When: 11/2/19
Time: 2:00-4:00 pm
Cost: $10/pp
The Museum SFV members - Free
Location: Rancho Cordillera del Norte located at 9015 Wilbur Ave. (This is directly across the street of The Museum SFV).
Before Disneyland opened in Southern California, Jean Vandruff Created Iconic Fairytale Homes
Chris Lukather, founder and editor of the literary journal, The Writing Disorder, has released his latest book, The Cinderella Homes of Jean Vandruff – Fairy Tale Tracts in the Suburbs.
In the 1950s, Southern California tract housing developments filled the need of a burgeoning population, but they often lacked innovation, imagination and quality. The ubiquitous, plain box-style home tracts featuring little ornamentation came to define the term “cookie cutter.” It’s no wonder that designer and builder Jean Vandruff’s charming homes skyrocketed to popularity, since they exemplified a visionary translation of storybook magic into appealing new homes most buyers could afford. Eventually, over 6,000 Cinderella Homes were built throughout Southern California and the United States.
Mr. Vandruff began building houses in Southern California in the early 1950s, after serving as a decorated pilot in WWII. He enrolled in the USC School of Architecture, but eventually left the program to build custom homes with his brother, Shannon. His first Cinderella Home was a custom home built in Downey, CA, in 1953, creating a prototype for his wildly popular model home that was featured at the 1956 Los Angeles Home Show. The success and interest this model generated initiated his venture into tract home building and a subsequent franchise deal that facilitated his Cinderella Homes being built around the country. The style became an iconic mid-century design.
Today at 97 years old, Jean Vandruff still lives near Anaheim, CA. He is proud of the legacy of his work as a designer and builder and remains active in the community that still today celebrates his Cinderella homes. The book contains information that Chris Lukather compiled from interviews with Vandruff and family members, and from several fields trips to original Cinderella tracts in Anaheim, Tustin, Placentia, and the San Fernando Valley that Chris took with Mr. Vandruff.
Please join us at the historic and beautiful Rancho Cordillera del Norte located at 9015 Wilbur Ave. (This is directly across the street of The Museum SFV).
Author Chris Lukather will be signing copies of his latest book. The book costs $30 each and a portion of proceeds will benefit The Museum of the SFV.
Free parking - enter on Wilbur Ave.
Please RSVP in advance on FaceBook Events or EVENTBRITE.
Okay to walk up to event, but please call The Museum at 818-347-9665 or email to info@TheMuseumSFV.org to RSVP total attendees.
Please bring a family member or friend ... or two.
If you currently live in or have lived in a Cinderella home, we would be interested interviewing you as well discussing participating in upcoming walking tours of these iconic neighborhoods.
For more information, please contact Michel (Michael) Stevens at 818-347-9665 or info@TheMuseumSFV.org.
Thank you.
