Harry Culver
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| Harry Culver | |
 Culver, ca. 1913
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| Born | 22 January 1880 Milford, Nebraska |
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| Died | 17 August 1946 (aged 66) Hollywood, California |
Harry Hazel Culver (January 22, 1880 – August 17, 1946) was a real estate developer and promoter. He was born in Milford, Nebraska, the middle child of five of Jacob H. and Ada L. (Davison) Culver, who lived on a farm. At age 18, he enlisted in the Spanish-American War and served as a corporal and sergeant, respectively. After attending liberal arts college Doane College for a year, Culver studied business at the University of Nebraska for 3 years. From 1901 to about 1904, he worked in the Philippines in the mercantile business and as a reporter for the Manila Times and special customs agent. He began working in real estate in Southern California in 1910 for I.N. Van Nuys.
In 1913, in a speech at the California Club in Los Angeles Culver announced his plans for what was to become Culver City. Local voters rejected the land's annexation to LA in 1914, whereupon Culver founded the Culver Investment Company. Supported by a 59-0 vote, Culver City became incorporated on September 20, 1917 with a population of 530. Also once the president of the California Association of Realtors, Culver served as president of the National Association of Realtors in 1923. The following year, he moved his offices to the second floor of Hotel Hunt, now named the Culver Hotel, the building of which he also supported. Culver served locally in elected office and took every opportunity to promote the city, holding events like picnics, leading tours with box lunches, and advertising "All Roads Lead to Culver City". Culver served locally in elected office before his death in Hollywood, California.
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[edit] The Heart of Screenland
With Culver's encouragement, Thomas Ince moved his film operations to what is now Culver City, and the Triangle Motion Picture Company (now Sony Pictures Studios) was founded in 1915 on 10202 W. Washington Blvd. After a disagreement with partners D.W. Griffith and Mack Sennett that led to his selling out, Ince bought the property down the street on 9336 Washington Blvd. from Culver to form the Thomas H. Ince Studio (now the Culver Studios, owned by Sony) in 1918. Hal Roach, prevented from expanding his facilities by downtown Los Angeles's zoning, purchased the property on 8822 Washington Blvd. for the Hal Roach Studios (1919 - 1962) from Culver. Thus Culver played a vital role in the development of all three of "The Heart of Screenland"'s major movies studios.
[edit] Personal life
Culver enjoyed horseback riding, swimming, and playing ice hockey. In June 1916, he married actress Lillian Roberts, who died in 1999 at the age of 103. Their daughter and only child, Patricia, was born on August 11, 1917. As Harry gave about 600 speeches a year, the Culver family traveled broadly and often. In honor of his father, Culver founded the Pacific Military Academy. Patricia Culver Battle remained connected to Culver City until her death in 2001.
[edit] Dedication
On March 26, 2006, Culver City's Cultural Affairs Division with the Culver City Historical Society dedicated a sculpture of Harry Culver, commissioned to artist De L'Esprie with the National Heritage Collectors Society, founded by David L. Spellerberg. The artwork, titled "A Moment in Time," is part of the city's Art in Public Places program. Seattle resident Dr. John Battle, Culver's grandson, and his family participated in the dedication ceremony.
 Statue of Harry Culver, his wife Lillian, and their newborn daughter Patricia outside the Culver Hotel. Harry is reading the Culver City Call's September 21, 1917 issue headlining Culver City's incorporation. |
