I’ve got an itch to go. Has anyone been? What are the tours like? I noticed there are a few different tours available – which one(s) have you been on? Any suggestions to someone going for the first time? Nearby motels you could recommend?
CaliforniaRemodelingContractor.com
Edited 11/28/2008 1:20 am by Huck
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Mr. Gary Katz made a visit, and it was recorded in a video. It may be on his website.
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"A stripe is just as real as a dadgummed flower."
Gene Davis 1920-1985
Thanks, I'll have to check it out. Do you have to go on a tour to see the building, or are you allowed to just browse around?View Image “Good work costs much more than poor imitation or factory product” – Charles GreeneCaliforniaRemodelingContractor.com
My wife and I got married there. It's pretty loose. I think you can wander around.
Toured it about 5 years ago. It's a fantastic piece of work, well worth the time. You can stand anywhere and just turn in a circle trying to take in all the details. I'd go back regularly were it not 1200 miles away.
The tours at that time were quite structured, all scheduled and led by docents. No wandering about on your own though, and move at their pace. There's a pretty nice gift shop.
Can't help on the accomodation. We did a day trip out of Palm Desert; worst traffic conditions I've ever experienced.
There was a Greene&Greene house used in one of the 'Back To The Future' movies as the professor's home. Apparently they used the Gamble house for the exterior shots and another, the Blacker-Hill house for interiors. I truly love the Greene&Greene stuff! Here's the Gamble House:View Image
That's great! Have any more pics? Have you been there?View Image “Good work costs much more than poor imitation or factory product” – Charles GreeneCaliforniaRemodelingContractor.com
http://www.gamblehouse.org/photos/index.htmlhttp://www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/eresources/archives/avery/greene/“At its most basic level, capitalism offers people the freedom to choose where they work and what they do … the dignity that comes with profiting from their talent and hard work. … The free-market system also provides the incentives that lead to prosperity -- the incentive to work, to innovate, to save and invest wisely, and to create jobs for others.” -President George W. BushIn other words, free-market capitalism is the best path to prosperity.
Edited 11/28/2008 7:47 am ET by unTreatedwood
I believe there is a good old thread of this house in Breaktime. i'm not gonna search for it though. ; ^ ) Mike
Small wheel turn by the fire and rod, big wheel turn by the grace of god.
is it ok to use that picture on my website?View Image “Good work costs much more than poor imitation or factory product” – Charles GreeneCaliforniaRemodelingContractor.com
Isn't that a great photo? Let's see, I'll Google that pic back up............................Here's the page I got the photo from, I am not knowledgeable at all about copyrights or any of that stuff, so you're on your own: http://laist.com/2008/10/18/get_your_greene_greene_on.php
I used to live there and had a very close friend who was a docent. It is really beyond belief the craftsmanship. Make sure you get a tour if you really want to see one up close and personal like.... well worth your time!!
In other words, free-market capitalism is the best path to prosperity.
I'd been itching to go ever since that first article came out in FWW 30 years ago or so.
Finally got the chance when my daughter started college at Occidental, a few miles from the Gamble House.
The tour was great. The docent knew her stuff. And it was cheap -- $10/head.
Read up on it as much as you can before you go -- you'll get more out of the tour.
And bring a flashlight! It was built in the early days of electricity, and I think they used a 16v system, so it's dim in there. The docent uses a flashlight to point things out, but you'll want to do things like get down on your knees to check out the undercarriage of a table, etc.
IIRC, they sometimes offer a more thorough tour going deeper into the bowels...
AitchKay
Unfortunately, inside the Gamble House they don't allow photographs but have the book available for sale. I would guess that the book is well worth having. Outside, fire away.
We are members. Great house. Do this before January--the Huntington has a Greene and Green Exhibit of their furniture. Also go to the LA County Museum--they have the Blackman (sp?) chair there, you know the iconic clouds lift and double bracket chair.
What is very interesting is the construction of the stuff, and there is a new book that has X-Rays of the ebony splines and double bracket to reveal how they made the stuff.
Enjoy!
The Gamble House is fascinating to visit - well worth doing. The craftsmanship is awe inspiring.
Only guided tours - no free roaming.
Docents are somewhat knowledgeable, but some of their information is just plain bogus. For instance, they pointed out the big "oak tree" stained glass at the entrance, but the leaves and bark of the stained glass work were obviously not oak; equally obviously they ARE sycamore, a tree that grows all over the Arroyo Seco. Similarly, they pointed out a "rose motif" stained glass in the kitchen, IIRC, that bears no resemblance to any rose either in branch, leaf or flower.
There are lots of hotels in the area. The Green Hotel is a historic building in its own right. I'm not sure if it is still operating.
Don't go there around new years, though. Rose Bowl and Rose Parade crowds make hotel rates soar.
Echoing what some of the others have said – no free roaming on the inside, but you are free to roam the grounds and look at the woodwork at your leisure. Some of the exterior joinery is amazing. They have just finished a big restoration in the past year or two, so the woodwork looks better than it has for along time – rafter tails restored, the colors of the shingles back to the original. LA air and the normal weather can take a toll.
The interior tours are not too fast so you don’t feel like you are being led around by the nose and cover the best parts of the house. I have been there with a friend when we were docents at Hollyhock House and were able to get back into some of the areas that were servants quarters and are now used for architecture students from USC that live in the house.
I seem to recall that they were having problems with limited exit space for some of the rooms, especially the old "attic" space, where they used to let people visit.
The bookstore in the old garage is a piece of beautiful work in it’s own right and is stocked with a great assortment of stuff, both artsy and related to architecture and craftsmanship.
If you get a chance, Hollyhock House is a good visit as well.
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"Though I don't think" added Deep Thought "that you're going to like it."
Call in advance- they aren't open the last week of December and that may have been extended since I called. I still want to see that but I usually go out there for the Holidays, which makes it hard to do.