Arthur Alber: Difference between revisions

Arthur Alber
Arthur Alber
	Alber in 1929
Member of the Los Angeles City Council from the 2nd District
	In office; July 1, 1927 – June 30, 1929
Preceded by	Robert M. Allan
Succeeded by	Thomas F. Cooke
Personal details
Born	September 16, 1892; Birmingham, Alabama
Died	December 13, 1964 (aged 72); Los Angeles, California
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Elise Alber
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Army
Battles/wars	World War I

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Arthur Alber (September 16, 1892 – December 13, 1964) was an attorney and a member of the Los Angeles, California, City Council from 1927 to 1929.

Elected to the Los Angeles City Council District 2 in the May 1927 primary election,^[1] Alber is known for introducing a resolution to prohibit the rolling down of men's bathing suit shirts,^[2] and opposing a resolution permitting the city of Hawthorne to petition for consolidation with the city of Los Angeles.^[3]

Biography

Alber was born September 16, 1892, in Birmingham, Alabama. His parents were Hermann Alber, a native of Germany, and Mary Wing of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. He attended the local public schools until he was fifteen when he moved with his family to Los Angeles, where he enrolled in Hollywood High School. In 1910, he took the role of Shady in a student production of the operetta Pauline,^[4] and during his high school years he played football, tennis, and baseball; he was baseball team captain. He graduated in June 1912 and returned for Alumni Visitors Day in January 1913, when he gave a talk on Civil War Confederate General Robert E. Lee. Between 1914 and 1918 he attended the University of Southern California, where he earned letters in baseball and tennis.^[5]^[6]^[7]^[8]

Sources differ as to his World War I service. A report from a telephone interview with a Works Progress Administration writer in 1937 noted that he "served in the Army at Vancouver, Washington, where he attended officers training school,"^[5] but a 1926 article in the Los Angeles Times said: "Due to injuries resulting from an accident, Mr. Alber was unable to see active service with the army or navy during the World War, but served as a sergeant in the spruce woods."^[9] Another 1926 story said he was discharged from the Army in March 1919 and that he was on the stadium committee of the Hollywood American Legion post.^[10]

Alber earned a law degree from the University of Southern California and was admitted to the California State Bar on March 1, 1919. He was unmarried as of 1937. Alber was a Presbyterian, a Republican and a member of the Hollywood Athletic, Los Angeles Athletic, Lakeside Golf and Westport Beach clubs, as well as being a Kiwanian.^[5]^[11]^[12] He died in December 13, 1964.

Political life

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.^[13]^[14]

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 the political boss Kent Kane Parrot.^[1] 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 waistline. Only he voted in favor, all the other councilmen being opposed.^[2] He was also the lone holdout against a resolution that gave the city of Hawthorne permission to circulate a petition asking for consolidation with the city of Los Angeles, stating that L.A. "should not adopt children until it knows that it can provide for them."^[3] 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.^[15] Alber did not run for reelection in 1929 but returned to private law practice.

References

External links

Arthur Alber at Find a Grave

Political offices
Preceded by Robert M. Allan	Los Angeles City Council 2nd District 1927–29	Succeeded by Thomas F. Cooke

[:0-1] "The Watchman," Los Angeles Times, May 8, 1927, page B-5

[:1-2] "Male Bathers Gain Victory," Los Angeles Times, July 12, 1929, page 5

[:2-3] "Hawthorne Annexation Supported," Los Angeles Times, May 9, 1928, page A-1

[4] "Will Sing Operetta," Los Angeles Times, April 28, 1910, page II-12

[LibraryFile-5] Los Angeles Public Library reference file

[6] "Fine Settings at Hollywood," Los Angeles Times, June 20, 1912, page B-11

[proquest-7] "In the Public Schools," Los Angeles Times, January 5, 1913, page II-16

[8] "Former Sport Star to Enter Politics," Los Angeles Times, July 11, 1926, page A-4

[9] "Many Would Go to Legislature," Los Angeles Times, August 29, 1926, page 2

[10] "Arthur Alber in Race for State Assembly Seat," Los Angeles Times, July 8, 1926, page A-3

