The Cinderella Homes of Jean Vandruff: Fairy Tale Tracts in the Suburbs
by Chris Lukather; introduction by Jean Vandruff
Lukather expresses
his passion for quirky and obscure California architectural styles with
in-depth research, field work, and interviews. The follow-up to his book on
Birdhouse ranch homes by William Mellenthin is on Jean Vandruff’s fanciful
Cinderella Homes. At 97, Vandruff proved to be an informative, amiable
interview and tour guide into “this long overdue revolution in home design
trends,” as the designer states in the opening text. Coined “Cinderella Homes”
after an offhand remark by Vandruff’s wife, Eleanor, while observing the first
design, the mid-1950s marketing of the product stressed wishes coming true for
suburban families. The exhaustive research, access to the Vandruff family and
its archives, along with realtor and homeowner interviews pays off with a very personal
look at an easily overlooked part of Southern California’s residential
architectural history.
The Writing
Disorder, 2019, 120 pages, softcover, $35
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