--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Howells, Adele Cannon collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 32 number: 9 published: 1929-07 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: "Adele Cannon Howells, “Forward Hollywood,” *Improvement Era* 32, no. 9 (July 1929): 751–755." source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera3209unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera3209unse start_page: 751 end_page: 755 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1929-07) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera3209unse publication_year: 1929 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1929, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Forward Hollywood Forward Hollywood By Adele Cannon Howells The Hollywood Stake Tabernacle is completed. A warm, gray tower with filigree sides mount- ed by an exquisitely molded dome rises high above the luxurious trees and shrubs of sur- rounding old aristocratic homes. Be- 1 o w the tower, enclos- ing a lovely patio, lies the Tabernacle in the shape of an "L," graceful arches form- ing spacious arcades which lead to the main en- trance of the building. The filigree of the tower is repeated in various other parts of the building and echoed in the fine oak doors set with numerous panes of cathedral glass in a similar design. These doors form the lower part of the walls of both the chapel and the recreation hall and at night when the building is lighted produce a charming effect. The interior of the building is equally beautiful. The chapel faces east. A stained glass window on this wall, representing Jesus as "The Light President Geo. W. McCune Hollywood Stake of the World," floods the room with a soft radiance and catches up the light from the twelve other symbolic art windows on the north. The ceiling decorated with colors harmonizing with those of the windows surmou n t s the delicate putty-colored walls which blend beauti- fully with the brown mah o g a n y pews and soft cerise carpets which cover the floors. Splendid chandeliers suspended from the high arches light the chapel at night and add much to its beauty. The baptistry, situated under the chapel, is pleasingly decorated with red velour draperies and red and green carpet to tone in with the green tile baptismal font. Dark green jars are filled with flowers for the baptismal services. In the hall adjoining the chapel are situated the stake office, bright and sunny, and decorated with soft blue, old rose, tan and mustard yellow; the kindergarten room in beige and green, the Gleaner's room in green July, 1 9 29 FORWARD HOLLYWOOD 75^ and contrasting Spanish colors and the Relief Society room. Upstairs are the private office of the stake president, pleasing in decorations of mulberry gold and black, several class rooms and a large reception room for use during social functions. The reception room is beautifully furnished in the Italian manner featuring a handsomely carved gilt mirror imported from France for a splendid old Los Angeles home now disorganized, an intriguing commode, large Italian wall chairs, in- viting daven- ports, con- soles with matching mirrors, fine tables and elegantly up- h o 1 s t e r ed benches. The coloring of the room is charming, a soft apple green carpet providing a lovely setting for the henna brocade dra- peries and the gold, green, amethyst and blue uphol- stered pieces. The room is lighted with crystal chandeliers, crystal giran- doles for the consoles and gold torcheres. Below the reception room, and stretching the whole length of that arm of the building, is the recreation hall, a fine room decorated with softly tinted walls and an attractive ceiling of Aztec design, whose bright tones of yellow, brown, henna, vermilion, blue and green, lend a festive air. The north end of the room is filled with a semi-circular stage appropriately cur- tained in henna velour and natural- colored monk's cloth, a special gift Dr. Geo. F, First Counselor in Preside from the Gleaner Girls of the stake. At the opposite end of the room is a well-equipped kitchen, supplied with attractive ivory and gold china and substantial silverware, a special gift from Hollywood Stake Relief Society. Under the stage is situated the com- modious Boy Scout room which has been brightly decorated by the Scouts themselves. The size of Hollywood Tabernacle is suggested by its capacity. The seat- ing capacity of the chapel is 860. which may be augmented to 1000. The baptistry can seat fifty peo- ple comfort- ably. The rcc r e a t i o n hall can seat 1.250 with case or allow 500 couples to dance at onetime. The various class rooms will seatfrom thirty-five to seventy-fi v e people. The building is Class A, built of cast con- HARDING cretc at an ncy of Hollywood Stake approxi mate cost of $200,000.00. It is to be used by Hollywood stake and Wilshire ward, which is an especially good ar- rangement since the average stake re- quires a large, commodious building but uses it so seldom that the invest- ment and up-keep are prohibitive. Un- der this plan, however, with a large ward like Wilshire to carry the burden of the expense other than is borne by the general Church' contribution, the construction of a worth-while building is made possible. Wilshire ward do- nated 52% of all the cash and labor from Hollywood stake, leaving 48 % 754 'IMPROVEMENT ERA ■lulu, 1929 to be contributed by the other thirteen wards of the stake. Wilshire ward was willing to assume the burden of donating on the average of $85.00 per person or $460.00 per family, so that the