If you walk through the gates of the historic Baranger Studios today, you're probably seeing your CPA or ophthalmologist. Back in 1925, however, the site was home to makers of "electric motions for jewelry stores." Electric what for what?
Jewelers went all out to be competitive in the original decade of bling. In order to lure more customers into their stores, they relied on mechanical displays that were as imaginative and quirky as the jazz age itself. It wasn't enough to have diamond bracelets worthy of Theda Bara. Those bracelets needed to be displayed with something like this or this.
Baranger Studios produced these wondrous machines from 1925-1959. It's just another example of South Pasadena's whimsical and unusual past. (You can read more about Baranger Studios here and here.)
And thus, I close the gate on my Week of South Pasadena gates. I definitely need to revisit this subject. There are so many more to explore!
5 comments:
Love Baranger Studios!
Oh those animated displays are wonderful. I wonder if it was the West Coast's version of the unveiling of the Macy's Christmas display every December.
I really like how this beckons me in. The perspective is as if I'm just about to walk through the open gate. I'm trying to place where this is in relationship to the retail places I'm familiar with, from my visits.
Nice ending!! I like your theme weeks.
I very much enjoyed Gate Week here on your blog. I like how you pick a subject and then do a series of posts about it. I'm looking forward to what you have in store for us as the holidays come. Have a great Sunday evening.
Thanks, everybody!
Patricia, I've got a few little things planned for the holidays... ;-)
you were the first to introduce me to this history. It's now a favorite
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