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Lewis Arthur Smith

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lewis Arthur Smith
Born(1869-02-26)February 26, 1869
DiedMarch 13, 1958(1958-03-13) (aged 89)
OccupationArchitect
SpouseF. W. Smith
BuildingsVista Theatre
El Portal Theatre
Rialto Theatre
Ventura Theatre

Lewis Arthur Smith (1869–1958) was an American architect who designed many theaters in the Los Angeles area, most notably the Vista, El Portal, and Highland in Los Angeles, the Rialto in South Pasadena, and the Ventura in Ventura.

Biography

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Lewis Arthur Smith was born in Ohio in 1869 to German parents. He had one sister three years his elder.[1]

By 1910, Smith was living in Los Angeles. In 1914, he married F. W. Smith, however she died sometime between 1920 and 1930. Smith was living with his sister in 1930 and he died in 1958.[1]

Career

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Smith worked extensively with Bard's and Fox West Coast Theatres in the 1920s, and designed approximately forty theaters in total. He was a partner with William Pennell in 1920.[1]

Smith's notable theaters (in Los Angeles unless otherwise noted) include[1]:

  • T and D Hippodrome Theatre, Taft, California (1917-1918, destroyed by fire in 1950)[2]
  • Casino Theatre (1921)
  • Circle Theatre (1921)
  • Tivoli Theatre (1921)
  • Wilshire Theatre (1921)
  • Rivoli Theatre (1921–1922)
Bard's Hollywood Theatre, also known as Vista Theatre
Rialto Theatre, South Pasadena
El Portal Theatre

Other buildings designed by Smith (all in Los Angeles) include[1]:

West Adams Gardens

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Michelson, Alan. "Lewis Arthur Smith (Architect)". University of Washington Pacific Coast Architecture Database. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  2. ^ Gaines, Seth. "Fox Theatre Taft". Cinema Treasures. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  3. ^ Gabel, William. "Paris Theatre". Cinema Treasures. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  4. ^ "Beverly Theatre (Demolished)". Los Angeles Conservancy. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  5. ^ "Rialto Theatre". United States Department of the Interior - National Park Service. May 24, 1978.
  6. ^ a b c d "Historical-Cultural Monument Application - Villa Elaine" (PDF). City of Los Angeles. January 18, 2000.
  7. ^ Gabel, William. "Granada Theatre". Cinema Treasures. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  8. ^ "Ritz Theatre (Demolished)". Los Angeles Conservancy. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  9. ^ Chappell, John. "Fox Ritz Theatre". Cinema Treasures. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  10. ^ "Ventura Theatre". United States Department of the Interior - National Park Service. December 29, 1986.
  11. ^ "Villa Elaine - Man Ray Residence". City of Los Angeles. 2000.
  12. ^ "Withers Residence". City of Los Angeles. 1997.