By Krissy Chavarin - 2013 Getty Intern
Dorothy Chandler, Order #00081875
Born as Dorothy Mae Buffum,
Dorothy Buffum Chandler was born in Lafayette, Illinois in 1901. A year later
she and her family moved to Long Beach, California, where her father opened the
Buffum Department Stores. She attended Stanford University where she met her
peer Norman Chandler, son of Los Angeles Times publisher Harry Chandler. They
married in 1922, had two children, Otis and Camilla, and became one of the wealthiest
families in Los Angeles. After his father’s death in 1944, Norman Chandler
became publisher of the Times and took over his father’s legacy.
Dorothy Chandler’s participation in
the community began at the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles; she volunteered
and fundraised for the benefit of the patients and staff. She was offered the
hospital presidency in 1944, but instead decided to work with her husband in
the Los Angeles Times, a major political influence and future cultural
influence thanks to Mrs. Chandler.
Norman Chandler, Order #00044394
During the
late 1940s, Chandler worked as an administrative assistant and continued as
Vice President and Director for the Los Angeles Times; she was responsible for
keeping the women’s section of the paper updated. Because of the lack of
recognition of women’s creative leadership, in 1950 she established the annual
awards ceremony known as the Times Woman of the Year Awards.
Chandler was
chosen as Regent of the University of California in 1954. She served a
sixteen-year term, as Chairman of the very important Buildings and Grounds
Committee that supervised the addition of seven campuses and the growth of
others. Her importance in education caused her to participate in an educational
presidential committee under Eisenhower, and later was appointed to a Senate
Advisory Committee by President Johnson.
Chandler was also a part of the board of
the Southern California Symphony Association for many years. She was chosen by
the board to raise funds for the Hollywood Bowl’s financial crisis that was
causing it to close down in 1951. This began the “Save the Bowl” concerts where
well-known and talented conductors performed for free. Because of these
efforts, the Bowl reopened and the public’s support grew for the Bowl and the arts.
Chandler was then named Symphony Association President in 1958.
Hollywood Bowl, 1963 Order #00083847
Chandler
believed that the lack of cultural facilities held back Los Angeles from being perceived as a major world city. In the mid 1950s, she focused her efforts to
find a permanent home for the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, so she began
a fundraiser with several members of the Symphony Association in 1955. The
fundraising event was called the “El Dorado Party,” named after the Cadillac
that was auctioned, which raised a total of $400,000 in a matter of hours.
Later that year, she was selected by County Supervisors to lead an advisory
committee of thirty-six members, which later grew to become the Civic
Auditorium and Music Center Association of Los Angeles County (CAMCA). These
members included business, film, publishing and education leaders of Los
Angeles.
In the late
1950s and early 1960s, Chandler convinced political and business leaders that
Los Angeles needed a performing arts facility, distinguishing herself as the
head of the Los Angeles arts scene. Her efforts and leadership helped build the
Los Angeles Music Center project. The efforts to build this Music Center were
highly publicized through the Times, television and radio. This media influence
attracted community interest, support and participation in this project.
Dorothy Chandler Pavilion Model, 1961 Order #00043021
Fundraising for this performing
arts facility, volunteers used “Buck Bags” which were commonly seen at local
events. These buck bags helped raise enough money to build the $33.5 million,
three-Theatre complex, which was dedicated as “A Living Memorial to Peace” on
December 6, 1964. The main building, which is the home of the Los Angeles
Philharmonic, was named the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. Soon after, Time
magazine featured Dorothy Chandler on its cover. The article reported, "Buff Chandler...almost single-handed raised a
staggering $18.5 million to build [The Music Center], and organized a company
to float another $13.7 million in bonds to finish the job. It was perhaps the
most impressive display of virtuoso money-raising and civic citizenship in the
history of U.S. womanhood" (Time 1964).
Music Center Model, Order #
"Peace on Earth" fountain at the Music Center, Order #00015170
Chandler
was praised for her achievement of the Music Center. In 1968, she began the
Amazing Blue Ribbon 400, a fundraising organization with the main goal to raise
money for the process of the Music Center.
The 59th Academy Awards, 1987 Order #00082572
The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
hosted many events, like the Olympic Arts Festival in 1984, the 59th
Academy Awards in 1987, and the Oscars in 1996. It continues to host
performances like ballet, opera, dance, and theatre.
The Joffrey Ballet performs "The Dream" at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. Order #00087084
Chandler
died in 1997 at the age of ninety-six. She dedicated her life to improve and
establish culture and performing arts in Los Angeles.
Aerial of the Music Center in 1970, Order #00018555
Sources:
Inventing
L.A: Dorothy Chandler. (n.d.)
Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/kcet/inventing-la/characters/dorothy-chandler.html
Dorothy
Buffum Chandler. (n.d.) Retrieved from
http://socalhistory.org/biographies/dorothy-buffum-chandler.html
Grimes,
Teresa. Dorothy Buffum Chandler. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.musiccenter.org/about/about-the-music-center/history--archives/dorothy-buffum-chandler/
Peace On Earth. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.publicartinla.com/CivicCenter/peace.html
All photos are from the Los Angeles Public Library Photo
Collection: http://photos.lapl.org
