[Dixielandjazz] About Wright

Sun, 07 Jul 2002 11:17:07 -0500

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on 7/7/02 12:45 AM, Schnabbels@aol.com at Schnabbels@aol.com wrote:

Dear Charlie,

You have submitted some posts to DJML in the recent past which were, how do
I put it, were quite passionate. Sometimes, by your own admission, under
conditions of being overserved. That did not bother me, when I initially
joined the list, I was guilty of same.

Then, just now, you came up with a little gem about the Blackstone which I
remember well. It qualifies as a litterary essay and it was a pleasure
reading it. It appears that, after all those years, your credentials as an
English Professor were not wasted on that Dixieland clarinettist.

Incidentally, I mention Adler and Sullivan as well as the Auditorium Theater
on a daily basis. I am a docent at Taliesin-West, Frank Lloyd Wright's
"Masterpiece in the Desert" here in Scottsdale. FLLW learned his
architecture from Sullivan and Adler from 1887-1893, during the time that
the Auditorium was built. As an aside, I have an undergraduate degree from
Roosevelt University.

Thanks for your Blackstone piece.

Regards,

Rob van der Plas
Former Chicagoan 

   Rob, that's really kind of you to write.   I know Taliesen-West fairly
well, though surely not so well as you:  I also am a Wright fan, and pride
myself on having been for many years a halfway decent docent in Oak Park.
The Home and Studio is walking distance of my house in River Forest, and
while I have pulled back a bit recently, I still love showing people
through.  Current problem is the "45 minute tour," which powers-that-be
insist on, although Wright, without them in mind, built far too much for two
hours.

   There are so many great stories about Wright's relationship with Louis
Sullivan, lieber meister, but my favorite is Wright's getting fired over the
little specs house on Chicago Ave. after Sullivan drove by and glanced at
it, instantly knowing that there was only one man capable of having designed
that house and sold the plans out the back door, so to speak.

   But maybe one you haven't heard was told me by (my brain is Alzheimering,
I think) the architecht who was Wright's site manager on Falling Water, now
in his 90s and practicing in Florida, wrote "About Wright") I'll think of
him later, but you know who I mean.

   The year was 1941 or 42--when the Lincoln Continentals with the real
spare tire mounted behind had just appeared on the market, and the assistant
was driving the Great Man down Lakeshore Drive when they passed a Lincoln
agency, and Mr. Wright commanded, "Turn in."

   "Yes, Sir!"  They stopped, entered, Wright in his beret and cape, with
cane, standing at one side and peering at several cars.  Everyone is
stopped, speechless, gaping at the spectacle.   Although only 5'8" Wright
always managed to appear taller than others, and he gazed down at them.

   "I'll take that one...," gesturing with the cane,  "and, ah, that one.
But you'll have to change the color on that one."  Mouths still agape.
Silence.

   Then, as he whirled and swept out, a line over his shoulder:  "And I
don't intend to pay for either one of them."

   Word is that he not only did indeed get them, but, as usual, didn't pay
for them.

Thanks for the note!
Charlie 

PS.  I doubt that people on the list are aware of Mr. Wright's musical
evenings.  Anyone who came to work for him, draftsmen, whoever, must play an
instrument.  And if you couldn't play, you had to learn!  Music was
fundamentally important to him (inherited from his father's
piano-teaching?).  He himself was a fairly gifted pianist, and I've
heard--you would know--that he got the paired Bosendorfers at Teliesin the
same way he got those cars...

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on 7/7/02 12:45 AM, Schnabbels@aol.com at Schnabbels@aol.com wrote: 
 
<BLOCKQUOTE>Dear Charlie, 
 
You have submitted some posts to DJML in the recent past which were, how do=
 I put it, were quite passionate. Sometimes, by your own admission, under co=
nditions of being overserved. That did not bother me, when I initially joine=
d the list, I was guilty of same. 
 
Then, just now, you came up with a little gem about the Blackstone which I =
remember well. It qualifies as a litterary essay and it was a pleasure readi=
ng it. It appears that, after all those years, your credentials as an Englis=
h Professor were not wasted on that Dixieland clarinettist. 
 
Incidentally, I mention Adler and Sullivan as well as the Auditorium Theate=
r on a daily basis. I am a docent at Taliesin-West, Frank Lloyd Wright's &qu=
ot;Masterpiece in the Desert&quot; here in Scottsdale. FLLW learned his arch=
itecture from Sullivan and Adler from 1887-1893, during the time that the Au=
ditorium was built. As an aside, I have an undergraduate degree from Rooseve=
lt University. 
 
Thanks for your Blackstone piece. 
 
Regards, 
 
Rob van der Plas 
Former Chicagoan 
 
 
 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Rob, that's really kind of you to write. &nbsp;&nbsp;I k=
now Taliesen-West fairly well, though surely not so well as you: &nbsp;I als=
o am a Wright fan, and pride myself on having been for many years a halfway =
decent docent in Oak Park. &nbsp;The Home and Studio is walking distance of =
my house in River Forest, and while I have pulled back a bit recently, I sti=
ll love showing people through. &nbsp;Current problem is the &quot;45 minute=
 tour,&quot; which powers-that-be insist on, although Wright, without them i=
n mind, built far too much for two hours. 
 
 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;There are so many great stories about Wright's relations=
hip with Louis Sullivan, lieber meister, but my favorite is Wright's getting=
 fired over the little specs house on Chicago Ave. after Sullivan drove by a=
nd glanced at it, instantly knowing that there was only one man capable of h=
aving designed that house and sold the plans out the back door, so to speak.=
 &nbsp; 
 
 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;But maybe one you haven't heard was told me by (my brain=
 is Alzheimering, I think) the architecht who was Wright's site manager on F=
alling Water, now in his 90s and practicing in Florida, wrote &quot;About Wr=
ight&quot;) I'll think of him later, but you know who I mean. 
 
 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The year was 1941 or 42--when the Lincoln Continentals w=
ith the real spare tire mounted behind had just appeared on the market, and =
the assistant was driving the Great Man down Lakeshore Drive when they passe=
d a Lincoln agency, and Mr. Wright commanded, &quot;Turn in.&quot; 
 
 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&quot;Yes, Sir!&quot; &nbsp;They stopped, entered, Wrigh=
t in his beret and cape, with cane, standing at one side and peering at seve=
ral cars. &nbsp;Everyone is stopped, speechless, gaping at the spectacle. &n=
bsp;&nbsp;Although only 5'8&quot; Wright always managed to appear taller tha=
n others, and he gazed down at them. 
 
 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&quot;I'll take that one...,&quot; gesturing with the ca=
ne, &nbsp;&quot;and, ah, that one. &nbsp;But you'll have to change the color=
 on that one.&quot; &nbsp;Mouths still agape. &nbsp;Silence. 
 
 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Then, as he whirled and swept out, a line over his shoul=
der: &nbsp;&quot;And I don't intend to pay for either one of them.&quot; 
 
 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Word is that he not only did indeed get them, but, as us=
ual, didn't pay for them. 
 
Thanks for the note! 
Charlie 
 
 
PS. &nbsp;I doubt that people on the list are aware of Mr. Wright's musical=
 evenings. &nbsp;Anyone who came to work for him, draftsmen, whoever, must p=
lay an instrument. &nbsp;And if you couldn't play, you had to learn! &nbsp;M=
usic was fundamentally important to him (inherited from his father's piano-t=
eaching?). &nbsp;He himself was a fairly gifted pianist, and I've heard--you=
 would know--that he got the paired Bosendorfers at Teliesin the same way he=
 got those cars... 
 
 &nbsp; 
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