Zsa Zsa Slept Here

We had our introduction down pat as visitors entered the front door. Yes, it was true. This was the home where the famous Gabor sisters and their mother stayed as they recuperated from their many trips ‘under the knife.’ It was also home to many famous and infamous celebrity parties of that era.

All of that was true and our guests loved it. Sharon and I were docents for the day and having a blast spinning tales of old Palm Springs as it was back in the day.

Modernism Week is a signature event held every February and unique to Palm Springs. It attracts thousands of modern architecture lovers from all over the country and the world. There are a host of events to showcase and highlight the very best of modernism designs and trends. There are art fairs, a modernism yard sale, vintage car show, lectures and films on historical Palm Springs architecture, as well as many events at the convention center. One of the highlights of the events each year are the neighborhood home tours.

Beginning in the mid-40s, architects originated a design movement specific to the greater Palm Springs area. It became known as Desert Modern. Their buildings featured ground-breaking techniques such as post-and-beam supports, floor-to-ceiling glass walls and a wide array of colors to match the surrounding mountains and desert. Now famous architects such as William Krisel, E. Stewart Williams, Albert Frey, William F. Cody, Richard Neutra and Donald Wexler were among the masters of this design.

Our neighborhood, Indian Canyon, was included in the home tours for the third year in a row. Sharon and I volunteered to be docents at one of the homes. It was a great opportunity to meet more of our neighbors and peek in on the lives of the design-conscious, artsy-types who created these one-of-a-kind homes.

It was fascinating to see what had been done to these retro houses and how the other half lives. Most of the homes were owned by interior designers…no surprise there. Each was a designer’s delight. Stunning is not too strong a word to describe some of those settings.

Here are some examples of the homes on the tour:

We were docents at a home that was built in 1973 and considered a Pueblo Modern. In keeping with the times and lore of old Palm Springs this home had its own fabled history. Over time the tales of its past residents has only grown and become more embellished with each new owner.

Famously known as the ‘Gabor House’ this house carries its own colorful banner of ‘Old Palm Springs’ and its connection to the golden era of old Hollywood.

A plastic surgeon, Dr. Borko Djordjevic, was its first owner. He is reported to have held many celebrity parties during his years there. However, he is most known for hosting the extensive stays for the Gabor sisters and their mother after they had ‘work’ done by him in town.

Explaining the Gabor sisters to our younger visitors was like comparing them to the present-day celebrity sensations The Kardashians. No talent, no chemistry, no discernible reason why anyone would care but somehow fans do care about the Kardashian. The Gabor sisters had that same aura about them back then.

Rumors abound about the house and the escapades there. The sisters, it is claimed by nosey neighbors, used to sunbath with only towels covering their newly remodeled faces. And the rumors just grew and grew.

The house has been totally remodeled and is stunning in its décor. It’s a fitting tribute to the glitz and glamour that was old Hollywood. Older visitors seemed genuinely interested in the tales of its past occupants. The newer ones just liked the mid-century design. So it goes in the land of fact and fiction, rumor and innuendo - but always a good story to tell.

In the Garden of the Sun

Palm Springs is unique in the world for its growing collection of original, refurbished, and brand new Mid-Century Modern homes.  It’s part of the ambiance of this place along with its growing hipster attractions, Hollywood highlights, the smugness of El Paseo and a cache of consignment stores.  Not to mention the closeness to high desert solitude, mountain culture and an ocean only two hours away.

Photo Credit: Modernism Week Magazine

Actually, this is the third rebirth of a movement that first began in the early forties with a curious assemblage of very talented architects.  These men (sorry, no women) brought with them a passion for mixing the various elements of California-style living within the desert environment.

Beginning in the mid-40s, architects originated a design movement specific to the greater Palm Springs area.  It became known as Desert Modern. Their buildings featured ground-breaking techniques such as post-and-beam supports, floor-to-ceiling glass walls and a wide array of colors to match the surrounding mountains and desert. Now famous architects such as William Krisel, E. Stewart Williams, Albert Frey, William F. Cody, Richard Neutra, and Donald Wexler were among the masters of this design.

The second rebirth began in the seventies when Palm Springs Tourism made a concerted effort to draw gay visitors to the valley.  These DINKs (dual income-no kids) seemed most likely to appreciate the arts, the cultural and musical scene here, the draw of Hollywood nearby (two hours away) and the open-accepting culture that is a major characteristic of the city. It worked.

Not only did gay men and straight couples flock to the desert to enjoy the amenities of Palm Springs they also discovered hidden architectural treasures among the many mid-century modern homes here.  Some of those jewels had grown long in the tooth and cried out for rebirth back to their glory days. Very soon these homes were being picked up for $100,000, remodeled and then sold for upwards to $300,000 to $400,000 dollars. A trend of ‘Valley Fever’ had begun and continues to this day.

The Modernism Week event officially began in 2006.  It was a focused attempt to highlight the many examples of mid-century modern design during a several week period that also added attention to many different aspects of architecture and design.

Following the success of both the 2005 Palm Springs Modernism Show & Sale and the annual symposium organized by the Palm Springs Art Museum’s Architecture and Design Council, a group of local design and architecture aficionados created Modernism Week’s signature event in February to showcase the world-renowned midcentury modern architecture of Palm Springs.

In 2009 Modernism Week became a California 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization.  Since then, the organization has established an annual Scholarship Program for local high school seniors pursuing college educations in the fields of architecture and design; and continues to provide financial support to local and state preservation organizations and neighborhood groups in their efforts to preserve modernist architecture throughout the state of California.

Our neighborhood, Indian Canyons, once again hosted five homes this year on the modernism tour.

What was most fascinating about the homes on display was the unique approach each homeowner took to display their vision of modernism.  Some spoke homage to the garishness of 50’s Hollywood while others took refuge in the quiet elegance of artistic excellence. In their own unique way, each homeowner tried to show an exuberance of color and light and unique design.

We were docents again at a home down the block.  It was a fun way to meet more of our neighbors and get to peak into the ‘lifestyles and furnishings of the rich and stylish.’  Unlike last year when every home was a showcase for designers, the homes this year were more ‘livable’ instead of just being museum pieces.

Still it was an adventure to see how the other half lives.