Material Dreams: Southern California Through the 1920s (Americans and the California Dream #3)

Kevin Starr is the foremost chronicler of the California dream and indeed one of the finest narrative historians writing today on any subject. The first two installments of his monumental cultural history, "Americans and the California Dream," have been hailed as "mature, well-proportioned and marvelously diverse (and diverting)" (The New York Times Book Review) and "rich in details and alive with interesting, and sometimes incredible people" (Los Angeles Times). Now, in Material Dreams, Starr turns to one of the most vibrant decades in the Golden State's history, the 1920s, when some two million Americans migrated to California, the vast majority settling in or around Los Angeles. In a lively and eminently readable narrative, Starr reveals how Los Angeles arose almost defiantly on a site lacking many of the advantages required for urban development, creating itself out of sheer will, the Great Gatsby of American cities. He describes how William Ellsworth Smyth, the Peter the Hermit of the Irrigation Crusade, the self-educated, Irish engineer William Mulholland (who built the main aquaducts to Los Angeles), and George Chaffey (who diverted the Colorado River, transforming desert into the lush Imperial Valley) brought life-supporting water to the arid South. He examines the discovery of oil, the boosters and land developers, the evangelists (such as Bob Shuler, the Methodist Savanarola of Los Angeles, and Aimee Semple McPherson), and countless other colorful figures of the period. There are also fascinating sections on the city's architecture the impact of the automobile on city planning, the Hollywood film community, the L.A. literati, and much more.By the end of the decade, Los Angeles had tripled in population and become the fifth largest city in the nation. In Material Dreams, Starr captures this explosive growth in a narrative tour de force that combines wide-ranging scholarship with captivating prose. In Material Dreams, Starr Turns To One Of The Most Vibrant Decades In The Golden State's History, The 1920s, When Some Two Million Americans Migrated To California, The Vast Majority Settling In Or Around Los Angeles. Although He Treats Readers To Intriguing Side Trips To Santa Barbara And Pasadena, Starr Focuses Here Mainly On Los Angeles, Revealing How This Major City Arose Almost Defiantly On A Site Lacking Many Of The Advantages Required For Urban Development, Creating Itself Out Of Sheer Will, The Great Gatsby Of American Cities. He Describes How William Ellsworth Smyth, The Peter The Hermit Of The Irrigation Crusade, Propounded The Importance Of Water In Southern California's Future, And How Such Figures As The Self-educated, Irish Engineer William Mulholland (who Built The Main Aquaducts To Los Angeles) And George Chaffey (who Diverted The Colorado River, Transforming Desert Into The Lush Imperial Valley) Brought Life-supporting Water To The Arid South. He Examines The Discovery Of Oil (yes It's Oil, Oil, Oil / That Makes La Boil, Went The Official Drinking Song Of The Uplifters Club), The Boosters And Land Developers, The Evangelists (such As Bob Shuler, The Methodist Savanarola Of Los Angeles, And Aimee Semple Mcpherson), And Countless Other Colorful Figures Of The Period. There Are Also Fascinating Sections On The City's Architecture (such As The Remarkably Innovative Bradbury Building And Its Eccentric, Neophyte Designer, George Wyman), The Impact Of The Automobile On City Planning, The Great Antiquarian Book Collections, The Hollywood Film Community, And Much More. By The End Of The Decade, Los Angeles Had Tripled In Population And Become The Fifth Largest City In The Nation. In Material Dreams, Kevin Starr Captures This Explosive Growth In A Narrative Tour De Force That Combines Wide-ranging Scholarship With Captivating Prose. Prophesying Through Water : Hydraulic Visions And Historical Metaphors -- Imperial Ironies : The Dreams And Realities Of Social Irrigation -- Aqueduct Cities : Foundations Of Urban Empire -- From Oz To Oildorado : The Rise Of Los Angeles In The 1920s -- Boosting Babylon : Planning, Development, And Ballyhoo In Jazz-age Los Angeles -- The People Of The City : Oligarchs, Babbitts, And Folks -- Usc, Electricity, Music, And Cops : The Emergence Of Institutional Los Angeles -- Designs For Living : Architecture In Southern California, From The Bradbury Building To The Watts Towers -- Anacapa And Arcadia : The Santa Barbara Heritage -- Castles In Spain : The Santa Barbara Alternative -- Opinion And The Aristocracy Of Art : The Search For Common Ground In Emergent Los Angeles -- The Book Triumphant : Bibliophilia And Bohemia In Greater Los Angeles -- On The Blue Train Through Dijon : Pasadena Begins Its Literary Career -- Material Dreams. Kevin Starr. