The Oakland Heritage Alliance presents a wonderful lecture on Art Deco era homes:

Fairy Tale, Disneyesque, Hansel and Gretel—these are all synonyms for Storybook Style, a rambunctious evocation of medieval Europe, and surely the most delightful home style of the twentieth century. It appeared in the early 1920s, and was almost forgotten by the late 1930s. Storybook Style houses were created by architects and builders with a distinct flair for theater, a love of fine craftsmanship, and not least a good sense of humor—attributes that make these homes endearing to the tech-weary modern eye. Join architect and author Arrol Gellner on a visual romp through the Storybook era.

Arrol Gellner is a practicing architect and frequent writer on architectural subjects. He has authored three books on historic architecture, as well as the long-running nationally syndicated column Architext. He maintains offices in Emeryville as well as near Shanghai, China, where he spends his summers indulging a penchant for heat and humidity.