The Wiltern Theater

The Wiltern Theater and the attached Pellissier Building are one of many beautiful Art Deco landmarks on L.A.'s Wilshire Boulevard. Architects Morgan, Walls, and Clements built the theater/office building in 1930-1931 and sheathed the structure in turquoise terracotta tiles.

The narrow windows and strong vertical lines of the facade create the illusion that the building is higher than its 12 stories:

The theater entrance is flanked by two vertical neon signs:

There is an elaborate white plaster starburst pattern above the ticket booth and a simple but more colorful starburst in faux-marble terrazo on the floor:
The carved mahogany doors are surrounded by intricate Art Deco detailing:

A detail from the carved doors:

The Wiltern's terracotta tiles use many common art deco motifs such as chevrons, zig-zags, scallops, and fronds. Here are a few details of the tiles:

The Wiltern is still a functioning theater and is operated by LiveNation.




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Santa Monica Mountains

The Santa Monica Mountains, which extend from the Hollywood Hills north into Ventura County, include many great hiking trails. Here is a picture from the 7 mile loop to Sandstone Peak, the highest point in the range:

This hike features unusual sandstone formations and sweeping views over the mountain range, the valley, the ocean, and the Catalina Islands. Below is a map with driving directions from downtown L.A. to the hike's trailhead. The Modern Hiker blog has more pictures and information about this hike and many other hikes in the L.A. area.


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