Oakland Heritage Alliance is a non-profit organization that serves as a bridge connecting Oakland's past to its present and future. The tour of Art Deco building details began at 1721 Broadway.

The Mary Bowles Building located at either 1721 Broadway and 1718 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland, California. Designed by Douglas Dacre Stone and built 1931, it is decorated with aquamarine and black terra cotta tiles. The aquamarine tile was along the top edge next to a metallic colored lamp that was off during the day.

The Mary Bowles Building located at either 1721 Broadway and 1718 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland, California. Designed by Douglas Cacre Stone and built 1931, it was decorated with Black terra cotta tiles on the vertical uprights on each side. As can be observed, the terra cotta tiles were colored, then glazed in an oven and therefore possess the endurance of ceramics.

The Mary Bowles Building here seen at 1721 Broadway. The Art Deco border did not carry into the rest of the building's front.

The tour that day was narrated by Michael Crowe (a nationally-known expert with the National Park Service). He was superbly knowledgeable about Art Deco in general, its history, and its use on the buildings of this tour. Each tour cost $15 per non-member. Membership is available either at the table the morning of the tour, or on the website anytime.

The tour guide was Michael Crowe, until he retired, a nationally-known expert with the National Park Service. He was a founder of the Art Deco Society, served as president of California Preservation Foundation, and served twice on the board of Oakland Heritage Alliance. He passed away in 2012. http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/cincinnati/obituary.aspx?pid=160891035

Here was the former F.W. Woolworth Store, built in 1930, and located at 1737-1741 Broadway and 1738 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland, California. It was designed by A.J. McClure (in-house architect for Woolworths). The creation of zig-zags using brick was unusual.

This building was originally owned by a Mrs. J.H. Dougery, and was constructed in 1932. Located at 1773-1775 Broadway Oakland, California, it was designed by Alben Froberg. Stepped elements in the upper corners survived but the the Art Deco floral designs over the windows had been stuccoed over.

Located at 1929-1931 Broadway Oakland, California, formerly the Hassler Company was built 1923-1924. Originally designed by W.L. Shirmer and A.S. Bugbee. The first floor was the Hassler Rug Company. The second floor was designed as a dance studio and ballroom. Sweet's Ballroom was remodeled in the mid-1930s to update its look for the first appearance of Benny Goodman in Oakland.

Formerly the Hassler Company was built 1923-1924 using terra cotta in a Renaissance Revival style.

While on the tour along Broadway between 19th and 20th Streets, we happened past this unlabeled sculpture in an alcove facing the street.

The front of the former I. Magnin & Company located at 2001-2011 Broadway Oakland, California. It was designed by Weeks and Day, and built in 1931. This is another example of colored terra cotta in one of the most popular colors of the period, a rich blue-green.

The front of the former I. Magnin & Company located at 2001-2011 Broadway Oakland, California. At street level the exterior was covered in a richly green colored marble. Notice the tour group in the window's reflection.

The Paramount Theater located at 2025 Broadway Oakland, California. It was designed by Timothy Pflueger and built in 1931. The large puppeteers on the front were inspired by one of the entrance gates at the 1925 Paris Exposition.

The Paramount Theater's marquee at one time was a large rectangle that extended over the street. As part of the theater's recovery and remodeling the marquee was reduced to its present triangular shape.

The huge puppeteers on the theater's front handle dozens of puppets each. Here was a closeup of a few of those puppets and the intricate terra cotta work used to create them.

The Clack-Jerner Building located at 2211 Broadway Oakland, California. It was designed by Reed and Corlett and built in 1933. The terra cotta tile had been painted white but the stepped cornice details were still visible.

The Fox Theater and Office Building 1829 Telegraph Avenue Oakland, California. This theater was designed by Weeks and Day and built in 1928. This building incorporated Hindu-Islamic motifs and polychrome terra cotta detailing.

The Uptown Bar Club in the Floral Depot Building at 1900-1932 Telegraph Avenue Oakland, California. This building was designed by Albert J. Evers and built in 1931. It is an example of polychrome terra cotta in navy blue and silver.

A closeup of the blue terra cotta tile facing on the Floral Depot Building at 1900-1932 Telegraph Avenue Oakland, California.

The Floral Depot Building at 1900-1932 Telegraph Avenue Oakland, California as seen from across the street. The use of two different metals (brass above and aluminum on the window frames) are why this building was called polychrome.

The tour was to conclude with a viewing of the inside lobby of the Fox Theater but the man who was supposed to let us in did not appear that morning.