Charles’ 
About Charles
From the kitsch to the classic, Charles Phoenix loves the world of mid-century design and American Culture. He is known for his live comedy retro slide shows, school bus field trip tours and colorful coffee table books.
Growing up in Southern California
In the 60s and 70s while growing up in Ontario, California he studied design at the “Disneyland School of Style” and became interested in 50s and 60s cars spending Saturdays on his dad’s used car lots. That inspired his severe interest in mid-century art, fashion, transportation and architecture.
In 1982, Phoenix moved to Los Angeles and began a career as a fashion designer. While collecting and trading vintage cars and other mid-century treasures, he unexpectedly stumbled across a box somebody’s old 35mm family and travel slides in a thrift shop. Soon collecting other peoples old slides became an addiction that changed the course of his life.
His Retro Slide Shows
His passion for mid-century American culture combined with his thrift shop-found vintage 40s, 50s, and 60s slides developed into crowd-and-critic-pleasing live slide show performances. SRO audiences on both coasts are delighted by Phoenix’s unique ability to point out the hysterical and historical, the ironic and the iconic.
At the New York Fringe Theatre Festival, Phoenix’s his RETRO VACATION SLIDE SHOW TOUR OF THE USA was awarded “The Most Unique Theatrical Performance.” In Los Angeles he has performed at the Walt Disney Concert Hall’s Redcat Theater, the Getty Museum, Pepperdine University, Skirball Cultural Center and American Cinematheque/Egyptian Theatre.
Downtown Los Angeles is just like Disneyland!
In 2004, Phoenix added tour guide to his repertoire. His ‘Disneyland’ Tour of Downtown Los Angeles, with a vintage school bus, proves that the similarities between Downtown Los Angeles & Disneyland are STAGGERING! In fact, we don’t have one Disneyland we have two! You’ll never see Downtown LA the same way again!
Books
Americana the Beautiful: Mid-Century Culture in Kodachrome, his newest book, published by Angel City Press, is available now! His other colorful books celebrate 50’s era American road trips, Hawaii, Las Vegas, Southern California and the Pomona Valley.
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