Image Over Integrity: The Truth About the Art Deco Society of California

What started as a story about racist costumes at a vintage event has become something deeper. This isn’t just about cultural appropriation. It’s about a nonprofit that’s lost its purpose.

It’s about how the Art Deco Society of California (ADSC) allowed harm to happen, avoided naming those responsible and is now protecting its leadership instead of serving its community. It’s about a financial structure that raises tens of thousands under the banner of “preservation,” while allocating next to nothing toward that mission. And it’s about the ways whiteness, nostalgia, and unchecked authority continue to dominate vintage spaces, leaving everyone else either out of frame or misrepresented entirely.

Hollywoodland News has reviewed documents, public statements and financials. We’ve spoken with credible sources, including former board members, volunteers and community witnesses. This is not a takedown. This is a reframing of what the Art Deco Society of California is and what it’s pretending to be.

Comfort Was Centered, Not Harm

In their apology, the Art Deco Society of California (ADSC) said they were sorry that people “felt unsafe.” That’s not accountability. That’s deflection. It protects the organization from owning what happened and shifts the blame onto the people who were harmed, as if the problem was their perception, not the event itself.

It’s like when someone says, “I’m sorry you feel that way,” after they’ve crossed a line. That’s not an apology. That’s manipulation and it’s exactly the kind of language that shows up when people want to maintain control without admitting fault.

This is what Tema Okun describes as the culture of white comfort. People in power prioritize peace over truth. They ask for calm before they’ll listen. They care more about tone than content. And that’s how harm keeps happening in spaces that claim to be inclusive.

Another line in the letter made that even clearer:

“We apologize that our event was a space where people felt unsafe.”

Not was unsafe. Not caused harm. Just felt. That’s not honest. That’s a strategic way to avoid saying what really happened.

Let’s also be clear: this isn’t about punishing anyone. This is about correcting a failure in leadership. If you’re going to issue an apology, it should tell the truth.

Here’s what the Art Deco Society should have said:

Our event allowed racism to go unchecked. That created an unsafe environment. We failed to act and that’s on us.

That’s not about shame. That’s about accountability. It’s what leadership sounds like.

What We Say vs. What We Hear from the art deco society of california

After the apology was posted, people responded respectfully, clearly and with care. We asked who made the decision to allow two guests in racist attire to remain when the requested attire is clearly stated on the website and gives resources for appropriate dress.

We asked how harm would be addressed, and how the organization would prevent this from happening again. These were not attacks. These were community members asking to be taken seriously.

The response? Deflection and defensiveness.

Here’s what the letter said:

“It was a mistake to let this decision be made by anyone other than the board of directors.”

Here’s what that really means: Don’t blame us, someone else made the call.

Here’s what it should have said:

“We take full responsibility for the decision to allow the guests to remain. That choice caused harm, and it was the wrong one.”

That’s what leadership sounds like.

Here’s another line from the letter:

“We have learned that we must prioritize making sure that no one is made to feel unsafe.”

That’s not a commitment to safety. That’s a commitment to perception.

What it should have said:

“We created an unsafe environment by allowing racism to go unchecked. We understand that safety is not a feeling. it’s an expectation.”

Instead of owning the harm, the response from leadership focused on why nothing could be done in the moment. We were told the person in charge didn’t have “formal authority.” We were told policies weren’t in place but harm doesn’t wait for a procedural review. It happens in real time. And the person in the role, the Chair, had the visibility, authority and power to intervene.

And at one point, someone in leadership even compared removing the guests in yellowface to removing a drag queen. Let’s be clear: that is not only wildly inappropriate, it’s a false equivalency that shows a complete lack of understanding about racism, power and context.

Tema Okun calls this exact behavior what it is: a pattern of defensiveness rooted in white supremacy culture. When people in power hear feedback and focus on avoiding blame instead of addressing harm, the problem gets worse. The apology becomes performance and then the trust erodes even further.

It’s not about perfection. It’s about listening. If you’re in leadership and the first thing you do is justify instead of engage, that tells us everything we need to know about how you hold power.

The Chair of the art deco society of california preservation ball Made the Call So Why Hide It?

Editor’s Note: This program was sent to Hollywoodland News on May 12, 2025. Since that time, we have received confirmation that one of the individuals listed as members of the Art Deco Society of California’s Board of Directors has formally resigned their position. We are publishing this document for transparency and archival context, while also acknowledging that it may no longer reflect the current leadership structure as of publication.

Laurie Gordon’s name isn’t buried in fine print. It’s bolded at the top of the official program, listed as both Event Chair and Founder of the Art Deco Preservation Ball. That designation reflects formal leadership and long-standing involvement in the organization’s public events.

Holding that kind of title carries weight. It signals trust, visibility and authority. When a public event includes an incident that causes community harm, the public is justified in asking questions about who was in charge, what decisions were made and how those decisions aligned with the organization’s stated values.

Laurie Gordon also serves as the Director for the Decobelles, a privately run performance troupe unofficially affiliated with the Art Deco Society of California. Each year at the Gatsby Summer Afternoon, a member of that group is crowned Miss Art Deco, a title appointed by the Board and intended to represent the organization for the following year. That role is highly visible and symbolic and it reflects the image ADSC presents to the public.

To be clear, we are not accusing Laurie Gordon of personal wrongdoing or malice. What we are saying is that public roles carry public responsibility. When someone in a leadership position is associated with an event where harm occurred, and when their name is formally tied to that event, it is reasonable for the community to ask for transparency, not vague statements that sidestep responsibility.

This isn’t about blame. This is about accountability.

