Explore the Era

Delve into the postwar Los Angeles art world in this online archive, which provides additional material related to the exhibitions on view at the Getty Center. Learn about hipsters and happenings, and the venues across the city where all the action took place through images from the archives and first-hand accounts with the artists.

Gonna California

Gonna California

Gonna California, 1969, recorded by Terry Allen. Vinyl record (45rpm). 6 7/8 in. diameter. The Getty Research Institute, Allan Kaprow Papers, 980063.180. © Terry Allen, Green Shoes Publishing, BMI, Administered by BUG Music

Beginning in the 1960s, select Los Angeles artists began to mimic the look and feel of commercial marketing strategies by treating viewers as consumers. Terry Allen, a singer-songwriter and conceptual artist, produced records such as Gonna California to accompany multimedia environments. This country music record was meant to be sold at Al’s Café (1969), an art project by his friend Allen Ruppersberg that took the form of a neighborhood diner and served as a hangout. Allen also performed as part of the Saturday evening concerts at Al’s Grand Hotel (1971).

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Audio: Gonna California, 1969, recorded by Terry Allen. Digital file from 45 rpm record. The Getty Research Institute, Allan Kaprow papers, 980063 © Terry Allen, Green Shoes Publishing, BMI, Administered by BUG Music

Works of Art

  • Al's Grand Hotel

    Al's Grand Hotel catalog, 1971, Allen Ruppersberg. Offset lithograph. 9 x 6 x 1/16 in. The Getty Research Institute, 94-B15837. © Allen Ruppersberg

Explore the Archive

  • Video: L.A. artists and commercial culture

    Video: Discover how L.A. artists of the 1960s and 1970s appropriated commercial culture

  • Letter and brochure for Al's Grand Hotel

    Letter and brochure for Al's Grand Hotel, May 2, 1971, designed by Allen Ruppersberg. Offset lithograph brochure, typed letter (signed). © Allen Ruppersberg. The Getty Research Institute, Gift of Michael Asher, 2009.M.30.2