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Paul Williams, Architect
By Gail Mercedes Cole of Keller Williams Realty
PAUL REVERE WILLIAMS (1894-1980) Paul R. Williams was born in Los Angeles. At the age of four he was orphaned and raised by foster parents. He attended Sentour Avenue Elementary School and Polytechnic High School. His attended the University of Southern California school of engineering. He became a certified architect in 1915. He gained invaluable experience working for John C. Austin architecture firm. At 28 years old he opened his own firm. William's firm took large and small projects in different sections of Los Angeles and Southern California. Williams was a designer of individuality. The late architectural historian, David Gebhard wrote,"His architectural style is elusive; Williams produced some 3,000 buildings, but there isn't necessarily a distinctive William's stamp." Ken Breisch, a professor of architecture at the University of Southern California said,"A lot of architects were experimenting, trying to find an idiom that was right for the country." "He settled on one idiom, it was a graceful and streamlined historicism, most apparent in his upscale homes and public buildings." In the 1930s automaker, E. L. Cord wanted to build a home in Beverly Hills. Paul Williams won the commission and designed a Southern Colonial, 16-bedroom, and 22-bathroom for E.L. Cord in Beverly Hills. The rest is history. Before World War II Williams was known as, Architect to the Stars. His celebrity clientele included: CBS founder William Paley, Lon Chaney, Charles Cottell, Frank Sinatra, Lucille Ball, Anthony Quinn, Barbara Stanwyck, Zsa Zsa Gabor and Tyrone Power. Williams also designed landmark structures in Los Angeles and Beverly Hills. Public buildings include: -Franz Hall, UCLA -First Methodist Church -Shrine Auditorium -Los Angeles County Court House -Saks Fifth Avenue Store, Beverly Hills -Second Baptist Church (designed in 1924) -Los Angeles International Airport -Los Angeles County Courthouse -In 1940s reworked the Beverly Hills Hotel (adding structures and renovating others) -MCA Building in Beverly Hills Williams was an African American. When he first opened his firm prospective white clients seemed to be uncomfortable dealing with a minority. Williams was a gifted business man and to ease any discomfort he learned to draw upside down, so the clients would not have to sit aside him. Williams wrote,"My success during those first few years was founded largely upon my willingness--anxiety would be a better word--to accept commissions which were rejected as too small by other, more favored, architect." In American Magazine he wrote,"I labored over the plans for a $15,000.00 residence as diligently as I do today on the plans for a huge mansion." What an incredible tenacious talent. Photo from msn.com Regional History Center of USC
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Gail Mercedes Cole
Keller Williams Realty
4644 Admiralty Way
Marina Del Rey, CA 90292
310-702-6248
www.gailmercedes.com |
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