And accountability, at its core, is about telling the truth especially when it’s hard.

This isn’t about shaming individuals. It’s about asking fair questions:

• Why was her name omitted from the apology?
• Why is the community being asked to move on without real answers?
• What changes have been made to ensure this doesn’t happen again?

The art deco society of california Financial Truth: Image Over Preservation

ADSC’s own 2024 Annual Report shows:

• $60,841 raised from Gatsby
• $48,781 raised from the Preservation Ball
• $158,763 total income
• Only $375 spent on preservation

In 2023, the preservation line item was even worse: $50.

And here’s the kicker: there are no financial records publicly available for 2020 through 2022. That’s three full years of silence on how a tax exempt nonprofit spent its money.

Karol Hosking, the Treasurer, has made no statement and no explanation. While there is some version of public accounting, it doesn’t align with the mission. This is her job and the lack of transparency isn’t just irresponsible. It’s unacceptable.

is the art deco society of caliofnia a Social Club or Preservation Nonprofit?

Their events should support their mission. Their financials should reflect it. Their leadership should be accountable to it.

As a registered 501(c)(3), the Art Deco Society of California is required to operate in alignment with its nonprofit purpose:

“To increase public awareness of the Art Deco era through the preservation and promotion of its art, architecture, music, design, and other forms of popular culture.”

While the IRS doesn’t mandate a specific percentage of spending for programming, it does monitor for mission drift and excessive allocation of resources to non-program expenses, such as event production or administrative costs.

We are not claiming the ADSC is violating the law. However, based on publicly available financial records, the following concerns are valid and supported by fact:

• The organization is significantly underfunding its stated mission of preservation
• Watchdog organizations like Guidestar and Charity Navigator recommend 65–75% of total expenses go toward program services
• In 2024, ADSC spent less than 1% of its budget on preservation
• From 2020 to 2022, no public preservation or financial updates were posted on their official website

These patterns raise legitimate questions about whether the organization is functioning primarily as a social club, rather than a cultural nonprofit

In addition, under IRS rules, nonprofits must avoid any excessive benefit to private individuals, known as inurement. This includes using charitable funds in ways that provide personal benefit to board members, insiders or close affiliates. While we are not alleging that this has occurred, it is a risk that becomes relevant when financial transparency is lacking and preservation work is not clearly documented.

Right now, the public record paints a picture of an organization that prioritizes themed entertainment over preservation. Expenses favor rentals, events and aesthetics. Meanwhile, the last known preservation initiative shared on their website was updated in 2022.

We’re not making assumptions. We’re looking at the numbers.

And the numbers tell a very different story than the mission statement.

The Bigger Picture:
Whiteness, Erasure and Nostalgia

Let’s be honest, vintage culture spaces have long centered whiteness whether visually, socially or structurally. The ADSC is no different. From the Board to the programming, to the unexamined beauty standards, there is a clear pattern of exclusion.

This isn’t just about costumes. It’s about who gets to define history, who gets erased from it and who gets punished for pointing that out which is the entire reason Hollywoodland News was created. We’re not bullying anyone, which is what someone on the defensive would say, but, instead, calling out the facts that are public and on full display.

art deco society of california Leadership Without Accountability

Let’s name the Art Deco Society of California Board of Directors and the people responsible.

• Karol Hosking, Treasurer, is responsible for the budget and the reports
• Laurie Gordon, Chair of the Preservation Ball and current Decobelle lead, remains in power without public acknowledgment of her role
• Sam Etler, President, has issued no statement and continues to hide behind collective language instead of leading with truth
• The Board of Directors, They continue to release unsigned statements with no names, no transparency, and no accountability.

That ends now. If they want to keep claiming to serve the public, then they need to show the public who they are.

This Is What Preservation Actually Looks Like

Preservation is not a theme. It’s a responsibility.

It requires transparency. It requires repair. It requires centering truth not costume contests. And it sure as hell requires more than fifty bucks a year.

The Art Deco Society of California has a choice: do the work, or step aside. But the era of hiding behind aesthetics while ignoring impact? That’s over.

• We will not clap for curated history while real culture is erased.
• We will not support events that silence harm.
• We will not allow nonprofit status to be used as a shield for misconduct.

You call it preservation. We’re calling it what it is.

What You Can Do:
Join the Call for Accountability

This isn’t just a story. This is a wake-up call. When harm is minimized, finances are obscured and power is protected at the expense of truth, the community has every right to speak and act.

We’re calling on our readers, allies and fellow lovers of vintage culture to do more than watch from the sidelines. We’re asking you to demand integrity from an organization that claims to preserve the past while erasing the present.

Here’s how you can take action:

1. Boycott the Gatsby Summer Afternoon: Do not attend. Do not promote. Do not contribute financially to an event that upholds exclusion, silence and institutional harm. Until the ADSC takes real steps toward transparency and repair, this event cannot move forward in good faith.

Read the full boycott statement here → Boycott the Gatsby Summer Afternoon 2025

2. Hold Leadership Accountable: Tell the ADSC board that unsigned apologies and vague statements are not enough. Demand:

• A public apology that names those in power
• A full financial report, including past years
• A commitment to restructuring with BIPOC and community-centered leadership

3. Speak Out: If you are a current or former member, Decobelle, volunteer, vendor or community partner, your voice matters. Send us your story. Share your experience. This isn’t about vengeance. It’s about collective truth. Submit your statement to regina@hollywoodlandnews.com or on our contact page.

4. Support Ethical Preservation Work: Redirect your energy and resources to preservation projects and organizations that uplift marginalized voices and honor the full complexity of our shared cultural history. Let’s build something better, together.