Oklahoma Modern

Most Tulsans are familiar with Lortondale . The unique modern abodes along Yale Avenue have been turning heads ever since they were built in the mid Fifties. But did you know these aren't the only flaptops in town? A little-known neighborhood in North Tulsa called Lake View is also primarily comprised of homes with that low and minimalist look of Lortondale. I don't know who designed or built these homes- but they certainly are similar in size and style. Built in the late Fifties and early Sixties, the suburban development on Delaware Avenue near Mohawk Boulevard hoped to capitalize on its proximity to Mohawk Park and Lake Yahola. That's the lake that is within view in case you were wondering. However, by the Seventies this area was suffering from the mass exodus to the suburbs. Tulsa, like most American cities at the time, saw a huge migration away from urban centers. This impacted North Tulsa especially hard. The area went into decline, much like Lortondale did du...

Just a few random images. Admiral Boulevard is the north-south division in Tulsa. It was also known as the northern border of the Cherokee Nation, but that was back before anyone cared much about a Tulsa address. Through the years Admiral has been known as Federal Way, Route 66, Highway 33 and- to the tragically nerdy- the 36th parallel. There's a slew of cool neon along Admiral, mostly due to its former status as a highway and major thoroughfare. On the eastern end was the Traffic Circle- a feature that most Tulsa drivers seemed to loathe. It was intended to handle high traffic load without a stop light- which it still does today. At one time this was also a major highway junction of Route 66, OK-33, US-169 and the Skelly Bypass. In the Sixties there were also a number of suburbia-style shopping destinations. One of the finest, Sheridan Village , was at the southwest corner of Admiral and Sheridan. Rooftop parking was a futuristic notion back then. A suburban bank branch...

For the last couple of years we've been hearing more and more about Modernism Week in Palm Springs. Held each February since 2006, this week-long celebration of modern aesthetics has become the place to be for stir-crazy modernists. The Palm Springs Visitor Center is located in a super groovy gas station designed by Albert Frey. Photo: Lydia Kremer Sixth Annual Palm Springs Modernism Week February 17 through 27, 2011 Today Palm Springs, California is a mecca of Mid-Century Modern architecture. In the postwar years this desert oasis attracted the Hollywood elite and became symbolic of the Rat Pack lifestyle. The annual Modernism Week celebrates this unique "desert modern" with art exhibits, architectural tours, lectures, and sales. What began as just a show and sale back in 2001 has evolved into a huge citywide happening that attracted over 9,000 visitors last year.

Bit of sad news comes to us via Facebook today. A piece of Tulsa history is up for sale on eBay- the Zingo roller coaster from Bell's Amusement Park. Zingo Roller Coaster on eBay While not what most people consider "architecture," I consider a wooden roller coaster built in 1968 an intriguing piece of design. Not to mention a historically significant piece of local history, and roadside Americana! Bell's was opened on Tulsa Fairgrounds in 1951. They were forced to close in 2006 after a squabble over the amusement park's lease. Efforts were under way last year to relocate the park to Coweta, but the deal is still in the formative stages. If you'd like to test drive Zingo before you bid here's a video filmed in 2003...