About Eric Lynxwiler

J. Eric Lynxwiler grew up in the suburbs of Southern California and stayed close to home while attending UCLA. It was quite by chance that he hit traffic one afternoon and his quick shortcut turned into a life-altering detour as he drove through downtown Los Angeles' broadway theater district. A fixation on 20th century Americana took root on that day as he buried himself in architecture, design, culture and the history of the city.

Today he is a docent for the Los Angeles Conservancy, an active member of the Commercial Board of the Modern Committee preservation group, and a former Board Member of the Museum of Neon Art. He interprets his degree in Urban Anthropology through his award-winning Neon Cruises of nighttime Los Angeles and he has researched a history of Wilshire Boulevard for a comprehensive biography of the historic streetscape.

Although the subject is often taken for granted and many cities have simply banned such electric totems, Lynxwiler revels in the glow and hum of the illuminated cityscape. Lynxwiler is entering his seventh year as the guide for the Museum of Neon Art's Neon Cruise where guests board a vintage, British, double-decker bus and sail from the streets of downtown Los Angeles to Hollywood and back. He examines the design, meaning, and history of the American sign within the context of the city and teaches guests how to "read" neon signage.

Lynxwiler's book,Wilshire Boulevard: Grand Concourse of Los Angeles, was three years in the making and was recently released by Angel City Press. With author Kevin Roderick, he explored the reach of Wilshire from downtown Los Angeles to the beach at Santa Monica and takes pride in being one of the few to have walked its entire length. The book traces the origins of the thoroughfare and the story of Gaylord Wilshire, the street's millionaire-socialist founder.