John C. Austin

John Corneby Wilson Austin (February 13, 1870 – September 3, 1963) was an architect and civic leader who participated in the design of several landmark buildings in Southern California, including the Griffith Observatory, Los Angeles City Hall, and the Shrine Auditorium.

John C. Austin
Austin in 1930
Born
John Corneby Wilson Austin

(1870-02-13)February 13, 1870
Bodicote, Oxfordshire, England
DiedSeptember 3, 1963(1963-09-03) (aged 93)
Pasadena, California, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
OccupationArchitect
Buildings

Life

Born in Bodicote, Oxfordshire, England, Austin was an apprentice to architect Williams S. Barwick in the late 1880s.[1] He moved to the United States and worked as a draftsman for architect Benjamin Linfoot of Philadelphia from 1891–1892, before relocating to San Francisco where he was a draftsman at Mooser and Devlin from 1892-1895.[1] He moved to Los Angeles in 1895,[2] and became one of the city's leading architects.

Austin was also active in civic affairs in Los Angeles. He was elected President of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce in January 1930.[3] As head of the Chamber of Commerce, Austin initiated a public-art campaign to beautify the city through the erection of statuary and monuments.[4] One of the issues on which Austin became a leader was the need to develop a larger water system for Los Angeles.[3] He spoke publicly and was an advocate in the business community in favor of a 1930 bond issue to raise $38.8 million to develop the city's water supply.[5]

As the Great Depression deepened in Los Angeles, Austin also advocated federal spending as a means to stimulate the economy. In April 1930, a letter from Austin to President Herbert Hoover was published in the Los Angeles Times. In it, Austin proposed the creation of an emergency fund, raised by taxation or appropriation, which could be used to develop public improvements and to provide needed employment.[6] Austin argued that such programs were needed so that otherwise good citizens not fall "prey to the propaganda of Communists and agitators against our institutions."[6] In January 1931, after expressing concern that "we are just drifting along in this matter," Austin traveled to Washington, D.C. to press for federal construction projects in Los Angeles.[7] Austin announced that he was going east "with a crowbar to try and pry something loose," vowing to stay as long as he felt he could help get things started.[7] Later that year, President Hoover appointed Austin to coordinate the federal government's unemployment relief efforts in ten Southern California counties.[8][9] Shortly after his appointment to the relief effort, however, Austin's wife of 29 years, Hilda Violet Austin, the mother of nine children with Austin, died at their home in Pasadena.[10]

Austin also served as the President of the State Board of Architectural Examiners,[10] a member of the National Labor Board responsible for labor disputes in Southern California,[11] President of the Southern California Historical Society, President of the Jonathan Club, and a 32nd degree Mason.[2] In 1949, the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce presented Austin with its first ever Achievement Award.[12] In 1963, Los Angeles Mayor Samuel Yorty presented Austin with a scroll commending him "for serving in an outstanding manner as a distinguished architect."[2]

Austin died in 1963 at his home in Pasadena, California.[2]

Work
Griffith Observatory
Hollywood Masonic Temple
LA City Hall

Austin's work as an architect includes:

