Ebell of Los Angeles facts for kids
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Ebell of Los Angeles
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Ebell of Los Angeles, Wilshire frontage
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| Location | 743 S. Lucerne Boulevard, Los Angeles, California |
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| Built | 1927 |
| Architect | Hunt, Sumner P.; Schofield Engineering & Construction |
| Architectural style | Italian Renaissance |
| NRHP reference No. | 94000401 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 6, 1994 |
The Ebell of Los Angeles is a special place in Los Angeles, California. It is run by women and helps women. It's located in the Mid-Wilshire area.
This historic campus has many spaces. There are places for performances, meetings, and classes. It also has the large 1,238-seat Wilshire Ebell Theatre. The Ebell aims to improve the Los Angeles community. It does this through art, learning, and helping others.
The Ebell of Los Angeles women's organization has owned and operated the campus since 1927. This group started in Los Angeles in 1894. Since 1927, the Wilshire Ebell Theatre has hosted many events. World leaders and famous artists have given talks and performed there. For example, the famous aviator Amelia Earhart gave her last public speech there. This was before her 1937 flight around the world, when she disappeared. Also, the famous singer and actress Judy Garland was discovered there. She was performing as a child in the 1930s.
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How the Ebell Club Started
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The Ebell of Los Angeles began as a women's club in 1894. It was inspired by Adrian John Ebell. He was a leader in women's education in the late 1800s. Harriet Williams Russell Strong helped start the club. She was its president for three terms.
The club's first meeting notes said its goal was "to interest women in the study of all branches of literature, art and science and the advancement of women in every branch of culture." Their motto became, "I will find a way or make one -- I serve."
Over the years, the group has offered many classes and talks. These included topics like psychology, law, travel, and music. They also promoted the arts early on. For example, in 1919, they sponsored a ten-week series of music concerts.
Building a New Home on Wilshire Boulevard
In 1923, the Ebell group announced plans for a new clubhouse and theater. It would be located west of downtown Los Angeles. They first bought land on Wilshire Boulevard. But the land's value went up, so they sold it for a profit. In 1925, they bought a new lot at Wilshire Boulevard and Lucerne.
The group hired architect Sumner P. Hunt to design the new buildings. He designed them in an Italian style. The buildings had plaster walls and Italian clay tile roofs. The new campus covered a large area, about 160 by 450 feet. It had a central patio area.
The new buildings included a 1,300-seat theater. This theater was at the back of the property. The two-story building facing Wilshire Boulevard was the clubhouse. It had a big lounge, an art room, and a dining room. The dining room opened to a beautiful walkway with a fountain.
The clubhouse opened in October 1927 with a music tea party. The Wilshire Ebell Theater opened to the public in December 1927. It was first called the Windsor Square Playhouse. The first show was a musical called The Desert Song.
The total cost for the new campus was a lot of money. The land cost $200,000. The buildings cost $650,000, and the furniture cost $120,000. People thought it was a very grand and beautiful place. One writer said, "Nowhere in America is there a more magnificent women's club house than the new home of Ebell."
The 1,300-seat theater is famous for its great sound. It also has a special Barton pipe organ. In 2003, the Los Angeles Times newspaper called the theater "the grande dame of genteel grace." They also said it was "a cultural centerpiece for Los Angeles."
Famous Performances and Events
For over eighty years, the Wilshire Ebell has hosted many famous stars. Some of these performances are especially memorable.
- Judy Garland: As a young girl, Judy Garland (then known as Baby Frances Gumm) first auditioned on the Wilshire Ebell Theater stage. She was discovered while performing there. An MGM producer, George Sidney, described her first audition. He said she came out with her sisters and mother. She did a little act with a baseball bat. Another producer, Joseph L. Mankiewicz, saw her perform. He was amazed by her voice and talent. He met the 13-year-old Judy backstage. He then helped bring her to the studio's attention.
- Amelia Earhart: In 1937, the famous pilot Amelia Earhart made her last public appearance and speech at the Ebell. This was before she left for her flight around the world. She disappeared during that flight.
- Choi Seung-hee: On February 2, 1938, Korean dancer Choi Seung-hee performed at the Ebell. She did a "recital of peasant, court and war dances." This was part of her tour in the United States.
- Glenn Gould: On April 10, 1964, Glenn Gould gave his final public performance at the Ebell. He was a famous pianist. He played pieces by Beethoven and Bach that night.
- Benigno S. Aquino Jr.: On February 15, 1981, Filipino leader Benigno S. Aquino Jr. gave a speech at the theater. He was a critic of the government at the time. He shared his life story and struggles. The theater was packed with people from the Philippines and the United States.
Updates and Historic Status
A big project to restore the Ebell complex started in 1989. The theater's seats were fixed. The stage was updated. New sound and lighting systems were put in. Other parts of the building were also renovated. This included the main dining room and the Grand Salon.
In recent years, the Wilshire Ebell Theater has hosted many different types of shows. These include performances in Persian, Korean, and Russian languages. It has also been the site of annual "Divas Simply Singing" concerts. These events raise money for AIDS awareness. Famous singers like Nancy Wilson and Roberta Flack have performed there.
The Ebell building is recognized as a historic place. It has received honors at local, state, and national levels:
- It was named a Los Angeles Cultural Historic Monument in 1982.
- It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1994.
- The National Trust for Historic Preservation has also called it an Official American Treasure.
See also
- Ebell Club of Santa Paula, California
- Ebell of Long Beach
- Ebell Society
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Los Angeles
- List of Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monuments in the Wilshire and Westlake areas
