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Arnold Foerster's, "Beethoven," was dedicated in 1932 to William Andrews Clark, Jr., the founder of the Philharmonic Orchestra. It was given to him by the orchestra members in gratitude for his generous financial support. Originally the orchestra members wanted the memorial to be made in Clark's likeness, but Clark asked that the memorial be made of his favorite composer instead. The statue of Beethoven was placed on the Fifth Street side of Pershing Square, to face the Philharmonic Auditorium where the orchestra performed from 1919 until 1964 when the auditorium was closed and the Philharmonic Orchestra moved to the Dorothy Chandler Pavillion. In 1994, after major renovation of Pershing Square, the statue was placed on the northeast corner, "Historic Court," of the park and aligned to face the site where the Philharmonic Auditorium once stood, having been demolished in 1985. A parking lot was built in the auditorium's place. Photograph caption dated November 4, 1964 reads, "The head of Ludwig Van Beethoven appears to hang a bit lower with news of the closing of Philharmonic Auditorium, background, as an entertainment center. Actually, the statue was removed from its position when renovation of Pershing Square began a few weeks ago. The famed hall will become a full time church. Beethoven's fate is still uncertain."
Type
Image
Format
1 photographic print :b&w ;26 x 21 cm. Photographic prints
Beethoven, Ludwig van,--1770-1827--Statues Philharmonic Auditorium (Organization : Los Angeles, Calif.) Auditoriums--California--Los Angeles Statues--California--Los Angeles Memorials--California--Los Angeles Streets--California--Los Angeles Storefronts--California--Los Angeles Parks--California--Los Angeles Lost architecture--California--Los Angeles Fifth Street (Los Angeles, Calif.) Pershing Square (Los Angeles, Calif.) Downtown Los Angeles (Los Angeles, Calif.) Valley Times Collection photographs Foerster, Arnold
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