other wards had only to contribute on the average of $ 1 3.00 per person or $108.00 per family. The Hollywood stake tabernacle was dedicated April 28, 1929, at the close of a three-day celebration, com- prising a concert, reception and ball, a children's party, Priesthood meeting and religious service. An impres s i ve dedica t or y prayer was o ff e r e d by President He- ber J. Grant. Other num- bers of the program were addresses by President Grant, Pres- ident Charles W. Nibley, the H o 1 1 y- wood stake presidency, L. K. Sims, Katherine R. Stewart, Alex N i b 1 e y, E'. W. F a r n s- worth, Cora Leaver, Winifred Woodmansee Poul- ton, Charles N. Norberg, and report by Bishop David P. Howells, chair- man of the building committee. Splen- did musical numbers were also ren- dered including several by the Holly- wood stake chorus which made its official appearance directed by Benja- min J. Summerhays and accompanied by Emil Grob. A dedicatory issue of the Hollywood Stake Herald was pub- lished for the occasion, consisting, among other things, of important ar- ticles by Presidents Heber J. Grant, Anthony W. Ivins, Charles W. Nib- Arthur H. Sconberg Second Counselor in Presidency of Hollywood Stake ley, Bishop Sylvester Q. Cannon, the Hollywood stake presidency, John Steven McGroarty. Orra Eugene Mon- nette, David P. Howells, Levi Edgar Young; letters of congratulation from Governor George H. Dern of Utah. Governor C. C. Young of California, Mayor George E. Cryer of Los An- geles, President George L. Eastman, of the Los Angeles Chamber of Com- merce, and the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce. The Hollywood stake tabernacle is completed — thanks to the generos- ity of the Church, the leadership of the H o 1 1 y- wood stake presidency, high council. Priesthood quorums, a u x i 1 i ary heads, bish- ops and the magnificent co-operation of the people who entered into the en- terprisc whole-heart- edly and com- pleted their tabern acle just two years after the organization of their stake and one year and thirteen days after the laying of the corner stone of the building. Stake mem- bers are happy in their achievement because they have actually labored on the building with their hands as well as donated money. Owing to the lack of space, only organization heads can be given here and are as follows: Stake presidency, George W. McCune, George F. Hard- ing, Arthur F. Sconberg; high coun- cil, Vern O. Knudsen, Louis K. Sims. Espey T. Cannon, C. Fred Schade, July. 19 29 FORWARD HOLLYWOOD 755 Claude Richards, E. Fayette Marshall, John Russon, Jos. H. Manwaring, Preston Richards, Charles H. Norberg. Frank Iverson, David H. Stohl, Alex Nibley, Wm. E. Gough, E. M. Hall; high priests, Wm. J. Reeve; patriarch, James Thomas; 223rd quorum of seventy, Wm. G. Grace; elders quo- rums, H. Don Preece, E. Garrett Bar- low, Leonard Allen, Louis T. Ren- shaw, Henry Olsen, E. M. Pinkston, H. W. Loutensock; Genealogical So- ciety, E. W. Farnsworth; Relief Society, Katherine R. Stewart; Sunday School, Alex Nibley; Y. M. M. I. A., Charles H. Norberg; Y. L. M. I. A., Winifred W. Poulton; Primary, Cora W. Leaver; bishops, W. M, Roskelly, Leo Beck, Harry Randall, Jr., W. J. Jack- man, Albin Hoglund, Wm. Vorkink, Angus E. Peterson, Lorenzo Myler, Mathoni M. Pratt, E. J. Sorenson, Rulon S. Scott, Solomon L. Cox, J. T. Corbridge and David P. Howells. To this list should be added the names of Katherine L. Higginbotham, who has given indefatigable service in keep- ing the accounts; Emily Brinton Sims, who sponsored the art windows and Gleaner Girls' room, and Belva Wood- mansee Nibley, who acted as chairman of the decoration committee. Much praise is due the architects, Messrs. Pope and Burton, and the contractors, Lynch and Cannon, who rendered valuable services. The Hollywood stake tabernacle is completed — but the people of the stake realize that their work has just begun. They have merely acquired part of the tools necessary to carry on. They hope to live the Gospel and show by their lives its benefits and joys. They are eagerly accepting the responsibility of every Latter-day Saint to make a worthy contribution to the commonwealth of which he is a part. This contribution is explained in detail in the significant article writ- ten by President Anthony W. Ivins for the dedicatory number of the Hollywood Stake Herald from which we quote: "From the general gathering place of the Church in Utah, thousands of its members have been sent out to other states, many of them to California. They have not gone with great wealth, but with the ideals of citizenship which the Church instills into the hearts of its members. They have taken with them industry, economy, faith in God, and trust in their fellow- men. They have taken with them devotion to the government of which they form a part, a government which they believe was established by the direct interposition of God our Father, who acted through patriotic men whom he raised up for that pur- pose. These members are pledged to support and uphold the constitutional law of the country, and to defend it with their lives if necessary, and they will keep the pledge to the last man." Our opportunity lies before us. Forward Hollywood! A Thought The keys of mirth may become less musical as they grow older, but they are returned, and their former strains reproduced by the merry laugh of a little child. Just so do the keys of conscience become flat through lack of use, but if played upon in the spirit of a child, their tone is very clear, and may later be heard in notes of heavenly music. — A. Henderson.