The memoir MoMA declined to publish

Okay, back from work and catching up to this thread. First of all, thanks again to both of you for such interesting insights and such a wonderful thread. Minor point of correction, the Four Season Restaurant is on the ground floor of the Seagram's Building. And there is a Picasso tapestry in the lobby outside. I had many a pleasant business lunch there, and I would urge anyone who wants to see the real New York power lunch scene to splurge there, or better yet have someone else picking up the tab.

One building by Johnson I did develop a fondness for living in LA was the Crystal Cathedral in Orange County. Not everyone's cup of tea, for sure, but just right for a place so near to Disneyland -- the first drive-in church. Remember, Johnson also did the New York State Theater in Lincoln Center and also the Museum of Television and Radio not far from the MoMA in NYC.

One last Seagram's Building story -- there were several businesses in there I dealt with regularly. Their nickname for the Four Seasons was "The Cafeteria." Cafeteria food it ain't!!

Finally, re Johnson's AT&T. It does sometimes seem like a huge, blank piece of postmodernism. But there is something pretty overwhelming and powerful nonetheless when one enters the lobby. Maybe it is not so easily dismissed as we might wish. He originally wanted a block or more of buildings torn down in front of the AT&T to create a more effective setting and piazza.

I never knew anything about the piazza concept. Now I feel a fool for all the years I denegrated the AT&T, if only in my own mind. If it was presented as part of a grand space concept as you explained, the "Chippendale" roofline would have made a lot more sense.

I also confess that, in the process of trying to find the image I described #14, I looked at many Googled images of Mr. Johnson's work. I must say I greatly misunderstood him (link).

Thanks also for the Johnson-related images. He must have been a mixture of discipline, anarchy, esthetic excellence, and engineering skill. He must also have been a very good salesman to have won such large-scale commissions as a relatively young architect.

(steely)

P.S. Oh, billorites, your Beavis and Butthead post made me laugh 15 minutes after I got off the thread and went off to do something around the house. I was in the middle of washing dishes, and suddenly started laughing like a loon,thinking about Hehe... Bunshaft! No post has ever had that delayed reaction effect on me before.

We lived for several years in Utica, NY where the Munson Williams Proctor Institute is located.

It was designed by Philip Johnson and I've always admired it.

Nice interior space too.

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