The party, at the Cocoanut Grove, was to celebrate the reopening of a bigger and better Alexander and Oviatt. That week, the Director of the Chamber of Commerce, Major R.M. During James' tenure, the spaces were comprised of a tennis court, a small pool, a putting green, gardens, and a sunbathing beach made complete with sand brought in from the French Riviera. L.A.'s forming society and the burgeoning film colony were desperate for all the trappings of the Eastern and European elite. James Oviatt of Payson, Utah County, Utah was born on January 4, 1889, and died at age 94 years old in November 1983. Join Facebook to connect with James Oviatt and others you may know. It was cavernous and serious, humming with the quiet work of caterers setting up for an evening wedding. In 1953 the CIO Amalgamated Clothing Workers called for a strike after Oviatt refused to operate with a closed shop agreement. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected. As someone who worked in the luxury concierge business, I spent a portion of my life desperately searching for new ways to write about the finest bespoke suits being crafted on Savile Row. Upper floors contained studio and exhibition spaces for artists and architects. By June, Oviatt was able to announce a pay raise for all his employees. Actors: gray or tan west of England flannel coat and vest, light flannel trousers with stripes, plain colored collar-attached shirt, striped Mogador tie, grey or tan spats, black or tan shoes, tan or grey hat, large plaid overcoat, tan or gray gloves, novelty walking stick.7. In its heyday, James Oviatt's shop outfitted Hollywood legends like Clark Gable and John Barrymore. Oviatt retained architects Walker and Eisen to design his skyscraper for the arts and also retained interior designers, Joseph L. Feil and Bernhard R. Paradise, to create store fixtures in 1927. In 1930 Miss Isabelle M. Hanbury opened her College of Cultural Subjects.9 She taught social success and etiquette, the art of conversation, cultured speech and vocabulary, public speaking, appreciation of literature and history, law for layman, languages, psychology, logic, philosophy and ballroom dancing., The Depression decimated the high end clothing business, and an embarrassed Oviatt lost his controlling interest in both his store and his building. Percy Augustus Eisen (1885-1946). treatment of an historic interior, luxury, and sophisticated dining. Oviatt came back impressed with General Franco's Spain. In May of 1952 the Oviatts sailed to Europe on the Queen Elizabeth. MacLennan, during a radio interview, congratulated Oviatt on his resurgence. Join us Sundays at the historic Oviatt Building, downtown Los Angeles' Art Deco masterpiece. Oviatt was more than a willing client withtaste and the financial ability to obtain the finest quality. James Oviatt Building, 2008. Draperies, rugs, and tons of French grey marble "tinged with brown and crimson" were also imported. Major commissionsincluded the Fine Arts Building (1925), United Artists Building (1927),Title Insurance Building (1928), National Bank of Commerce (1929), FruitGrowers Exchange (1954), Beverly-Wilshire Hotel (1926), El Cortez Hotel(San Diego 1927), El Mirador Hotel (Palm Springs 1927), Mar Monte Hotel(Santa Barbara 1927), Torrance City Hall, Jail, and Municipal Building(1936), and the San Luis Obispo County Court House (1940). It was pretty dirty in the mornings when I would see it, Chevalier says. A cabbie was arrested and fined for not wearing his cap, and streets are washed with a fire hose three times a day. View the profiles of people named James Oviatt. The James Oviatt Building, commonly referred to as The Oviatt Building, is an Art Deco highrise in Downtown Los Angeles located at 617 S. Olive Street, half a block south of 6th St. and Pershing Square. The store was a success, filling a void in the Los Angeles market. The building is named after James Zera Oviatt (1888-1974) who, in 1909, came from Salt Lake City to Los Angeles to work as a window dresser at C.C. Or does time stand still?, Its as if I have a clear glass photo, so I see what is there now but I also see the outlines of what was there then, he says. The ornate chandelier gleamed, and the decorative columns were delicately carved some with crests labeled service, others with stylized angels carrying a mission bell to signify the city of angels. Then there was the exquisite glass work, done by the master Art Deco craftsman, Rene Lalique. [5], In 2015, the exterior of the Cicada was used as the exterior for the fictional Hotel Cortez on American Horror Story: Hotel. Mary and her young daughter moved into the penthouse and quickly integrated into her husband's high society. As I stepped outside, I took another look at the diminutive skyscraper I had rushed into earlier. AlthoughLos Angeles was used to extravagant displays, Oviatt's grand gesture ofengaging the finest Frenchavantgardedesigners was worthy of specialnotice. Oviatts yearly, three month-long buying tours of European fashion capitals were considered citywide news. The grand building is once again appreciated, and filled with elegant, well-dressed people. Its furnishings included a 12-ton illuminated glass cornice and glass arcade ceiling by architect Ferdinand Chanut and glassmaker Gatan Jeannin. Although numerous architects, engineers, designers, and craftsmen contributed their talents to the creation of this building, the enemble was orchestrated by Mr. Oviatt. The doors of the Oviatt opened in 1928, revealing a creation that was lavish from floor to roof: Lalique glass, custom woodwork, a tower with a large neon clock (the first such clock in Los Angeles, according to The Times), French Napoleon marble and an elaborate 30-ton glass ceiling for the outdoor lobby. In 1927 construction began on the building at 617 Olive Street. I noticed the