Bumiller Building

Bumiller Building
General information
Type Mixed
Location 430 South Broadway
Los Angeles, California
Coordinates 34°02′55″N 118°15′00″W / 34.04863°N 118.24994°W / 34.04863; -118.24994Coordinates: 34°02′55″N 118°15′00″W / 34.04863°N 118.24994°W / 34.04863; -118.24994
Completed 1906
Opening June 1906
Cost $150,000
Owner 430 Broadway Lofts
Technical details
Floor count 6
Lifts/elevators two (four when it opened)
Design and construction
Architect Morgan & Walls
Developer Bumiller Estate
Main contractor Carl Leonhardt

Built in 1906, the Bumiller Building, designed by the architects Morgan & Walls,[1] was constructed of reinforced concrete in Renaissance Revival style.[2] It is today part of the Los Angeles Historic Broadway Theater District.

Opening

In 1906, the Bumiller Building was the home of a department store, Le Bon Marché, owned by the Le Sage Brothers. Le Bon Marché occupied the first three floors and basement.[3][4] Two freight elevators at the back of the building ran from the basement to the third floor for use of the store. After Le Bon Marché moved out, the freight elevators fell into disuse and were eliminated. Two Otis passenger elevators in the lobby ran from the basement to the sixth floor.

Early years

As the Broadway Theater District evolved, New York-based Eden Musée, a theater for motion pictures and vaudeville acts, moved in. With "a show on every floor," Eden Musée attracted audiences with afternoon and evening performances. After Eden Musée left, the Bumiller Building was home to the Wonderland Theater, then the Jade Theater, named for the jade hue of the building's facade. During Prohibition in 1921, firemen were called to the building to put out a blaze caused by a whiskey still, under which a gas fire had been lit. Tenants heard an explosion and when firemen arrived, one room was in flames. Firemen found sour mash and the ten gallon still blown to bits. The man who rented the room had already disappeared.[5]

Owners

The owners of the Bumiller Building reflected the changes in the district.

Bumiller Estate

Caroline Bumiller Hickey (née Gerstenberg, 1848–1932) was a wealthy German-born Los Angeles socialite, the widow of Jacob Bumiller, a Bavarian wine merchant, who had moved to Los Angeles around 1875.[6] Her house, 1049 South Elden Avenue, is now an historic-cultural monument of the Wilshire Historic District.[7] She controlled the Bumiller Estate and had a highly publicized divorce from her second husband, George C. Hickey. At trial she claimed she was deaf and appeared in court elegantly dressed with an ear trumpet. Following 18 years of marriage, George Hickey accused his wife of desertion, and the court agreed. Nevertheless, George Hickey returned the lot at 430 South Broadway, which Caroline averred he had swindled from her.[8][9] The owners of record of the Bumiller Building in 1912 were Caroline's children from her first marriage, Arthur W. Bumiller, Edna B. Sullivan, and Stella B. Burks.[10]

Carroll White Blake

Carroll White Blake (1885–1948) was a successful real estate investor and motion picture exhibitor. Born in Bowdoinham, Maine, he arrived in Los Angeles in 1909 and served in World War I. In 1942 Blake bought the palatial California Theater, 810 S. Main Street, from Jack Lankershim, son of James Boon Lankershim, who had built it during World War I.[11] After buying the Bumiller Building, Blake renamed it the Carroll W. Blake Building, and had his offices there. He lived with his mother, Frances Blake, until her death in 1942. He then became engaged to a divorcée, Lillian Schramm, but died November 28, 1948, shortly before they were scheduled to be married at Christmas.[12][13]

Lillian E. Schramm

Born in Tennessee, Lillian Evelyn Schramm (née Pugh, 1905–1952) was divorced from Dr. Alfred J. Schramm, Executive Secretary of the American College of Osteopathic Physicians, and the only College official who refused to take advantage of the 1962 California legislation allowing an osteopath to convert his degree to an MD.[14] After the death of her fiancé, Carroll W. Blake, Lillian Schramm inherited the bulk of his property, although six of Blake's cousins contested the will, claiming Schramm feigned her love for Blake.[15][16] Schramm operated a beauty salon at the time of her own death, and left most of her million dollar estate for cancer research.[17] The California State Board of Cosmetology was located on the second floor of the Bumiller Building, and gave their certifying exams there.[18]

Dr. Harry Lehrer

Dr. Harry Lehrer (1904–1972) was a 1938 graduate of the College of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons (now the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine), and received a Doctor of Medicine degree after the 1962 California legislation allowing an osteopath to convert his degree to an MD. Lehrer bought the Bumiller Building from the Schramm estate in 1956, and had his medical offices there until his death in 1972.[19] He added the ramp that converted the basement to a parking garage. He was married to fashion designer Anne T. Hill.

Present time

The Bumiller Building, after extensive renovation, is now the Broadway Lofts, a residential rental with 58 apartments.[20]

References

  1. ↑ Concrete, Volume 7. Concrete Publishing Company, 1907, p 25
  2. ↑ Concrete Engineering: For Engineers, Architects and Contractors, Volumes 1–2, Technical Publishing Company, 1907
  3. ↑ BUMILLER ESTATE BUILDS. Los Angeles Times; Jun 17, 1906 pg. VI
  4. ↑ WOMAN SUES LE SAGE BROTHERS FOR DAMAGES. Los Angeles Herald, Volume 35, Number 224, 13 May 1908
  5. ↑ Fire Protection Service, Volume 82. National Underwriter Company, 1921 p 14
  6. ↑ Social Register Locater. Social Register Association, 1919. Vol XI p 162
  7. ↑ 1049 SOUTH ELDEN AVENUE / HISTORIC-CULTURAL MONUMENT
  8. ↑ A DIVIDED HOUSEHOLD Mrs. Bumiller-Hickey Brings Suit Against Her Husband. Los Angeles Herald, Number 19, 19 October 1899
  9. ↑ DIVORCE DECREE GIVEN HUSBAND. PROMINENT COUPLE LEGALLY – SEPARATED. MARRIED EIGHTEEN YEARS. Los Angeles Herald, Volume 32, Number 269, 27 June 1905
  10. ↑ The Pacific Reporter. West Publishing Company, Volume 124 Page 230, 1912
  11. ↑ California Theater Has New Owner. Los Angeles Time; May 14, 1942; pg. A2
  12. ↑ Carroll W. Blake. Los Angeles Times; Dec 7, 1948; pg. 24
  13. ↑ Court Approves Theater Sale. Los Angeles Times; Nov 14, 1952; pg. 2
  14. ↑ The Continuing History of The American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians. The American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians. Chicago 2004
  15. ↑ Cousins contest will of theater magnate. Omaha World-Herald (Omaha, Nebraska). Friday, May 27, 1949 Page 7
  16. ↑ Cousins to fight million dollar will. San Diego Union (San Diego, California) Friday, May 27, 1949 Page 14
  17. ↑ Cancer Research to Get Bulk of Schramm Estate. Los Angeles Times; Mar 19, 1952; pg. 2
  18. ↑ California Roster. Secretary of State, 1958, California p47
  19. ↑ Directory of Members. Los Angeles County Medical Association, 1971, Physicians. pp 206, 368
  20. ↑ A Housing Twist on Broadway. DT News April 17, 2015
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