King David’s Modernists

King David’s Modernists: The Jews Who Established Our Desert’s First Modernist Neighborhood - presented by Eric Chiel There was a time when to be Jewish in Palm Springs meant you could stay in only one hotel, golf on only one course, and face tacit restrictions when considering a home purchase. But in the late 1950s, one corner of the city’s minimally developed south end became a convergence point for several Jewish architects and construction companies. They created Twin Palms—the region’s first completed Modernist neighborhood—and for about 20 years, it thrived as the city’s predominantly Jewish enclave. The names of many of its founders are familiar: William Krisel, Roy Fey, the Alexanders. Some are less familiar: Fred Stein, Cary Bigman, Abe Schwartz, Morris Udell. But at one time, these and other designers and builders were collectively responsible for more than 80% of the residences and transient accommodations in the neighborhood. And even today at build-out, the proportion attributable to them is still about two-thirds. What are the stories of these groundbreakers? What’s the evidence for the restrictions they faced? What's their lasting contribution beyond the homes themselves? These are the stories of King David’s Modernists: The Jews Who Established Our Desert’s First Modernist Neighborhood. As usual, the Salon will take place outdoors at the Desert Star. Please bring a bottle of your preferred beverage or a snack to share. (Refreshments are not provided by S4P; the cost of the ticket covers insurance and event setup.) PLEASE NOTE: doors open at 6:30pm, there's time for socializing and drinking until 6:55pm, and then we'll all take our seats and the presentation will start at 7pm. The presentation will end at around 7:30, and then there's time for more socializing until 8pm. (That's why we call it a "think and drink!")