlor's and Melody Lane, The Leisure Architecture of Wayne McAllister explores the history of this architect's best-known projects.
Projects include Hotels and Nightspots:
1934 Biltmore Hotel, Los Angeles El Rancho Vegas Hotel, Las Vegas
1952 Sands Hotel, Las Vegas
Fremont Hotel, Las Vegas
Drive-Ins:
1935-42 Simon's Drive-in's, Los Angeles
Herbert's Drive-Ins, 7800 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles
McDonnell's Drive-Ins, Los Angeles
1955 Bob's Big Boy, Van Nuys
Dinner Houses:
1945 Richlor's, Beverly Hills
1947 Stear's for Steaks, Beverly Hills
Lawry's the Prime Rib, Beverly Hills
1955 Smoke House restaurant, Burbank
Melody Lane
Wayne McAllister was an iconoclast, a designer with no formal architectural training who changed the fabric of cities, a quiet conservative who created some of the most outlandish and sometimes garish spaces in North America. His works are defined by the monumental roadside sign at the edge of the highway, the rambling, relaxing scale of everything-a leisurely freedom of space spread over vast acreage, with rolling lawns, open patios, winding paths and miles and miles of neon beckoning to the automobile.
From the famous Sands, Fremont and Desert Inn hotels in Las Vegas to neon-laden drive-ins such as Bob's Big Boy, McDonnell's and Simon's to extravagant dinner houses like Lawry's the Prime Rib, Richlor's and Melody Lane, The Leisure Architecture of Wayne McAllister explores the history of this architect's best-known projects.
Projects include Hotels and Nightspots:
1934 Biltmore Hotel, Los Angeles El Rancho Vegas Hotel, Las Vegas
1952 Sands Hotel, Las Vegas
Fremont Hotel, Las Vegas
Drive-Ins:
1935-42 Simon's Drive-in's, Los Angeles
Herbert's Drive-Ins, 7800 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles
McDonnell's Drive-Ins, Los Angeles
1955 Bob's Big Boy, Van Nuys
Dinner Houses:
1945 Richlor's, Beverly Hills
1947 Stear's for Steaks, Beverly Hills
Lawry's the Prime Rib, Beverly Hills
1955 Smoke House restaurant, Burbank
Melody Lane
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