[proquest2-11] "They Got Members," Los Angeles Times, October 25, 1924, page 8

[KiwanisBaseball-12] "Kiwanis Nine and Lions Mix on Diamond," Los Angeles Times, June 17, 1923, page I-9

[13] "How to Mark Your Ballot Next Tuesday," Los Angeles Times, August 29, 1926, page B-1

[14] "Election Returns," Los Angeles Times, September 3, 1926, page 1

[15] "Council 'High-Hats' Alber," Los Angeles Times,December 24, 1927, page A-11

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Short description|American politician (1892–1964)}}
-[[File:Arthur Alber Los Angeles Councilman.tiff|thumbnail|150px|<center>Alber</center>]]
+{{Short lead|date=March 2023}}
+{{Infobox officeholder
+| name                = Arthur Alber
+| image               = Arthur Alber, 1929.jpg
+| caption = Alber in 1929
+| birth_date          = {{Birth date|1892|09|16}}
+| birth_place         = [[Birmingham, Alabama]]
+| death_date          = {{Death date and age|1964|12|13|1892|09|16}}
+| death_place         = [[Los Angeles]], California
+| office              = Member of the [[Los Angeles City Council]] from the [[Los Angeles City Council District 2|2nd District]]
+| term_start          = July 1, 1927
+| term_end            = June 30, 1929
+| predecessor         = [[Robert M. Allan]]
+| successor           = [[Thomas F. Cooke]]
+| religion            =
+| relations           =
+| spouse              = Elise Alber
+| children            =
+| party               = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
+| residence           =
+| alma_mater          =
+| battles             = [[World War I]]
+| branch              = {{flag|United States Army}}
+| allegiance          = {{flagu|United States}}
+}}
+'''Arthur Alber''' (September 16, 1892 – December 13, 1964) was an attorney and a member of the [[Los Angeles City Council|Los Angeles, California, City Council]] from 1927 to 1929.
+Elected to the [[Los Angeles City Council District 2]] in the May 1927 primary election,<ref name=":0" /> Alber is known for introducing a resolution to prohibit the rolling down of men's bathing suit shirts,<ref name=":1" /> and opposing a resolution permitting the city of [[Hawthorne, California|Hawthorne]] to petition for consolidation with the city of [[Los Angeles]].<ref name=":2" />
-'''Arhur Alber''' (born 1892-1964) was an attorney and a member of the [[Los Angeles City Council|Los Angeles, California, City Council]] from 1927 to 1929.
 ==Biography==
-Alber was born September 16, 1892, in [[Birmingham, Alabama]]. His parents were Hermann Alber, a native of Germany, and Mary Wing of [[Cape Cod, Massachusetts]]. He attended the local public schools until he was fifteen, when he moved with his family to Los Angeles, where he enrolled in [[Hollywood High School]]. In 1910 he took the role of Shady in a student production of the operetta ''[[Pauline (opera)|Pauline]],''<ref>[http://proquest.umi.com.ezproxy.lapl.org/pqdweb?did=350526502&sid=3&Fmt=10&clientId=13322&RQT=309&VName=HNP "Will Sing Operetta," ''Los Angeles Times,'' April 28, 1910, page II-12]</ref> and during his high school years he played football, tennis and baseball; he was baseball [[team captain]]. He graduated in June 1912 and returned  for Alumni Visitors Day in January 1913, when he gave a talk on Civil War Confederate General [[Robert E. Lee]]. Between 1914 and 1918 he attended the [[University of Southern California]], where he [[Varsity letter|earned letters]] in baseball and  tennis.<ref name=LibraryFile/><ref>[http://proquest.umi.com.ezproxy.lapl.org/pqdweb?did=351412962&sid=2&Fmt=10&clientId=13322&RQT=309&VName=HNP "Fine Settings at Hollywood," ''Los Angeles Times,'' June 20, 1912, page B-11]</ref><ref name>[http://proquest.umi.com.ezproxy.lapl.org/pqdweb?did=338699282&sid=4&Fmt=10&clientId=13322&RQT=309&VName=HNP "In the Public Schools," ''Los Angeles Times,'' January 5, 1913, page II-16]</ref><ref>[http://proquest.umi.com.ezproxy.lapl.org/pqdweb?did=358841162&sid=4&Fmt=10&clientId=13322&RQT=309&VName=HNP "Former Sport Star to Enter Politics," ''Los Angeles Times,'' July 11, 1926, page A-4]</ref>
