Today provides a fine example of starting with one thing, and ending up someplace else entirely.
The source: graphics from an early 30s book on typography and advertising. These are examples intended to show what the modern advertising artist should do, and what they should avoid. I think I've shown you a few before. It's more 20s than 30s; the cleaner, more confident styles of the 30s were yet to come.
One section deals with promoting the modern metropolis, complete with teeming ants:
Real-world examples are interesting. The Tuller:
It existed:
It was one of the largest luxury hotels in Detroit, and the first one to be erected in the Grand Circus Park Historic District.The hotel was known as the "grand dame of Grand Circus Park." The site is now the location of a parking lot next to the United Artists Theatre Building.
The Gov:
Still exists. It's the Stewart now. Lots of great interior shots here.
An odd looking pile.
The bar: what a wild world.
This building . . .
. . . also exists to this day. It’s not rare to find the big 20s buildings still around.
Today we can remotely observe the same perspective:
I was interested in the building across the street:
Unique details:
Interesting heap - the classical era is over, for keeps.
I ran what I thought was the address. and this site came up. Hmm.
503 Madison Avenue in New York, NY was first built in 1929 and is 92 years old. and no partial bathrooms. The linear feet across the front of the lot is 100 ft and the linear feet between the front and back of the lot is 75.
The condition of the building is currently unclear. Unfortunately, the property does not currently have a patio or a porch. Sadly, there is currently no swimming pool on the property. So those who like swimming as a form of exercise may need to find a local or community pool instead. The home is currently being cooled with air conditioning. There are no fireplaces in the home.
Uh - okay. Robot generated. A little more research: It’s the Columbia Broadcasting System building. This building contains an astonishing amount of history, but I imagine it’s been scoured for a new life as an ordinary office building.
Anyway: back to the 1929 visions of the modern metropolis. A rather vertiginous view:
The pencil as skyscraper:
Building Babel:
Almost a hundred years ago, when they dreamed bigger.
Only one more hiatal day. Tired of pictures? Tomorrow it's something else, and it's meta as all get out.
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