whimsical metal work, the Romanesque arches and moulding. Tickets to the inaugural meet at Santa Anita were sold at Alexander and Oviatt. He was also an avid golfer and a member of the Los Angeles Athletic Club, where his stash of rare brandies and scotch whiskies was discovered in a locker during the height of prohibition. Mailbox and lighting fixtures were made of a new white metal known as "melchior," and even the toilet bowls were to be a rich tan to complement the dark wood work. It is also designated as a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument. The trip included attendance at the Royal Ascot, the Grand Prix and the Helsinki Olympic games. Rviddel ezutn az sszes . It demonstrates not only my faith in the national administrations activity to create more jobs and higher salaries, but also the fact that tangible business betterment permits such a step. When James Zera Oviatt was born on 2 June 1888, in Farmington, Davis, Utah, United States, his father, Lewis Oviatt, was 40 and his mother, Sarah Elizabeth Hovey, was 37. The next day she sent all the items, and the bill, up to the penthouse. English: James Oviatt Building 617 South Olive Street, Downtown Los Angeles, California. Their, early work included offices, hotels, and apartment houses executed in eclectic. After working in Salt Lake City, he came to Los Angeles in 1906 and was employed as a window dresser at Desmonds Department Store. Rene Lalique personally designed and installed 30 tons of decorative glass for the lobby of the building. He wanted to find the best, make the best and sell the best. Im a perfectionist. On a recent visit to the penthouse (arguably one of the best tours in the city), Chevalier launches into a minutely detailed description of each room and every piece of furniture, rug, painting and piece of Lalique glass that was sold off by Oviatts widow all from memory. The building was open in 1928. He won the putting prize at the "Divot Diggers" tournament at the exclusive Hillcrest Club. Oviatt's store closed in 1969, a victim of ready-made clothes and the decline of downtown. At thetime the structure was completed in 1928 and fifty years later when itwas rehabilitated, the Oviatt Building has set a standard for innovativedesign. In an amazing 1927 spread in the Los Angeles Times, he revealed his choice of uniform for various male professionals, firmly believing that every profession called for a definite (and elaborate) style of attire. By 1967, the once-grand palace of clothing had closed its doors for good. Soon, thirty tons of custom-made Lalique, including a ceiling, doors, chandeliers, and elevator panels were shipped through the Panama Canal, the largest shipment of its kind to America. Built-in drawers once used to store hats and gloves, now hold the restaurant's silver and table linens. JAMES OVIATT OBITUARY. It was this shabby old building that Chevalier saw in 1975 at the age of 7, when his father took him for swimming lessons across the street at the Los Angeles Athletic Club. He and salesman Frank Baird Alexander together developed a . Although, Los Angeles was used to extravagant displays, Oviatt's grand gesture of, engaging the finest Frenchavantgardedesigners was worthy of special, notice. Pinterest. In 1910 Oviatt has made his way down to the flats, in a little two-year-old bungalow at 632 West 43rd Place. Today, we know the former clothing store as the Cicada Club, where several scenes of The Artist were filmed. Jul 30, 2015 - James Oviatt Building - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Oviatt hosted many star-studded gatherings on his private Riviera. The blacksmith's son was on top of the world. The Los Angeles entrepreneur had furniture, a store marquee and other design elements custom-made in France. In 1941 he could be found at a "lake stag party" given by J. Benton "Bent" Van Nuys, where they fished, hiked, and bowled, "showing the younger generation how they used to roll 'em years ago.". His father was a blacksmith, but Oviatt preferred to emphasize the fact that his mother was French and his father English, therefore imparting him with impeccable taste. For all his pretensions, the suave Oviatt was privately a great deal of fun, and a very popular and sought after social guest. Special offer: Buy Neurontin 600 mg 60 pills now only for $2.76 per pill, save $22.59 and get discount for all purchased! It seems that success, and an obsession with the "best," turned Oviatt into a hardline conservative. Discover and add pictures, bio information and documents about the life of James Oviatt (1921). Chevalier, 45, is the unofficial curator of all things Oviatt, whether it pertains to clothier James Oviatt, who died in 1974 at the age of 85, or the 1928 Oviatt Building at 617 S. Olive St., also known as Historic Cultural Monument No. The Rex II Ristorante, the restaurantthat replaced the clothing store, has set a standard for the sensitivetreatment of an historic interior, luxury, and sophisticated dining. Alexander and Oviatt were among the leadingclothiers in the city. When the building opened, it was publicized for the opulent Art Decoappointments, the novelty of incorporating a penthouse, and the personalattention that Mr. Oviatt lavished on his store and residence. James Oviatt died in 1974 at the age of 85, his beloved building barely occupied. Frank Alexanders death in 1921 did not slow the business down, and in 1923 the store expanded into womens wear. Walker and Company served as the original Building Contractor for the Oviatt Building. What really attracts me to him, Chevalier says of its builder, clothier James Oviatt, is that he had one religion the best. His dreams were steadily realized. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. Even the elevator door featured Lalique glass carved with foliage and fruit. It is titled not surprisingly The Oviatt Building and premiered at the old Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood. The ornate chandelier gleamed, and the decorative columns were delicately carved -- some with crests labeled "service," others with stylized angels carrying a mission bell to signify "the city of angels." City councilmen were to wear: And then, in total jest, was the correct outfit for pesky reporters, which consisted of: In 1927 construction began on the building at 617 Olive Street. The wood mouldings were darkly oppressive, but after I adjusted to the grand ocean liner feel of the place, I found enormous delight in the opulent details. Select this result to view James C Oviatt's phone number, address, and more. During the early phases of construction of the Italian Romanesque styled building, Oviatt attended the 1925 Paris Exposition and decided to decorate his building in the new style. They have also lived in Roseburg, OR and Middleton, ID. "4 He terrified employees with his frequent store inspections, checking for dust on countertops with a swipe of his perfect, fitted white glove. Explore. 617 S. Olive St. Los Angeles, CA 90014 . She became a member of many tony charity committees and clubs, like the "Las Floristas", and was frequently seen at the Turf Club at Santa Anita. Oviatt had fallen in love with Lalique glass at the famous 1925 Exposition in Paris. At this point I know more about this buildings history than anybody else alive. By April 1933, Oviatt was able to announce that he had paid off all creditors and regained control of the store and his beloved building. James Oviatt died in 1974 at the age of 85, his beloved building barely occupied. The 1930s found Oviatt, the perennial bachelor, at the center of the smart, caf society set that flourished in the inter-war period. The Oviatt Building stands as one of the most sophisticated and costly Art Deco buildings in Los Angeles, designed for the clothier, James Zera Oviatt (1888- partner in the establishment, Alexander and Oviatt. This grand, ten room penthouse boasted a Turkish bath, a gym, a tennis court, practice golf links, a rooftop garden, and a pool with sand imported from France to make a private beach. In an amazing 1927 spread in the Los Angeles Times, he revealed his choice of uniform for various male professionals, firmly believing that every profession called for a definite (and elaborate) style of attire. City councilmen were to wear: a frock coat, striped trousers, black shoes, white doeskin gloves, silk hat, black overcoat, white spats, white wing collar, white shirt, black and white check tie(large checks), cane with concealed sword in straight handle. The lavish merchant not only furnished the apartment with exquisite Parisian furniture, but surrounded his swimming pool with a strand of imported French sand. He retained his entire corps of salespeople, even while staging a drastic inventory clearance sale. In 1965 a government report linked Oviatt to the Christian Defense League, a "secret guerilla force" which "aimed at uniting 'white Christians' in opposition to such Negro and Jewish organizations as the NAACP, CORE, the American Jewish Congress, the Anti-Defamation League and B'nai B'rith. At a time when trans-continental travel was rare, he was expected to bring back gossip and political observations. People Projects Discussions . Bronze statues were posted prominently throughout the store, and the Outdoor California Palm Grove was constructed so men could see their new clothing in natural light. On a 1925 business trip to France, Oviatt attended the Parisian Decorative Arts Exhibition and fell in love with the sleek elegance of Art Deco. Cicada's softly lit dining room, gold leaf ceiling, and mirrored bar continue the Oviatt tradition of downtown grandeur, Join us Sundays at the historic Oviatt Building, downtown Los Angeles' Art Deco masterpiece. Reporter Olive Gray rhapsodically riffed on the building that Oviatt had "dreamed true,"8 writing: But nothing matched the grandeur of Oviatt's personal "castle in the air," which he moved into two years later. Bronze statues were posted prominently throughout the store, and the "Outdoor California Palm Grove" was constructed so men could see their new clothing in natural light. Rene Lalique personally designed and installed 30 tons of decorative glass for the lobby of the building. James Oviatt's two-story penthouse was far more opulent than the "rooftop bungalow," described in the newspapers of the day. The penthouse is now rented out for parties and weddings. The Los Angeles entrepreneur had furniture, a store marquee and other design elements custom-made in France. The stylish haberdasher then commissioned a fleet of French architects and engineers to travel to California and transform his Italian Romanesque building into a Deco showplace. 1927-28. James Oviatt is on Facebook. Despite its age, the design is so up to date that he could have stepped out of a window display at one of todays exclusive menswear stores, except for his two-toned Spectator shoes, which are more fitting for a Raymond Chandler novel. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2022 Puzzled Pictures LLC. Today. That was basically my feeling when I first walked into the Cicada Club in the James Oviatt Building at 617 South Olive Street. This was already the hippest neighborhood of downtown Los Angeles, featuring The Biltmore Hotel, the Athletic Club, and the Pacific Finance Building. 'S high society again appreciated, and the financial ability to obtain the finest quality fined for wearing... John Barrymore know the former clothing store as the Cicada Club in the city Director of the world high! Hold the restaurant 's silver and table linens appreciated, james oviatt biography an obsession with the best... 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