+Alber was born September 16, 1892, in [[Birmingham, Alabama]]. His parents were Hermann Alber, a native of Germany, and Mary Wing of [[Cape Cod, Massachusetts]]. He attended the local public schools until he was fifteen when he moved with his family to Los Angeles, where he enrolled in [[Hollywood High School]]. In 1910, he took the role of Shady in a student production of the operetta ''[[Pauline (opera)|Pauline]],''<ref>[https://search.proquest.com/docview/159509136 "Will Sing Operetta," ''Los Angeles Times,'' April 28, 1910, page II-12]</ref> and during his high school years he played football, tennis, and baseball; he was baseball [[team captain]]. He graduated in June 1912 and returned for Alumni Visitors Day in January 1913, when he gave a talk on Civil War Confederate General [[Robert E. Lee]]. Between 1914 and 1918 he attended the [[University of Southern California]], where he [[Varsity letter|earned letters]] in baseball and tennis.<ref name=LibraryFile/><ref>[https://search.proquest.com/docview/159748968 "Fine Settings at Hollywood," ''Los Angeles Times,'' June 20, 1912, page B-11]</ref><ref name=proquest>[https://search.proquest.com/docview/159851287 "In the Public Schools," ''Los Angeles Times,'' January 5, 1913, page II-16]</ref><ref>[https://search.proquest.com/docview/161903156 "Former Sport Star to Enter Politics," ''Los Angeles Times,'' July 11, 1926, page A-4]</ref>
-Sources differ as to his World War I service. A report from a telephone interview with a [[Works Progress Administration]] writer in 1937 noted that he "served in the Army at [[Vancouver, Washington]], where he attended  [[Officer training|officers training school]],"<ref name=LibraryFile/> but a 1926 article in the ''Los Angeles Times'' said: "Due to injuries resulting from an accident, Mr. Alber was unable to see active service with the army or navy during the World War, but served as a sergeant in the [[Spruce Production Division|spruce woods]]."<ref>[http://proquest.umi.com.ezproxy.lapl.org/pqdweb?did=358988482&sid=5&Fmt=10&clientId=13322&RQT=309&VName=HNP "Many Would Go to Legislature," ''Los Angeles Times,'' August 29, 1926, page 2]</ref> Another 1926 story said he was discharged from  the Army in March 1919 and that he was on the stadium committee of the Hollywood [[American Legion]] post.<ref>[http://proquest.umi.com.ezproxy.lapl.org/pqdweb?did=358834502&sid=4&Fmt=10&clientId=13322&RQT=309&VName=HNP "Arthur Alber in Race for State Assembly Seat," ''Los Angeles Times,'' July 8, 1926, page A-3]</ref>
+Sources differ as to his World War I service. A report from a telephone interview with a [[Works Progress Administration]] writer in 1937 noted that he "served in the Army at [[Vancouver, Washington]], where he attended [[Officer training|officers training school]],"<ref name=LibraryFile/> but a 1926 article in the ''Los Angeles Times'' said: "Due to injuries resulting from an accident, Mr. Alber was unable to see active service with the army or navy during the World War, but served as a sergeant in the [[Spruce Production Division|spruce woods]]."<ref>[https://search.proquest.com/docview/161826595 "Many Would Go to Legislature," ''Los Angeles Times,'' August 29, 1926, page 2]</ref> Another 1926 story said he was discharged from the Army in March 1919 and that he was on the stadium committee of the Hollywood [[American Legion]] post.<ref>[https://search.proquest.com/docview/161863647 "Arthur Alber in Race for State Assembly Seat," ''Los Angeles Times,'' July 8, 1926, page A-3]</ref>
