Up today, we’re featuring what just might be the West Coast’s most perfect art deco venue….
In 1925, James Oviatt was already a successful businessman. His department store, Alexander & Oviatt, had been attracting a high-end Los Angeles clientele in downtown LA for nearly a decade. He was in the midst of plans for their next expansion, a new building, constructed from the ground up…
… when he took a business trip to Europe. The original building design was in Italian Romanesque style, but luckily for us, he happened to find himself in Paris at the dawn of a new age… 1925 was the year of Paris Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes, the birthplace of Art Deco.
Oviatt was awed by these new designs, and upon his return to the States, he ordered the architects to construct the new building in the brand new style. He spared no expense, importing over ten tons of Lalique glass for use throughout the building.
And so the first true art deco building made its debut in Los Angeles in 1928 (and it included a 10 room art deco penthouse on top for Oviatt’s own residence.) The store closed in the 60s, but both the main space (a restaurant and venue now known as “Cicada“) and The Oviatt Penthouse are available for weddings and events, and they are the perfect backdrop to a Los Angeles art deco wedding. Take a look!
(also: If you are an art deco fan who happens to be visiting Los Angeles, be sure to check out the wonderful LA Conservancy and their incredible walking tours. They have an Art Deco Tour that features Cicada and the Oviatt Penthouse, and the other stops on the tour are a delight as well. They do great work!)
It’s the truth: we’re absolutely in love with each of the beautiful, simple yet elegant details at this intimate 1920s style wedding in Tulsa, Oklahoma, sent to us from Bolt Photography. With the breathtaking backdrop of the Italianate design Dresser Mansion, built in 1919, each detail of this lovely vintage inspired wedding is a sweet …
The Queen Mary was born first as a luxury ocean liner (her maiden voyage was in 1936), became a troop ship during World War II, and was a glamorous cruise ship for decades. In 1967 she was sold to the City of Long Beach, and has been open to the public off and on since …
Today’s highlighted venue: the stunning Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox in Spokane, Washington. It features so many gorgeous deco details throughout, it’s hard to know what to highlight…. let’s start here: Got your attention, right? Built in 1931 and renovated in 2007, the theater is now a thriving concert and performing arts venue, and …
The American love affair with trains and train travel may have waned a bit in recent times, but thankfully some of our most beautiful train stations are still around. There has always been a romantic appeal to rail travel, and even in cities where the stations are no longer a travel hub, we’re lucky that …
Art Deco Venue | Cicada + The Oviatt Penthouse
Up today, we’re featuring what just might be the West Coast’s most perfect art deco venue….
In 1925, James Oviatt was already a successful businessman. His department store, Alexander & Oviatt, had been attracting a high-end Los Angeles clientele in downtown LA for nearly a decade. He was in the midst of plans for their next expansion, a new building, constructed from the ground up…
Photo via Flickr user Floyd B. Bariscale
… when he took a business trip to Europe. The original building design was in Italian Romanesque style, but luckily for us, he happened to find himself in Paris at the dawn of a new age… 1925 was the year of Paris Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes, the birthplace of Art Deco.
Paris Art Exposition, c.1925
Oviatt was awed by these new designs, and upon his return to the States, he ordered the architects to construct the new building in the brand new style. He spared no expense, importing over ten tons of Lalique glass for use throughout the building.
And so the first true art deco building made its debut in Los Angeles in 1928 (and it included a 10 room art deco penthouse on top for Oviatt’s own residence.) The store closed in the 60s, but both the main space (a restaurant and venue now known as “Cicada“) and The Oviatt Penthouse are available for weddings and events, and they are the perfect backdrop to a Los Angeles art deco wedding. Take a look!
(also: If you are an art deco fan who happens to be visiting Los Angeles, be sure to check out the wonderful LA Conservancy and their incredible walking tours. They have an Art Deco Tour that features Cicada and the Oviatt Penthouse, and the other stops on the tour are a delight as well. They do great work!)
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It’s the truth: we’re absolutely in love with each of the beautiful, simple yet elegant details at this intimate 1920s style wedding in Tulsa, Oklahoma, sent to us from Bolt Photography. With the breathtaking backdrop of the Italianate design Dresser Mansion, built in 1919, each detail of this lovely vintage inspired wedding is a sweet …
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