Thoroughly Mod Long Beach - Page 2

"We have a great range: you get to see [homes from] the early models all the way up to 1960," he said of the nine stops on the tour. The period covered actually begjns with a 1936 Hugh Davies design known as the "20th Century House." At the other end chronologically is a nearly 3,000-square-foot "apartment" that Killingsworth and two partners (Jules Brady and Waugh Smith) had constructed in 1959 as a model for the Marina Tower luxury high-rise in Long Beach, which was never built.

Linking the Davies design to the tour's other two-story home, Soriano's Kimpson-Nixon House (1940), Trimble observed, "Those are the ones that are most clearly connected to the International style."

It could be argued that no mid-century modern home tour in Southern California can be considered complete without some of the aforementioned names, and also that of Cliff May.

"We refer to [them] as the Cliff May Ranchos," Trimble said of two homes on the tour, adding, "Both of the homes we chose were homeowners that really respected the architecture."

The star of the tour, appropriately, is Edward Killingsworth.  The architect (1917-2004) moved to Long Beach in childhood and was a stellar architecture student at University of Southern California, skills he put to use making topographic maps in World War II and earning a Bronze Star. He returned home to a distinguished career that included four Case Study houses and the master plan for Cal State Long Beach, among other achievements.

The California native had a hand in designing three of the tour's nine sites, including his offices, which are now the offices of architect Kelly Sutherlin McLeod. One, the Seeley House (1953) in the Park Estates neighborhood, was just his second design ever built.

"It's just the most beautiful, simple home," Trimble said of the house, where UAM will host a 'Rat Pack VIP Party' after the tour. He also praised the office building, saying, "I think for a lot of people, to see Ed Killingsworth's original offices will be a highlight."

Tickets for the tour cost $75 and can be linked for discounts to separately priced tickets to the party and an on-campus performance that night by Americana showman Charles Phoenix. For tickets, click here.