Norman Bel Geddes
Norman Bel Geddes (born Norman Melancton Geddes; April 27, 1893 – May 8, 1958) was an American theatrical and industrial designer,[1] described in 2012 by the New York Times as "a brilliant craftsman and draftsman, a master of style, the 20th century’s Leonardo da Vinci."[2] As a young designer, Bel Geddes brought an innovative and energized perspective to the Broadway stage and New York’s Metropolitan Opera. In the 1930s he became one of the first to hold the title of Industrial Designer. His futuristic Streamline designs re-invisioned many of the utilitarian objects of the day from airliners and cruise ships to cocktail shakers and circuses. He also conceived and oversaw construction of the Futurama Exhibition at the 1939 New York World's Fair.
Norman Bel Geddes
May 8, 1958 (aged 65)
American
- Helen Belle Schneider
- Edith Lutyens
Barbara Bel Geddes
Joan Bel Geddes Ulanov
Early life[edit]
Bel Geddes was born Norman Melancton Geddes in Adrian, Michigan, and was raised in New Philadelphia, Ohio, the son of Flora Luelle (née Yingling) and Clifton Terry Geddes, a stockbroker.[3] When he married Helen Belle Schneider in 1916, they combined their names to Bel Geddes.[4] Their daughters were actress Barbara Bel Geddes[5] and writer Joan Ulanov.[6]
Death and legacy[edit]
Bel Geddes died in New York on May 8, 1958.[4] His autobiography, Miracle in the Evening, was published posthumously in 1960.
Bel Geddes is a member of the American Theater Hall of Fame, a distinction he shares with his daughter, actress Barbara Bel Geddes.[16] The United States Postal Service issued a postage stamp honoring Bel Geddes as a "Pioneer Of American Industrial Design".[17]
The archive of Norman Bel Geddes is held by the Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas at Austin. This large collection includes models, drafts, watercolor designs, research notes, project proposals, and correspondence. The Ransom Center also holds the papers of Bel Geddes' second wife, the noted costume designer and producer Edith Lutyens Bel Geddes.[18]
Model of teardrop-shaped automobile designed by Bel Geddes
General Motors 25th anniversary medal, 1933, featuring teardrop shaped car
"Through the City of Tomorrow Without a Stop", Shell Oil advertisement, 1937.
A full scale street intersection in the City of the Future at the Futurama exhibit at the 1939 New York World's Fair
