Angel TimeRandom House Mission InnWest facade Mission InnMain lobby Mission InnInterior courtyard architecture Mission InnInternational Rotunda With a hotel as unique and eclectic as the Mission Inn, it’s no wonder many actors, artists and writers have found the place invigorating and inspiring. Among them include Will Rogers, Paul Newman, Jack Lemmon, Louis Comfort Tiffany, Zona…
Long-time Riverside photographer, Michael J. Elderman, has spent nearly 3 years photographing the restoration of downtown Riverside’s Fox Theater as it transforms into the 1,600 seat Fox Performing Arts Center. Riverside’s Fox Theater:An Intimate PortraitMichael J. Elderman Hired by the restoration’s project manager to visually capture the massive renovation of the Fox, Elderman soon realized…
Crews work on the new crossing at Mission Inn Avenue as part of the pedestrian mall makeover in downtown Riverside Slideshow: Out & About This week found us taking a stroll along downtown’s Main Street pedestrian mall during a workday lunch, where we encountered others also taking in the fall-like weather. Further up, we noticed…
At right is a postcard view of Main Street in downtown Riverside looking south toward Tenth from Ninth. The view is from 1963/64, prior to the construction of the Main Street pedestrian mall*, which opened in 1966 and stretches north from Tenth to Sixth. At left is Gordon’s (here’s a different view*). According to its…
Prior to its 1992 merger with then San Francisco-based Bank of America, Los Angeles-based Security Pacific National Bank had become one of the nation’s largest banking institutions. It also had several branches — and deep roots — in and around Riverside. In April 1973, Security Pacific National Bank (SPNB) opened an 11-story branch/office tower in…
Probably no other photographer had as much an impact on presenting — even selling — Mid-Century Modern architecture than did Julius Shulman, who died Wednesday in Los Angeles. He was 98. 1960Case Study House #22Julius Shulman / Getty Images Among the many photographs taken by Shulman were projects by the likes of Richard Neutra, Rudolf…
With an expected completion date later this year, work continues on the $30 million restoration of the historic Fox Theater in downtown Riverside. Feb. 2009Fox Theater Oct. 2008Renaissance The renovation of the soon-to-be, 1,600-seat Fox Performing Arts Center includes a complete overhaul of the 1929 theater — everything from new ventilation systems, theater seats and…
Last Sunday, we had the chance to “ride the rails” at Hunter Hobby Park, one of Riverside’s most unique attractions. 2008Hunter Hobby Park 20087 1/2 gauge steam trains 2008Kids particularly enjoy the trains Located in northeast Riverside, the 40-acre park began life in the late 1950s as an adjunct “backyard” of sorts to local engineer…
Last month, California’s State Historical Resources Commission added Riverside’s downtown Central Fire Station to the state’s Register of Historic Resources. Currently entering its sixth decade of operation, the building has come under threat recently as the city prepares to build a new fire station on the block directly behind the current location. And though the…
Over the past 96 years, downtown Riverside has seen 2 main post offices built, the first in 1912 and the second in 1939. First came the 1912 Federal Building/Post Office located on Seventh Street (Mission Inn Avenue). Sporting Italian-Renaissance architecture, the building served as the city’s main post office for nearly 30 years. Afterward, the…
