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 for whatever project they are working on.”
Charles Phoenix – renowned pop culture humorist, author, and collector – hosted the evening, guiding attendees through a treasure trove of vintage images showcasing everything from Googie architecture to the charm of everyday family life in mid-century Los Angeles. With his signature wit and infectious energy, Phoenix made the audience feel as though they were time-traveling through a golden era of American history.
“Thursday was magical! We were time-traveling through one of the greatest cities on earth with a whole room of artists – that’s the good stuff,” said Nick Chandler, a Hollywood location manager who attended the event.
Other notable attendees included Kim Wannop and Raf Lydon, Governors of the Art Directors and Set Decorators Peer Group of the Television Academy.
The evening was a true celebration of Los Angeles as the ultimate creative playground, a city that has long inspired storytellers through its mix of architectural styles and subcultures. Attendees were treated to nostalgic glimpses of the region’s architecture: Googie, mid-century modern, and the Art Deco style that defined an era. The event also showcased historical landmarks such as the Cabazon Dinosaur, early photos of Disneyland, and even family snapshots that captured the spirit of Americana during the 50s and 60s.
The evening culminated with an uplifting message from Phoenix, who encouraged attendees to stay optimistic, referencing the iconic song “Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow” from Disneyland. “I’m optimistic, stay optimistic,” Phoenix said, leaving the crowd energized and inspired by the celebration of LA’s rich visual history.
About International Production Design Week (IDPW)
International Production Design Week is organized by the Production Designers Collective. The PDC is a group of over 1500 colleagues dedicated to mutual support through sharing knowledge, encouragement and experience. The Collective organizes a variety of international events, from online sessions to in-person workshops, meetups and panels, often in collaboration with design organizations and film festivals around the world. Find out more by visiting their website: https://productiondesignweek.org/
About Adam Rowe
Adam Rowe is an art director and production designer best known for his work on The Prom (2020), The Good Place (2016), and Rent: Live (2019). Other credits include serving as an art director for the MTV Video Music Awards (2020), and a production designer for Matlock (2024-2025) and Glamorous (2023).
