Mary and Martha Fowler, in black patent-leather shoes, gloves, hats and pigtails, empty the first dirt in the groundbreaking ceremony for the Statler Center which later became The Omni and then The Wilshire Grand Hotel. Photo caption reads: "Gold-plated shovel turns first dirt for new Statler. Turning over the first spade of dirt at site of new $20,000,000 Statler Hotel and office building at Wilshire and Figueroa are Arthur F. Douglas, Hotels Statler Co. president; Miss Mary Foy, Los Angeles' first librarian, and her two nieces, Mary Fowler, 8, and Martha Fowler, 6. Also taking part in the ceremonies was actress Celeste Holm (left). Gold-plated shovel was used". Photo dated: July 6, 1950.
Fowler, Mary Emily Fowler, Martha Summers Douglas, Arthur F Foy, Mary E Holm, Celeste,--1917-2012 Statler Hotel (Los Angeles, Calif.) Hotels--California--Los Angeles Building construction--California--Los Angeles Wilshire Boulevard (Los Angeles, Calif.) Figueroa Street (Los Angeles, Calif.) Los Angeles Evening Herald and Express photographs Herald-Examiner Collection photographs
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