-Alber earned a [[University of Southern California Law School#History|law degree from the University of Southern California]] and was admitted to the [[California State Bar]] on March 1, 1919. He was unmarried as of 1937. Alber was a Presbyterian, a Republican and a member of the [[Hollywood Athletic Club|Hollywood Athletic]], [[Los Angeles Athletic Club|Los Angeles Athletic]], Lakeside Golf  and Westport Beach clubs, as well as being a [[Kiwanis Club|Kiwanian]].<ref name=LibraryFile>[http://dbase1.lapl.org/webpics/calindex/documents/03/190160.pdf Los Angeles Public Library reference file]</ref><ref name>[http://proquest.umi.com.ezproxy.lapl.org/pqdweb?did=357868652&sid=4&Fmt=10&clientId=13322&RQT=309&VName=HNP "They Got Members," ''Los Angeles Times,'' October 25, 1924, page 8]</ref><ref name=KiwanisBaseball>[http://proquest.umi.com.ezproxy.lapl.org/pqdweb?did=329997832&sid=4&Fmt=10&clientId=13322&RQT=309&VName=HNP "Kiwanis Nine and Lions Mix on Diamond," ''Los Angeles Times,'' June 17, 1923, page I-9]</ref> He died in December 1964.<ref>Social Security Death Index</ref>
+Alber earned a [[University of Southern California Law School#History|law degree from the University of Southern California]] and was admitted to the [[California State Bar]] on March 1, 1919. He was unmarried as of 1937. Alber was a Presbyterian, a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] and a member of the [[Hollywood Athletic Club|Hollywood Athletic]], [[Los Angeles Athletic Club|Los Angeles Athletic]], Lakeside Golf and Westport Beach clubs, as well as being a [[Kiwanis Club|Kiwanian]].<ref name=LibraryFile>[http://dbase1.lapl.org/webpics/calindex/documents/03/190160.pdf Los Angeles Public Library reference file]</ref><ref name = proquest2>[https://search.proquest.com/docview/161761151 "They Got Members," ''Los Angeles Times,'' October 25, 1924, page 8]</ref><ref name=KiwanisBaseball>[https://search.proquest.com/docview/161454513 "Kiwanis Nine and Lions Mix on Diamond," ''Los Angeles Times,'' June 17, 1923, page I-9]</ref> He died in December 13, 1964.
 ==Political life==
+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.<ref>[https://search.proquest.com/docview/161858734 "How to Mark Your Ballot Next Tuesday," ''Los Angeles Times,'' August 29, 1926, page B-1]</ref><ref>[https://search.proquest.com/docview/161963571 "Election Returns," ''Los Angeles Times,'' September 3, 1926, page 1]</ref>
-{{See also|List_of_Los_Angeles_municipal_election_returns#1927|l1=List of Los Angeles municipal election returns, 1927}}
+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 the political boss [[Kent Kane Parrot]].<ref name=":0">[https://search.proquest.com/docview/161983468 "The Watchman," ''Los Angeles Times,'' May 8, 1927, page B-5]</ref> 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 waistline. Only he voted in favor, all the other councilmen being opposed.<ref name=":1">[https://search.proquest.com/docview/162269453 "Male Bathers Gain Victory," ''Los Angeles Times,'' July 12, 1929, page 5]</ref> He was also the lone holdout against a resolution that gave the city of [[Hawthorne, California|Hawthorne]] permission to circulate a petition asking for consolidation with the city of Los Angeles, stating that L.A. "should not adopt children until it knows that it can provide for them."<ref name=":2">[https://search.proquest.com/docview/162149101 "Hawthorne Annexation Supported," ''Los  Angeles Times,'' May 9, 1928, page A-1]</ref> 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]].<ref>[https://search.proquest.com/docview/162055756 "Council 'High-Hats' Alber," ''Los Angeles Times,''December 24, 1927, page A-11]</ref> Alber did not run for reelection in 1929 but returned to private law practice.
-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.<ref>[http://proquest.umi.com.ezproxy.lapl.org/pqdweb?did=358988492&sid=17&Fmt=10&clientId=13322&RQT=309&VName=HNP "How to Mark Your Ballot Next Tuesday," ''Los Angeles Times,'' August 29, 1926, page B-1]</ref><ref>[http://proquest.umi.com.ezproxy.lapl.org/pqdweb?did=359003552&sid=20&Fmt=10&clientId=13322&RQT=309&VName=HNP "Election Returns," ''Los Angeles Times,'' September 3, 1926, page 1]</ref>
