Classic and kitsch pop-culture humorist and author Charles Phoenix is known for his retro slide show performances, school bus field trip tours, roller skating variety shows, kitchen experiments, coffee table books and Slide of the Week emails. He offers a hip and highly original take American life and style. Fans from coast to coast enjoy his infectious enthusiasm and keen eye for noting oddball detail. He is a recurring correspondent for NPR and The Martha Stewart Show.

Southern California Native

In the 60s and 70s while growing up in Ontario, Charles studied design at the “Disneyland School of Style” and became interested in 50s and 60s cars spending Saturdays on his dad’s used car lots. As a teen he discovered thrift shops as museums of merchandise and the perfect place to study the underbelly of our mass consumerism culture.

In 1982, he moved to Los Angeles and began a career as a fashion designer. While collecting and trading vintage cars and other mid-century treasures, he stumbled across a box of somebody’s old Kodachrome family and travel slides in a thrift shop that changes the course of his life. Soon collecting other peoples old slides became an addiction that inspired his first Retro Slide Show performance in 1998.

Retro Slide Showman

Charles’ passion for American culture combined with his massive collection of thrift shop-found vintage ‘50s, and 60s slides soon developed into crowd-and-critic-pleasing live slide show performances to SRO audiences across the nation. Occasionally he expands his shows by adding hula hoopers, ballerinas, Bob Baker marionettes, world Champion roller skaters and even a pink poodle. He’s also been known to make ambrosia on stage and serve it at intermission.

At the New York Fringe Theatre Festival, his RETRO VACATION SLIDE SHOW TOUR OF THE USA was awarded “Most Unique Theatrical Performance.” In Los Angeles he has performed at the Walt Disney Concert Hall’s Redcat Theater, Getty Museum, Pepperdine University, Skirball Cultural Center and American Cinematheque/Egyptian Theatre. LA WEEKLY chose Charles for the cover of its 2008 people issue, calling him the “Kodachrome King.” In 2009 He was the Grand Marshall of Pasadena’s Doo Dah Parade.

Tourguide

Charles’ attitude-altering “Disneyland” Tour of Downtown Los Angeles proves the heart and soul of the city is just like a big theme park. Touring Old Chinatown, Olvera Street, Clifton’s Cafeteria and Bob Baker Marionette Theater he proves Southern California doesn’t have one Disneyland it has two! Youtube viewers may enjoy the tour via a short doc that captures the fun-filled adventure. Also on YouTube, are Charles’s how-to videos of his Tiki Turkey Dinner and Astro-Weenie Christmas Tree.