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [401]-425) And Index. Kevin Starr is the foremost chronicler of the California dream and indeed one of the finest narrative historians writing today on any subject. The first two installments of his monumental cultural history, "Americans and the California Dream," have been hailed as "mature, well-proportioned and marvelously diverse (and diverting)" ( The New York Times Book Review ) and "rich in details and alive with interesting, and sometimes incredible people" ( Los Angeles Times ). Now, in Material Dreams , Starr turns to one of the most vibrant decades in the Golden State's history, the 1920s, when some two million Americans migrated to California, the vast majority settling in or around Los Angeles. In a lively and eminently readable narrative, Starr reveals how Los Angeles arose almost defiantly on a site lacking many of the advantages required for urban development, creating itself out of sheer will, the Great Gatsby of American cities. He describes how William Ellsworth Smyth, the Peter the Hermit of the Irrigation Crusade, the self-educated, Irish engineer William Mulholland (who built the main aquaducts to Los Angeles), and George Chaffey (who diverted the Colorado River, transforming desert into the lush Imperial Valley) brought life-supporting water to the arid South. He examines the discovery of oil, the boosters and land developers, the evangelists (such as Bob Shuler, the Methodist Savanarola of Los Angeles, and Aimee Semple McPherson), and countless other colorful figures of the period. There are also fascinating sections on the city's architecture the impact of the automobile on city planning, the Hollywood film community, the L.A. literati, and much more. By the end of the decade, Los Angeles had tripled in population and become the fifth largest city in the nation. In Material Dreams , Starr captures this explosive growth in a narrative tour de force that combines wide-ranging scholarship with captivating prose. Contents......Page 12 I: FOUNDATIONS IN WATER......Page 16 1 Prophesying Through Water: Hydraulic Visions and Historical Metaphors......Page 18 2 Imperial Ironies: The Dreams and Realities of Social Irrigation......Page 35 3 Aqueduct Cities: Foundations of Urban Empire......Page 60 II: THE CITY ON THE PLAIN......Page 78 4 From Oz to Oildorado: The Rise of Los Angeles in the 1920s......Page 80 5 Boosting Babylon: Planning, Development, and Ballyhoo in Jazz-Age Los Angeles......Page 105 6 The People of the City: Oligarchs, Babbitts, and Folks......Page 135 7 USC, Electricity, Music, and Cops: The Emergence of Institutional Los Angeles......Page 166 III: MATERIALIZING HISTORY......Page 194 8 Designs for Living: Architecture in Southern California, from the Bradbury Building to the Watts Towers......Page 196 9 Anacapa and Arcadia: The Santa Barbara Heritage......Page 246 10 Castles in Spain: The Santa Barbara Alternative......Page 302 IV: LIFE AND LETTERS IN THE SOUTHLAND......Page 342 11 Opinion and the Aristocracy of Art: The Search for Common Ground in Emergent Los Angeles......Page 344 12 The Book Triumphant: Bibliophilia and Bohemia in Greater Los Angeles......Page 373 13 On the Blue Train Through Dijon: Pasadena Begins Its Literary Career......Page 401 Material Dreams......Page 429 Notes......Page 434 Bibliographical Essay......Page 440 Acknowledgments......Page 466 A......Page 468 B......Page 469 C......Page 471 D......Page 473 F......Page 474 G......Page 475 H......Page 476 J......Page 478 L......Page 479 M......Page 481 O......Page 483 P......Page 484 R......Page 485 S......Page 486 U......Page 490 W......Page 491 Z......Page 492 Illustrations......Page 264 Prophesying through water : hydraulic visions and historical metaphors -- Imperial ironies : the dreams and realities of social irrigation -- Aqueduct cities : foundations of urban empire -- From Oz to Oildorado : the rise of Los Angeles in the 1920s -- Boosting Babylon : planning, development, and ballyhoo in jazz-age Los Angeles -- The people of the city : oligarchs, babbitts, and folks -- USC, electricity, music, and cops : the emergence of institutional Los Angeles -- Designs for living : architecture in southern California, from the Bradbury Building to the Watts Towers -- Anacapa and Arcadia : the Santa Barbara heritage -- Castles in Spain : the Santa Barbara alternative -- Opinion and the aristocracy of art : the search for common ground in emergent Los Angeles -- The book triumphant : bibliophilia and Bohemia in greater Los Angeles -- On the blue train through Dijon : Pasadena begins its literary career -- Material dreams (from contents) A study of the origins and development of the California dream, which covers an era of larger-than-life individuals, from movie stars to grandiose town planners and business tycoons. The author explores how the 1920s established Los Angeles at the heart of the American myth.