-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]].<ref>[http://proquest.umi.com.ezproxy.lapl.org/pqdweb?did=367690042&sid=5&Fmt=10&clientId=13322&RQT=309&VName=HNP "The Watchman," ''Los Angeles Times,'' May 8, 1927, page B-5]</ref> The district at that time covered  [[Hollywood]] south of [[Franklin Avenue (Los Angeles)|Franklin Avenue]] or [[Hollywood Boulevard]] and north of [[Santa Monica Boulevard]], including the [[Los Feliz, Los Angeles|Los Feliz district]].<ref>[http://proquest.umi.com.ezproxy.lapl.org/pqdweb?did=394260481&sid=17&Fmt=10&clientId=13322&RQT=309&VName=HNP "First Map Showing City Council's Districts," ''Los Angeles Times,'' January 16, 1925, page 1] Includes a map.</ref><ref>[http://proquest.umi.com.ezproxy.lapl.org/pqdweb?did=362905532&sid=22&Fmt=10&clientId=13322&RQT=309&VName=HNP "Here Are the Hundred and Twelve Aspirants for the City's Fifteen Councilmanic Seats," ''Los Angeles Times,'' May 3, 1925, page 7] Includes a map.</ref>
-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.<ref>[http://proquest.umi.com.ezproxy.lapl.org/pqdweb?did=370716802&sid=13&Fmt=10&clientId=13322&RQT=309&VName=HNP "Male Bathers Gain Victory," ''Los Angeles Times,'' July 12, 1929, page 5]</ref> He was also the lone holdout against a resolution that gave the city of [[Hawthorne, California|Hawthorne]] permission to circulate a petition asking for consolidation with the city of Los Angeles, stating that L.A. "should not adopt children until it knows that it can provide for them."<ref>[http://proquest.umi.com.ezproxy.lapl.org/pqdweb?did=465447282&sid=9&Fmt=10&clientId=13322&RQT=309&VName=HNP "Hawthorne Annexation Supported," ''Los  Angeles Times,'' May 9, 1928, page A-1]</ref>
-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:
-<blockquote>The "high-hat" presentation was the result of the recent discussion over whether the members of the  City Council should wear [[Cowboy hat|two-gallon hats]], [[Cutaway coat#Morning coat|cutaway coats]], striped trousers and [[Spats (footwear)|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."<ref>[http://proquest.umi.com.ezproxy.lapl.org/pqdweb?did=368685042&sid=7&Fmt=10&clientId=13322&RQT=309&VName=HNP "Council 'High-Hats' Alber," ''Los Angeles Times,''December 24, 1927, page A-11]</ref></blockquote>
-Alber did not run for reelection in 1929 but returned to private law practice.
 ==References==
+{{Reflist}}
+==External links==
-Access to the ''Los Angeles Times'' links may require the use of a library card.
+*{{Find a Grave}}
-{{Reflist}}
 {{S-start}}
+{{s-off}}
 {{Succession box | before = [[Robert M. Allan]] | title = [[Los Angeles City Council]]<br>[[Los Angeles City Council District 2|2nd District]] | years = 1927–29 | after = [[Thomas F. Cooke]]}}
 {{S-end}}
-{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
-| NAME              = Alber, Arthur
-| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
-| SHORT DESCRIPTION = American politician
-| DATE OF BIRTH     = 1892
-| PLACE OF BIRTH    =
-| DATE OF DEATH     = 1964
-| PLACE OF DEATH    =
-}}
 {{DEFAULTSORT:Alber, Arthur}}
 [[Category:Los Angeles City Council members]]
-[[Category:American lawyers]]
+[[Category:California lawyers]]
 [[Category:1892 births]]
 [[Category:1964 deaths]]
-[[Category:American military personnel of World War I]]
+[[Category:United States Army personnel of World War I]]
 [[Category:Hollywood High School alumni]]
-[[Category:California Republicans]]
+[[Category:Lawyers from Birmingham, Alabama]]
-[[Category:People from Birmingham, Alabama]]
 [[Category:USC Trojans baseball players]]
-[[Category:University of Southern California Law School alumni]]
+[[Category:USC Gould School of Law alumni]]
+[[Category:20th-century California politicians]]
+[[Category:California Republicans]]
+[[Category:20th-century American lawyers]]