9 Responses to “Denny’s Adventures In Allee’s “Willis Wonderland” – July 2011 – Part 336”

  1. Allee Willis

    It’s so hard to really see how beautiful so many of these are. The rattan set in the top photo is a round couch that used to be in my office at A&M Records when I first started having hits. All the Earth, Wind & Fire stuff was written on it. It’s hard to see it through the plastic but the cushions are made of textured leopard vinyl.

    The atomic design chair in the bottom photo is truly the most spectacular in the bunch. It looks exactly like an Eames bent plywood chair and the designs are baked into whatever the chair back and seat are made out of. You can see where it’s cracking toward the front of the seat so I had to retire this one and it’s mate that’s sitting on top of it. But it really killed me to do it as I love these chairs.

  2. denny

    Oy.

    I am so jealous that the jealousy is almost blinding me here.

    Fantastic furniture for sure!

  3. k2dtw

    FABULOUS POST!!!..
    OMG I”m dying so wonderful!!! I think the rattan was done by the very famous “Ritts Co of LA”.. I love the leopard cushions, what a fab office…and a great place to write/create!!!.. Did you write “September” on that rattan set???… Would you ever consider taking it to your next September 21st show and recreate your office on stage???.. If not, has the set ever been put together and filmed in a video with all the wonderful (for us) details about writing September???
    The molded fiberglass chairs are favorites!!! I don’t know the base, are they Herman Miller??.. The one with the black pattern is to die for!!…LOVE

    • Allee Willis

      I don’t think Ritts made the rattan couch. They were primarily Lucite furniture. I was good friends with Herb Ritts, the famous celebrity photographer and son of Shirley, who ran the company.

      Yes, September was written on the rattan set as with almost every other EWF song I had to do with in that period, though not Boogie Wonderland which was written in my apartment.

      Not sure if the chairs are Herman Miller. Will check to see if there are any manufacturers marks the next time I go to my storage garage.

      • k2dtw

        http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shirley_Ritts

        Rattan and Lucite they did both…long fab business!!!
        I’m knocked out that you knew the Ritts family!!! ..The collector books that have been written on rattan furniture, praise the work of the Ritts designs.. You have a great rattan set w/great design history!!

        • Allee Willis

          OK, not I’ve got to check and see if there are any marking on it anywhere. I don’t think so though. it’s a round sectional couch, about 9 feet long total.

          • denny

            Your more than welcome to ship this set to me. It will go perfectly with my 50’s settee!

  5. BRBill

    Denny, you are like Howard Carter discovering and excavating King Tut’s tomb….”wonderful things”…