jason carr
HIST 5302 - precis
November 23, 1998

Findlay,  John M.  Magic Lands:  Western Cityscapes and  American
Cityscapes   After   1940.   University  of   California   Press.
Berkeley: 1992.

      This article sets out to dispell the belief that the West's

ability   to   influence   American  culture   ended   with   the

disappearance  of the open frontier.  Rather, John Findlay  holds

that  the West's influence grew in proportion to its urbanization

and  that  the West's "magic lands" contributed significantly  to

the American discourse on the urban and suburban.

      Findlay sets up his argument by tracing the development  of

the non-centralized, car-oriented [sub]urban spatial patterns  in

the  West.   Findlays "magic lands" are the most  influential  of

these patterns, and represent both a refinement and rejection  of

actual urban constructions.

      Starting  out  with  Disney Land, the author  profiles  the

continual  re-creation  of  this park  and  it's  early-occurring

success.   Findlay  notes that Disney Land became  the  de  facto

center of Orange county, like a central business district  for  a

traditional  city.  As the surrounding city began to encroach  on

the pristine Disney landscape, the illusion began to break apart,

leading to the creation of a more secluded park in Florida.

      The  Standford industrial park provides the  next  example.

This  park  reflected suburban aesthetic and homogenity  co-opted

for  industrial purposes.  Extreme control over land and building

forms  provided  an  attractive working environment  for  degreed

technical  professional  and skilled  workers.   The  local  area

enjoyed  an  extremely high standard of living,  and  the  Park's

influence was felt by corporate and international dignitaries.

      Sun  City  is  offered as an example of a Magic  Land  that

operated as a twin of an existing city (Phoenix), and provided  a

model  for  an  enlightened urban structure.   Sun  City's  well-

financed  structure contrasts sharply with Phoenix's own annexing

growth.   Interestingly, the Sun City retirees sometimes referred

to  themselves  as "pioneers" in this new West,  consumers  of  a

conscious  life  of  leisure.   As  with  Disney  Land,   though,

continued growth of Sun City and neighboring Phoenix diluted some

of the cleanliness and purity of the magic land.  Still, Sun City

was  illustrative  of  how to manage the  relationship  with  the

classically urban city next door.

     Findlay's final example is the 1962 World's Fair in Seattle.

In a time when other media better displayed American progress and

properity, the 1962 fair was the last of its type.  The so-called

"century  21" expo was pitched to increase the local economy  and

increase  Seattle's  standing, as well as tune  the  relationship

with  Boeing.  Although spysically small and lacking  traditinoal

Western  sprawl (as well as intentional location near the Central

Business  District), the fair qualifies as a magic  land  in  its

elite  audience,  and  was  as technically-oriented  as  Stanford

Industrial Park.

      Finally,  Findlay closes his book with  a  chapter  on  the

interaction  between  Western cities and  American  Culture.   He

notes  that the models for urban sucess have changed.  In  cities

like  Phoenix,  "sprawl" is judged by it's own merits.   People's

perception  of  what a city was had changed.   Additionally,  the

chaos  seemed  to  develop a pattern; useful and  multiple  mini-

nuclei developed around the city.

      Western  magic lands lent new models to the landscape,  and

showed  that  people could learn to fit into a rapidly  expanding

and seemingly fragmented city.




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