"It's an excellent rendition of Mission Revival architecture," he said of the building, noting the original architect "did a good job." Round arches, he pointed out "are like the Mission."

The interior reflected the other major style of the early 1900s. "It couldn't be more authentic Craftsman," he said. The office has a brick fireplace with wood mantel, dark wood wainscoting, coffered ceilings. Since the Adamses made few modern upgrades, many original features remain, including lighting and Craftsman type lanterns.

The pergola with tapered posts of 12-inch-by-12-inch redwood anchors the free standing rose arbor.

"Everything works," Becker marveled. "It's pretty special."

But Becker, whose office was then in woodsy Montecito, also realized he'd been naive. There was a downside: Noise. With the building built close to two main streets, "It's a noisy little corner," he said.

Offsetting that through the gate behind a wall is a garden with the original Flying A pergola and roses believed to date from 1913.

"Arleigh had a great garden," said Becker. "The garden was his life's passion." Tapered posts of 12-inch by-12-inch redwood anchor the free-standing rose arbor.

Underneath is a red concrete walkway scored to look like tiles. "It's just like Mexico or Spain," he said. "The Spanish put a wall against the street with a secret garden behind. In Mexico you open up a gate to a little garden of Eden."

Still, it took fellow architect Schillberg, a board member of the Sustainability Project which advocates "mixed use" in Santa Barbara, plus a small act of God, to seal the deal for Becker who likes to live and work in the same place.

"Valeri convinced me I could take care of the noise," said Becker. As they toured the building, an off-season thunderstorm struck flashing and reverberating through a skylight which the original builders had put in. ("They were masters at lighting," Becker says with awe.) The dramatic event, like a Shakespeare play, seemed momentous.

Architect Valeri Schillberg works in the offices that are in one of the Flying A Studio's remaining structures.

Now in his new home-office, Becker works closely with historic preservationists including the Pearl Chase Society and city Historic Landmarks Commission. He wants to duplicate a tiny scrap of pale green paint he found beneath other paint layers which may be the original color of the old Green Room.

Society and city Historic Landmarks Commission. He wants to duplicate a tiny scrap of pale green paint he found beneath other paint layers which may be the original color of the old Green Room.

As he and Sam walk around the neighborhood, he sees more hints of Flying A days. Judging by a sidewalk logo of a fish identical to one etched in concrete at his front door, he speculates a large arch facing Mission Street may be the original Flying A main entrance. Architectural details suggest a back wing of another building may be original. So may lanterns found elsewhere.

"It's a perfect place for me," Becker said. "There's no way I would hurt the building. It's a lovely piece of Santa Barbara architecture and a piece of Santa Barbara history. It's a major piece of movie history.

"We'll see how the play ends."

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