WHEN WOMAN WILLS, SHE WILL
More About Woman’s Club Of Hollywood
The Woman’s Club of Hollywood is so large, its history so long and its activities so varied that Ethelyn Leslie Huston in dealing with it in her series of articles on local groups and organizations has been forced to write its story in several “chapters.” The third chapter is presented today.
By
ETHELYN LESLIE HUSTON
“And when a woman will, she will, you may depend on’t!” Which is, no doubt, why Mrs. George Melville generated the purchase of the property on Hollywood Boulevard at La Brea for the Woman’s Club, when she had made up her mind that the property was the logical site to be purchased at the psychological time, for the club aforesaid.
And when one considers that the modest little price of $15,900 secured a piece of land, 178 feet frontage, that is now valued at the not at all modest price of half a million dollars, one’s respect for the acumen of woman increases rapidly.
Wouldn’t Rock Boat
Mrs. Cassius M. Smith was president at that time, and as this was a crucial period for the affairs of the club, the members held her firmly in the chair for three terms. They did not believe in rocking the boat, and Mrs. Smith was a finely poised and coolly competent executive. And the new clubhouse became a reality.
In 1915 Mrs. Smith was succeeded by Mrs. Edward Winterer, and Mrs. Winterer shrewdly called upon Miss Jessica Lawrence, who became chairman of the standing program committee.
At the opening of the club, October 6, 1915, a massive bas-relief was purchased for the club auditorium by the members, in honor of Mrs. Cassius Smith, and placed above the wide fireplace. It is a symbolic study of woman bearing a torch to lighten the world. Mrs. Melville and Mrs. Peter Ferguson directed this important gift, which was the work of the sculptor, Miss Perry. It was installed by Mrs. Romanella.
Mrs. J. J. Carter Joins
Mrs. J. J. Carter, world noted guiding light of the Hollywood Bowl project, became a member of the club this year. Another musician, Mrs. Bessie Bartlett-Frankel, who had drifted away, was brought back to active work in the club as chairman of the drama and music committee. Mrs. Anstruther Davidson did some fine work in social science.
Mrs. Winterer gave a series of parties at her residence, at which new sections of the club were developed. A big flower show was launched with Mrs. Clyde J. Eastman as chairman, and it was “an artistic triumph.” It was later copied by Santa Barbara and much credit given Mrs. Eastman, that each member “pay for her own,” which was “carried” in a gale of enthusiasm, each paying $4 and making the club richer by 600 new chairs.
That year the club was able to pay $2000 on the debt. The History and Landmark Society of California was helped. A membership was purchased in the psychopathic hospital, Rest Haven. The club helped furnish a room in the Sister’s (Later St. Vincent’s) Hospital. Dishes and other assets were bought.
The Park That Failed
Two very important moves were made by Mrs. Winterer and her aides during the former’s administration. One was an attempt to induce Gen. Harrison Gray Otis to donate some of the Outpost property to Hollywood for a park. The other was a campaign among the owners of Hollywood Boulevard property to have them set the building line back 20 feet and have the Spanish type of architecture for all buildings.
This would have made a splendid boulevard, famed through the world for its stately beauty. J But to the great disappointment of the club-women, they were unable to make the men owning the property see the potential value, and their objection was that “their signs wouldn’t show.” So the plan failed.
Stir Up City Fathers
Mrs. Winterer went after the City Fathers and got them all stirred up, and the result was the installation of a water system whereby the triangle in front of the club bloomed into a lovely little park.
Altogether 30 programs were presented that year. The largest attendance was at a concert given on Carrie Jacobs Bond Day. A beautiful clock and burgee were the gift to the club of Mrs. Richmond Kendall, and an entertainment by Mrs. A. G. Schloesser netted $80. Letters and telegrams on legislative matters were sent.
On Honor Roll
With Mrs. Eleanor Brodie Jones as head librarian, a public library was opened in the club. A Shakespearean Tercentenary Festival was given, with the assistance of Tyrone Power, distinguished actor; Reginald Pole, Mrs. Zobelein and other actors and musicians.
And the club had the name of the president, Mrs. Winterer, placed on the General Federation Endowment Fund Honor Roll.
