Phoenix / 2

I've been to Phoenix a bunch of times but had never been here.  
This is Beadle Residence 6, or White Gates, by Al Beadle, 1958.


This place is so good. I'm totally in the Beadle fan club now. 

 Unfortunately, it's in bad shape.  It is supposedly being restored by the current owner, but it sure doesn't look like it.
Read more on Modern Phoenix

At one point there was a matching garage.

 Period interior shots.
Source: Mete The Beadles, by Peter J. Wolf


Next door is another Beadle.
He also did a Case Study Apartment Building / Traid Apartments for Arts & Architecture. I'll visit there next time.    

An Edward Killingsworth house from 1957 was listed for sale so I went to check it out. 
Apparently, Al Beadle used to live in the house. I can't find any vintage photos, or much information on it at all.  That's what I get 
for lagging on ordering the book on Killingworth that came out earlier this year.  I just did, so hopefully there's some
information on it.  Anyway, someone did a number on this place. Just look at that chair sculpture thing for starters.

It's one thing when a house falls into disrepair, it's quite another thing when people spend good money to make something look 
this bad. It's painted in LA Lakers colors! Someone please save it.

The back looks good.

On the same street is the Oregon Street house by Donn Wooldridge, 1968.
Don was Al Beadle's primary engineer for a number of years. 

A bit Dwell-ified, but it's nice. 

David Wright house by his dad, Frank Lloyd Wright, 1952
This house was near demolition last year, but has been purchased by a new owner who is planning to 
open it up as a museum. I hope that happens soon. I want to get inside.
More information at Save Wright.

Valley National Bank (now Chase) by Frank Henry,1967


This is when banks were worth putting your money in. 

Neal Frisby, a wacky Pentecostal evangelist, commissioned the construction of this pyramid because he said god commanded him to do it.
I suppose that's as good of a reason as any. Some say it was built in 1968 and others list it as 1973.  
In the 1980s, Frisby and the pyramid were seen frequently on Phoenix television, during the heyday of on air evangelism.  
The craziness continues, when Frisby died in 2005 and unexpectedly gave the church and all his assets to an NFL 
player he had just met. You can read more about that part of the story, here.   

The top used to have no openings in the panels and would glow at night. 


 It's impossible for me to go to Phoenix and not go to Cosanti. It never gets old.