named after the great American actor, Vincent Price...
known for his distinctive voice and roles in many classic horror films. There was an exhibit on Latino youth culture we wanted to check out along with the permanent collection. We hadn't been in Monterey Park for several years and I didn't know this museum was here. The plus side - it was free. The down side, as we would find out when we got there - it was closed because it was a holiday weekend. Crud.
While en route to the museum, I took note of the funky font of this apartment complex as well as the architectural block covering the lower parking structure.
Very groovy.
The museum is on the ELAC campus and by a strip mall. We found the parking structure, saw that it was empty and figured we wouldn't have to pay.
The sign lied.
I was so excited to go here too. The door was locked. There was no sign indicating it was closed. A younger hipster couple arrived a few minutes after us and were also disappointed. The lady checked on her phone and noted that the museum was closed, as posted on their Instagram.
Well now. I didn't think of looking at that. I just looked at the four lettered site, saw that the museum hours were open, including weekends. Plus that sign. Insert sad emoji face with tear streaming down. So we both left, going our separate ways.
As seen on S. Atlantic Ave, more groovy font:
This had a "Gilligan's Island" vibe to it.
This was interesting architecture for a grocery store, Shun Fat.
Although there were a couple of good Burmese restaurants in Monterey Park...there was a new one over in Ahambra.
I guess we'll have to visit the VPAM next time we're in the area. Unfortunately, the exhibit we wanted to see will be long gone since it ends this month.
Vincent Price has such a distinct voice. He was American, not British and had that "old movie star" voice - that Mid-Atlantic (or Transatlantic) accent, which sounds British but isn't. Other people who spoke with this accent include Katharine Hepburn , Bette Davis, the millionaire Thurston Howell on "Gilligan's Island" and of course, William F. Buckley (whose voice was parodied by Robin Williams' manic genie in "Aladdin"). It's the kind of voice that sounds like you went to private school in the early 1900's; very "posh" but in reality, no one speaks like that anymore. It's an accent that one learned and not one you were born with. Anyways...
Here's Vincent Price wit a young Joan Rivers, performing the monologue in "Thriller" by Michael Jackson":
That evil laugh...
Vincent Price also narrated Tim Burton's early homage to Vincent Price, the animated short, "Vincent" (one of my favorites):
His last role was "the Inventor" in "Edward Scissorhands" (also by Tim Burton):
Here is a quick video (:16 long) about the VPAM which opened in 2011:
Vincent Price Art Museum
1391 Avenida Cesar Chavez
Monterey Park, CA 91754
(619) 265-8841
vincentpriceartmuseum.org + reviews from that four lettered site
We'll have to make sure the museum is actually open next time we are in these parts. There was another art gallery in Alhambra (also free) that we figured we'd go to as a "consolation" prize, but first, a snack at a new Burmese eatery in the neighboring city of Alhambra.
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