A Vanishing Heritage (1971)

[Music] the new and the old side by side a changing [Music] [Applause] America the new is the creation of a national architecture a modern [Music] identity and the old a window opened to the world American architecture was inspired by ancient ideals Russian Byzantine domes appear side by side with a Japanese pagota next to Chinese works of architecture and [Music] art countless diverse influences brought to this country by people who came from all parts of the [Music] world a Buddha statue from the [Music] Orient pottery from Spain adobe brick made by the [Music] Indians Windmills of Northern Europe a Heritage of stimulating contrasts built on memories of far away [Music] places immigrants recalled old Styles and peaceful images and recreated a pleasant atmosphere [Music] When people's outlook on life changes architecture changes modern styles are in harmony with mass produced materials in contrast Victorian Styles favored the ornate and elaborate modern forms reach upward into space old forms were Earthbound suggesting the ruggedness and optimism of early America a growing confidence increasing material security were displayed in this type of building between such opposites stretches a succession of Main Streets hideously mediocre quickly erected quickly torn down again a typically American phenomenon perhaps it started with a Westward Movement when everything was temporary and a functional environment served the needs of the moment from the days of the pioneer to our own accelerated way of life America on the Move excelled in progress on a material scale architecture did not keep Pace it was either uninspiring or it return return to the ideals of the classic past a noble Legacy of ancient Greece its Heritage was imaginatively reflected in the Georgian colonial style with ideals of symmetry and harmony American Civic buildings appeared in neoclassic style illustrating a close bond to the birthplace of Western democracy State Office Buildings were modeled after Greek temples this tradition had started with the nation's [Music] capital New York's Washington and Arch stands for the enduring influence of ancient Rome it was modeled after the triumphal archers on the Forum romanum created to celebrate Victorious Roman emperors only ruins have survived but Rome's immense public buildings reappeared in American cities as factories power stations Office Buildings universities museums the beautifully preserved round Temple inspired churches and Civic [Music] buildings here the round form returns in the San Francisco Palace of Fine Arts built in 1915 as a tribute to the classic past the Square Temple was echoed in theaters and [Music] libraries this is the New York Public [Music] Library compared to the square Temple of ancient Rome nearby stands another landmark of Western Civilization St Peter's Dome designed by Michelangelo to embody the celestial Dome centuries later the Renaissance Dome gray state capitals across the United States seen here in California where the Dome was placed over a classic Greek [Music] facade American schools resembled medieval cloysters universities echoed Romanesque churches and churches were built in the upward soaring Gothic style but dwarfed by surrounding skyscrapers in Europe This is Northern Germany Church Towers Rose high above the cityscape this concept prevailed through the Baroque age to recent times a 19th century church still dominates a modern Square in Germany with an ancient Roman triumphal Arch nearby a Heritage of 2,000 years Reaching Across the ocean Reaching Across the American continent in the East historical styles were lovingly recreated in the Midcontinent English immigrants recall their long history of Gothic [Music] architecture and their love for Ivy covered walls as far as San Francisco the French remembered proud moments of their past and buil a replica of the Paris Legion of Honor [Music] Palace the courtyard displays rodan's famous sculpture The Thinker and Joon of Arc is honored nearby as far as San Diego the Spanish celebrated their Heroes such as LC and decorated facades with statues of Spanish Renaissance artists like a tower mirrors its image in a nearby pond so the new world reflected the culture of the old but the old world has changed [Music] Europeans have modernized their standard of living and America is experiencing a profound transition visible in our changing skylines whole city blocks are being erased and gradually the old will be replaced the modern will have a new a different identity the architecture that is is Vanishing reflected the traditions of the people who came here and who contributed so greatly to our many sided heritage [Music]