By Diane Daniel Special to The Washington PostCharles Phoenix, the self-proclaimed "Ambassador of Americana," is known for his "Retro Slide Shows," comically narrated Kodachrome presentations celebrating travel, entertaining and lifestyles in the mid-20th century using personal slides he's found or received as donations. Based in Los Angeles, Phoenix occasionally leads retro tours of his hometown — taking guests to vintage downtown spots such as Union Station, Olvera Street and Clifton's Cafeteria — as well as others such as Palm Springs, California, Las Vegas and Nashville. Over the years, Phoenix has written several coffee table books, including "Americana the Beautiful," about midcentury travel destinations and runs the Charles Phoenix Test Kitchen, where he demonstrates how to make fanciful original recipes such as his "cherpumple," a campy combination of cherry, pumpkin and apple pies banked in layers of cake. Phoenix started his career as a fashion designer and later bought and sold classic cars, at one time owning about 200 midcentury automobiles before he took his slide shows to the stage.Read more on NewsOK.com