Esoteric Survey

I took a trip up Highway 99 and stopped in Fresno again.  This is a sore topic around here. Although I drive down Fulton Street every time I'm in Fresno,  I haven't posted about it since  2016 .  Over the years  I've done many posts about the mall. The first was in  2010 .  The Fulton Mall in 1967 For a recap, in the mid-1950s Downtown Fresno merchants and city officials were looking for ways to revitalize the central business district. They hired Victor Gruen to create a visionary plan. With the help of legendary landscape architect Garrett Eckbo, they  created a grand pedestrian orientated design that linked the six-block business district to the civic center.  The Fulton Mall opened in 1964 (Happy 60th Anniversary) and was a nationally-recognized success, both commercially and in terms of design. The art at the Fulton Mall included 20 sculptures by artists  found in major museum collections. This includes large sculptures by Claire Fa...

Fresno has some architectural gems. I've posted on some of the 1960s architecture in the past , but this time I stopped off at  the terminal and former control tower at The Chandler Field/Fresno Municipal Airport. It was built in 1936-1937 as part of the W.P.A. (Works Progress Administration),  Project #2236 . The complex is in great condition and still operates as an airfield. On the day I was there, a 1928 Ford 5-AT-B Trimotor was on the runway. It is the first mass-produced airline and its first flight was on December 1, 1928. On this day, the EAA was giving rides.  Source: Pacific Wrecks I went aboard but my girlfriend was afraid to get airborne.  There is a really cute diner in the building, The Flight Line Cafe .

There was a great house for sale in Fresno. It was designed in 1970 by Fresno architect Robin Gay McCline as his personal residence. He must have been friends with Stan Bitters because there sure is a lot of  his work in the house. It was listed for $450,000 and went fast. According to the listing, McCline was a prolific watercolor artist, architect and educator who worked with the likes of Jim Oakes, Robert Stevens and Gene Zellmer during Fresno's burgeoning years.  More information  here .

The Fulton Pedestrian Mall is no more. The backwards plan to turn the mall back over to the automobile is being implemented.  The George Tsutakawa sculptural fountain and Garrett Eckbo designed pool are gone. The Jan de Swart clock tower will be removed from the center of the mall and pushed to the corner. No More Claire Falkenstein. Stan Bitters, in jail. This Bitters is gone. Not that they were being taken care of when they were still there. Peter Voulkos, caged and gone.  Gordon Newell, suffocating