  • The Beckett Mansion, Los Angeles former Residence built in 1905 for the Dr. Wesley Wilbur Beckett family
  • Fremont Hotel, Los Angeles (1902), 100 room hotel
  • Potter Hotel, a five-story, 600-room resort hotel, Santa Barbara, California, 1902-1903 (burned 1921)
  • Virginia Hotel, Long Beach, California, 1907, razed circa 1935
  • The Carnegie Library in Anaheim, 1909, now the home of the Anaheim Museum.[13]
  • Hollywood Masonic Temple, Hollywood Boulevard, directly across the street from Grauman's Chinese Theatre, 1921, added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985
  • Guaranty Building, Hollywood, 1923
  • Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, the headquarters of the Al Malaikah Temple, a division of the Shriners, 1925-1926. When opened, the Los Angeles Times called it a "Triumph of Art" and credited the Moorish style architecture to Austin as the man "who drew plans and specifications for the group of magnificent structures."[14] The Academy Awards have been held at the Shrine on ten occasions. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.
  • Los Angeles City Hall, 1928. Along with John Parkinson and Albert C. Martin, Sr., Martin was hired to design what has become the most recognized building in Los Angeles. The selection of an architect for the city hall led to fierce competition among the city's leading architects. The City Council selected the firm of Curlett and Beelman, but the Board of Public Works chose Martin, Parkinson, and Austin.[15] Controversy continued when the architects turned in drawings for 28-story tower to house a municipal government that could adequately fit into the first four floors.[16] The city ultimately accepted the tower plan, and in March 1928 the Board of Public Works passed a resolution commending the architects "for the eminently satisfactory and beautiful design of the monumental building."[17]
  • Monrovia High School, Monrovia, California, 1928
  • Arroyo Seco Bank Building, Los Angeles, California, 1926
  • Memorial Branch Library, Los Angeles, 1930. This Gothic Revival library building includes a large heraldic work of stained glass created by artists at Judson Studios. The building was dedicated to the memory of Los Angeles high school students who died in World War I. Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.
  • Alexander Hamilton High School, Los Angeles, 1931. The Administration Building at Hamilton High School was designed by architects John C. Austin and Frederick C. Ashley in the Northern Italian Renaissance style. Multicolored and patterned brickwork, elaborate cast stone decoration, and a bell tower clad in verdigris copper distinguish the building.[18] Austin & Ashley designed Waidelich Hall [19] which opened on April 20, 1937.[20] On February 21, 1989, the auditorium was renamed Norman J. Pattiz Concert Hall.[21]
  • Griffith Observatory, Griffith Park, 1933-1935[2][22]
  • NBC Radio City Studios, Hollywood and Vine, 1938-1939 (razed)
  • St. Vincent's Hospital
  • Los Angeles Hall of Justice - While with Allied Architects, Austin also worked on the Hall of Justice building. It is the oldest building in the Los Angeles Civic Center and was the site of the trials of Charles Manson and Sirhan Sirhan. It has been vacant since 1994.[1][23]
  • St. Paul's Catholic Church.[2]
  • The first State Building in the Los Angeles Civic Center.[2]
  • Los Angeles High School (3rd location), 4650 Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, 1917-1971 (razed)[24][25]
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References
  1. "Architect DB - architect record on John C. Austin". University of Washington Libraries.
  2. "John C. Austin, Dean of Architects, Dies: Distinguished Works Included Many of Southland's Famous Landmark Buildings". Los Angeles Times. September 5, 1963. p. II-3 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. "Austin Chosen Chamber Head". Los Angeles Times. 1930-01-09.
  4. "Public-Art Drive Planned: Chamber Will Encourage Citizens to Give Statues and Monuments for City's Beautification". Los Angeles Times. 1930-03-10.
  5. "Water Aids City Growth: Voters to be Warned Los Angeles' Future Hangs on Bond Issue at Meeting Tomorrow". Los Angeles Times. 1930-04-15.
  6. "Business Aid Plan: Chamber Head Sends Letter to President Hoover Asking National Fund for Emergencies". Los Angeles Times. 1930-04-21.
  7. "Uncle Sam To Be Urged: John C. Austin Will Go to Washington to Speed Up Federal Building Projects Here". Los Angeles Times. 1931-01-08.
  8. "Relief Work To Be Unified: John C. Austin Undertakes Task for Southland; Efforts for Unemployed Will Be Co-ordinated; Well-Rounded Program to Be Worked Out at Once". Los Angeles Times. 1931-10-20.
  9. "Organization Plans Made: John C. Austin Explains Relief Policies; Southland to Follow Ten County Division Idea". Los Angeles Times. 1931-10-21.
  10. "Mrs. Austin Rites To Be Tomorrow: Final Tributes Arranged for Church Worker Who Was Wife of Architect". Los Angeles Times. 1931-11-27.
  11. "Two Appointed to Labor Board: Austin and Stevens to Help End Industrial Rifts; Both Wire Their Acceptance to National Official". Los Angeles Times. 1933-11-25.
  12. Charles C. Cohan (1949-03-18). "Building Honors Given to Architect: John Austin Gets Honor at Construction Industries Dinner for Outstanding Service". Los Angeles Times.
  13. "Carnegie Library home of Anaheim Museum". City of Los Angeles. Archived from the original on 2008-05-15.
  14. "Shrine Building Triumph of Art". Los Angeles Times. 1926-01-20.
  15. "Deadlock on Architects: Public Works Board Selects Own City Hall Firm; Parley With Council Fails of Compromise". Los Angeles Times. 1925-03-03.
  16. "High City Hall Need Explained: Architect Says Plan Means Saving to Taxpayer; Realty Board Members Told of High-Tower Value". Los Angeles Times. 1926-04-18.
  17. "Hall Architects Praised: Works Board Commends Trio for Design and Speed in Erecting New City Offices". Los Angeles Times. 1928-03-27.
  18. Heumann, Leslie; Doehne, Anne (March 2002). "Historic Schools of the Los Angeles Unified School District" (PDF). Los Angeles Unified School District.
  19. Los Angeles Times, April 26, 1936, page D2
  20. Los Angeles Times, April 21, 1937, page A5
  21. Bernard, Diana (March 24, 1989). "Glitzy Gala Attracts Sellout Audience" (PDF). The Federalist. 104 (6). Alexander Hamilton High School. p. 1.
  22. "Park's New Unit Ready: Decorating Bid Approved; Grounds Landscaped; Opening Later". Los Angeles Times. 1934-10-03. ("The Griffith Observatory, erected in Griffith Park ..., has been completed by the contractor, ... the Park Commission was notified through John C. Austin, architect.")
  23. "Hall of Justice". Emporis.
  24. Architect and Engineer Volume 48-51. 1917. pp. 70–71. ISBN 978-1231199312.
  25. "The Demolition of Los Angeles High School, 1971". August 6, 2007.
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