![]() ![]() Then we ended up finding this amazing property that's this old warehouse. “When I was downtown looking for locations, it almost felt like I was in Brooklyn again it just felt right. I’m very curious to see how people respond to the experience.”ĭTLA provided a perfect backdrop for her project. “We have a mixture of set design and actors and a bit of a ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’ vibe in places. You are invited to come and explore the Madcap Motel, preserved in all of its mid-century glory. Thus begins the story of Downtown’s latest immersive attraction. In the present day, the owner’s family started receiving postcards, signed by him, inviting them back into the Madcap Motel. The abandoned motel laid dormant for years, long forgotten as the Arts District built up around it. As the neighborhood changed, and the city began expanding westward towards the ocean, the motel was shuttered in 1966 and the owner disappeared into thin air. The story of the Madcap Motel is that the hotel was built in 1946 to host the influx of visitors that were coming to Los Angeles. She came upon the idea of a motel lost in time in which things look normal on the surface, but once you start opening doors it expands into otherworldly portals. Heavily inspired by The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe series of books, as well as the films Interstellar, Beetlejuice and Big Fish, Solomon wanted to craft something with a ‘60s vibe. The installation is open Thursdays through Sundays, and tickets must be purchased in advance on Madcap's website.She decided to venture out to Los Angeles to create her next project, taking what she had learned from Dream Machine and expanding upon it, this time crafting an exhibition with a narrative and a through line. " are changing the storyline dramatically with the seasons.the beauty of the Madcap Motel is.the portal will always be different." doing more community building, like creative artists' talks in the atrium, singer-songwriter nights, or more date nights," said Solomon. "Hopefully this is more of a Downtown Arts District fixture. Solomon plans to keep the Madcap Motel as a permanent attraction downtown, with more ideas on the drawing board for future events. When you have as part of an art exhibit, it turns visual art into performance art.” It was like walking through a very vivid dream. They really helped you get immersed into this alternate universe they take you to," said Laprada’s partner, Bethany Nava. "I loved the actors that were involved in the exhibit. "There are interactive exhibits that allow you to be a part of the pieces.the actors make it so much easier to get sucked into the world they want you to be a part of." "I kept seeing a lot of and it looked interesting so we bought tickets," said visitor Armando Laprada. ![]() Stepping into Elsewhere is an opportunity for visitors of all ages to stretch their creative muscles and access their imagination. Where one door may lead to a rocking chair fit for a giant, another may lead to dancing lights and optical illusions. “ Madcap because it's wacky and crazy and zany, which is what that word means.I really like that idea of catering more to the ‘weirdos’ or people who have interests outside of this common or basic lifestyle.”Ī trip to Elsewhere is a mix of guided tours, accompanied by theatrical performances, magic tricks, and the option to explore solo, fulfilling the itch for a wanderlust experience. We wanted to add more complex storylines,” said Solomon. " felt pretty, but it didn't feel creatively fulfilling. Her first successful installation, Dream Machine, in Brooklyn, New York, provided rooms of a more modern aesthetic, popular for Instagram photo ops. Inspired by films and television shows like "Interstellar," "Big Fish," "Beetlejuice," and "The Twilight Zone," Solomon combined cosmic dreamscapes with mid-century style for the motel's design. They revealed news of a hidden portal to another dimension behind the walls of room #433. When his grandchildren began renovating the motel in 2019, strange postcards appeared, signed by Sando. Just two decades later, he vanished without a trace, leaving the motel shuttered for the next 53 years. The fictional story begins with the mysterious J.P. The imaginary history of the Madcap, created by the installation's founder, Paige Solomon, tells of a once bustling motel and premier roadside destination in Downtown Los Angeles. The 1960s themed interactive exhibit holds 18 rooms and 17,000 square feet of "whimsical wonders and amusing adventures," as promised by their website. Once checked in at the Madcap Motel, visitors are transported to an alternate reality.
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