Famous Architects Dress as Their Famous New York City Buildings (1931)

On January 13, 1931, the Beaux-Arts Institute of Architects held a ball at the Hotel Astor in New York City. According to the event’s advertisement, anyone who pays $15 per ticket (a fortune in the Depression era) can enjoy a “cheerful contemporary art exhibition” and “modernist, futuristic, three-dimensional, altruistic art exhibition.” He said he was able to see things that were “mystical, architectural, and feminist.” Participants could also see More than 20 famous architects dressed up as buildings they designed. It will become a staple of the New York City skyline.

In the photo above, from left to right, are A. Stewart Walker; fuller building (1929), as Leonard Schultz Waldorf Astoria Hotel (1931), as Eli Jack Carne squib building (1930), as William Van Allen chrysler building (1930) as Ralph Walker 1 Wall Street (1931), as DE Ward metropolitan tower and as Joseph H. Friedlander Museum of the City of New York (1930).

a 2006 New York Times article The event, now considered “one of the most glamorous parties of the last century,” was reported on WABC radio, he wrote. I have a few photos like the one above. The same goes for engaging short videos.

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