Harry Chandler facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Harry Chandler
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Harry Chandler, publisher of The Los Angeles Times, greeting from Olvera Street children, 1938.
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| Born | May 17, 1864 Landaff, New Hampshire, U.S.
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| Died | September 23, 1944 (aged 80) |
| Alma mater | Dartmouth College |
| Occupation | Newspaper publisher, investor, real estate owner |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Magdalena Schlador Chandler (m. 1888–1892, her death) Marian Otis Chandler (m. 1894–1944, his death) |
| Children | 8, including Norman Chandler |
| Relatives | Mike Chandler (great-grandson) Dorothy Buffum Chandler (daughter-in-law) Otis Chandler (grandson) Harrison Gray Otis (father-in-law) |
Harry Chandler (May 17, 1864 – September 23, 1944) was an American newspaper publisher and investor. He became the owner of a very large real estate business in the U.S. He was known for helping to shape the city of Los Angeles in the early 1900s.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Harry Chandler was born in Landaff, New Hampshire. His parents were Moses K. and Emma J. (Little) Chandler. He went to Dartmouth College. While there, he got very sick after jumping into a frozen vat of starch. Because of his health, he left Dartmouth and moved to Los Angeles.
Career in Publishing
When Harry arrived in Los Angeles, he first worked in fruit fields. He then started a small company that delivered goods. This company soon began delivering many of the city's morning newspapers. This work connected him with Harrison Gray Otis, who published The Los Angeles Times.
Otis was impressed by Harry's business skills. He hired Harry as the Times' general manager. In 1894, Harry married Otis's daughter, Marian Otis. Harry had two daughters from his first marriage, and he and Marian had six more children together.
Leading The Los Angeles Times
After Harrison Gray Otis passed away in 1917, Harry Chandler became the publisher of the Times. He made the newspaper very successful. Under his leadership, the Times became the leading newspaper in the West. For three years in the 1920s, it led all other American newspapers in advertising. It also had the most classified ads.
Building Los Angeles
Harry Chandler used much of his energy to help Los Angeles grow. He was a major community builder and real estate investor. Many people considered him the most important citizen of Los Angeles in the first half of the 20th century.
Key Projects and Developments
Chandler helped to create many important places and businesses in Los Angeles. These include:
- The Los Angeles Coliseum, which helped bring the 1932 Summer Olympics to L.A.
- The Biltmore Hotel
- The Douglas Aircraft Company
- The Hollywood Bowl
- The Ambassador Hotel
- The California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
- The Automobile Club of Southern California
- KHJ radio station
- Trans World Airlines
- The San Pedro Harbor
- The Los Angeles Athletic Club
- The California Club
- The Pacific Electric Cars (streetcars)
- The Los Angeles Art Association
- The Santa Anita Park racetrack
- The Los Angeles Steamship Company
- The Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite National Park
- The restoration of downtown's Olvera Street
Real Estate Investments
Harry Chandler was also a big real estate investor. He owned and developed large parts of the San Fernando Valley. He also developed the Hollywood Hills, known as Hollywoodland. The famous Hollywoodland sign was built to promote this development.
His other real estate projects included Mulholland Drive and much of Dana Point. He also owned huge ranches, like the Tejon Ranch in Southern California (about 1,140 square kilometers). He also owned the Vermejo Park Ranch in New Mexico (about 1,400 square kilometers) and the C&M ranch in Baja, Mexico (about 3,370 square kilometers). At one point, these investments made him the largest private landowner in the U.S. He was also involved in many other California companies, including oil, shipping, and banking.
Personal Life
On February 6, 1888, Harry married Magdalena Schlador. They had two daughters: Francesca (born 1890) and Alice May (born 1892). Sadly, Magdalena passed away shortly after Alice May's birth in 1892.
In 1894, Chandler married Marian Otis. Francesca and Alice May joined their new family. Harry and Marian then had six more children: Constance (born 1896), Ruth (born 1897), Norman (born 1899), Harrison Gray Otis (born 1904), and twins Helen and Philip (born 1907).
Harry Chandler was a very tall man, standing six feet two inches. He was known for working hard. He lived simply and often walked to work. His favorite charity was the Salvation Army.
Death and Legacy
Harry Chandler died on September 23, 1944, from a heart attack. He and Marian are buried at Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles. His oldest son, Norman Chandler, took over the Los Angeles Times after his death.
A major street in the San Fernando Valley, Chandler Boulevard, is named after Harry Chandler.
In 1960, a dining hall at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) was named in his honor. However, in 2021, Caltech decided to remove Chandler's name from the building. This was because of his past involvement with a group called the Human Betterment Foundation, which held ideas that are not accepted today. The dining hall was renamed in November 2021 to honor educator Lee F. Browne.
