Quote:
Originally Posted by HossC
Here's an undated opposite view of Hollywood Boulevard showing the building next to Henry's as Western Auto Supply.
USC Digital Library |
Hoss.....this is an ad hoc political parade for
Arthur Alber....1926 or 1927. [Note the sign on car at the far right.]
Alber was a candidate in 1926 for the 63rd Assembly District seat being vacated by Sidney T. Graves. Alber had the Times endorsement, but came in second to Clare Woolwine. The other candidates were Ernest E. Noon and Voltaire Perkins.
Alber was elected to the Los Angeles City Council District 2 in the May 1927 primary election, ousting six-year incumbent Robert M. Allan by a vote of 4,980 to 2,399. It was said that Alber's victory was partly due to the voters' making a "clean sweep at the City Hall" of the council members allied with political boss Kent Kane Parrot.
The district at that time covered Hollywood south of Franklin Avenue or Hollywood Boulevard and north of Santa Monica Boulevard, including the Los Feliz district.
In his council activity, he was known for introducing a resolution in July 1929 that would have prohibited the rolling down of the shirts of men's bathing suits to the waist line. Only he voted in favor, all the other councilmen being opposed.
[Men's bare chests were considered by some prudes as not to be seen in public.]
For the Christmas season, 1927, Alber presided over a council meeting wearing a silk hat from Paris, presented to him by Councilman Isaac F. Hughes, The Times explained:
The "high-hat" presentation was the result of the recent discussion over whether the members of the City Council should wear two-gallon hats, cutaway coats, striped trousers and spats as they take part in the Tournament of Roses parade at Pasadena on New Year's Day. During the debate Councilman Alber remarked that he did not have a tall hat, so yesterday he was presented with the silk hat by Councilman Hughes... Alber was hailed as the
Mayor of Hollywood."