Mid-20th Century architecture--I've really come to appreciate it. I actually didn't like it 25-30 years ago, but I do now; well, a lot of it I like. There are still some examples that I don't like.
Anyway, going on that theme, and on the eve of this year's Oscars, here's the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, built in 1958 and designed by Welton Becket. I recently learned that a whole African-American neighborhood, called Belmar Triangle, was destroyed to build the Auditorium and its adjacent parking lot. The Santa Monica Civic Auditorium was the venue for the Academy Awards from 1961 to 1968.
I think I posted a few of these pictures before in this thread:
1958, shortly after its completion.
USC Archive
USC Archive
The Academy Awards held in 1968.
oscars.org
Sonny and Cher on the red carpet, 1968.
corbisimages.com
Angela Lansbury performing Best Original Song nominee "Thoroughly Modern Millie" at the Academy Awards, Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, 1968. She really hoofs it up!
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