A full house of creative minds came together for a spectacular evening of retro magic at the El Portal Theatre on Thursday, October 23, 2025. As part of International Production Design Week (IPDW), the Television Academy’s Peer Group of Art Directors and Set Decorators presented a one-of-a-kind event, "Southern California in the 50s & 60s – A Big Retro Slide Show with Charles Phoenix." The audience was taken on a visually stunning journey through mid-century Southern California, as vibrant Kodachrome images of iconic architecture, neon-lit boulevards, and the evolution of Hollywood sprang to life on the big screen. The event was the brainchild of acclaimed art director and production designer Adam Rowe (Matlock, The Good Place), whose vision was rooted in uplifting Los Angeles as a historic filming location. Rowe aimed to encourage the city’s designer community to continue shooting their productions locally. Of course, the ‘Retro Slide Show’ welcomed attendees across several other TV Academy peer groups – animation, stunts, writers, sound mixers, etc. “Production Design is not an isolated craft, so being in a room with a range of creative minds inspired me,” says Rowe. “The icing on the cake was seeing everyone’s eyes light up slide after slide. I feel strongly that the TV Academy is about more than the awards, and this event showed a community of artists can come together for enrichment, reflection, and inspiration... Read More