Charles Phoenix

Growing up in Ontario, California, Charles Phoenix was educated at theme parks, shopping malls, and his dad’s used car lots. As a teen, he discovered thrift shops, which he describes as "schools of style, museums of merchandise, and the perfect place to study the underbelly of our mass consumerism culture." His early fascination with vintage culture set the foundation for his later work.

After moving to Los Angeles and trying his hands at careers as a fashion designer and a classic car dealer, Phoenix's life took a significant turn when he discovered a shoebox full of vintage Kodachrome slides marked “Trip Across the United States, 1957” in a thrift shop. This discovery fueled what would become an obsession with collecting orphaned vintage slide photography, inspiring his retro slide show performance career, which began in 1998.

Phoenix is the author of several colorful coffee table books, including "Addicted to Americana!," celebrating mid-century Southern California, Las Vegas, Hawaii, Kodachrome road trips, and his native Pomona Valley. His work captures the essence of American kitsch and classic style, which has led him to be recognized as the Ambassador of Americana. He has been featured as a judge on Food Network’s "Cake Wars: Christmas" and made guest appearances on shows like "Storage Wars," "Jay Leno’s Garage," "Conan," and "Martha Stewart." His expertise and engaging personality have also made him a popular voice on NPR. Notably, the Los Angeles Times has dubbed him the "King of Retro," while LA Weekly named him the "Kodachrome King."

Phoenix continues to entertain and educate through his live comedy shows, such as "ADDICTED TO AMERICANA" and "CHARLES PHOENIX RETRO HOLIDAY JUBILEE." These performances blend humor and commentary on American pop culture using his extensive collection of vintage Kodachrome slides. He covers a wide range of American holidays and traditions, providing delightful insights into mid-century celebrations. Additionally, he creates and showcases unique edible centerpieces from his Test Kitchen, further enhancing his presentations on Entertainment, Humor, and Media/News Journalism.