Saturday, August 5, 2023

Henry Jensen: Los Angeles Developer of the 1920's

 his is an essay on Henry Jensen, German immigrant, brick & tile millionaire, and LA developer in the 1920s.   It serves as background for a short video I made on the Heliotrope-Melrose area of Los Angeles, and a newer video about Henry Jensen himself.

The Newer Henry Jensen Video:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gOCuFM-GxY    

The Older HelMel Video:   https://youtu.be/GisWNkZRX8g

>> This essay is created by ChatGPT from several available internet sources.

HENRY CHRISTIAN JENSEN: An AI Essay

by Chat GPT

Henry Christian Jensen, a German immigrant born in 1859, made a significant impact on early 20th-century Los Angeles through his various entrepreneurial pursuits, most notably in brickmaking and construction. Here's a summary of how Jensen made his fortune and how he leveraged it to build architectural landmarks that shaped Los Angeles.

Making a Fortune

Jensen first started in the brick industry in Illinois, Utah, and Oregon before moving to Los Angeles in the 1880s. He established his own brickyard in the city, where he made bricks on a significant scale. The business flourished, aided by a building boom in Southern California. His expansion into new brickyards was not without controversy, however, as there were protests from residents and litigation related to pollution and misrepresentation.

Jensen's success extended beyond brickmaking. He also bought and developed land, particularly in the Westmoreland Park Tract (now Harvard Heights [near Jefferson Park]), subdividing the area into lots and improving the infrastructure. These developments attracted middle and upper-class Angelenos, further enriching Jensen.

Building Architectural Landmarks

Jensen's wealth allowed him to diversify into the entertainment industry, capitalizing on the growth of motion pictures. He built a series of theaters and entertainment complexes in Los Angeles, including:

  • Palace Grand: The first movie theater in Glendale, constructed by Jensen. It was later converted into an arcade with stores, a café, and a bowling alley.
  • Raymond Theatre: Opened in Pasadena in 1921, known for its graceful pressed brick exteriors and intricate tile work.
  • Jensen's Melrose Theater: Now a Ukrainian Culture Center, located at 4315 Melrose Avenue.
  • Jensen's Recreation Center: A celebrated building constructed in 1924 on Sunset Boulevard, it was an early example of a shopping mall or entertainment complex. It included shops, apartments, a bowling alley, and a pool hall.
  • Other Ventures: Jensen's Theatorium in Echo Park, Jensen's Melrose Theater in East Hollywood, and others contributed to his legacy.

Impact on Neighborhoods

Jensen's architectural landmarks played an essential role in shaping early Los Angeles. The theaters and recreation centers brought entertainment and cultural hubs to the communities they were built in. Jensen's Recreation Center, for instance, became a neighborhood hub, hosting celebrity athletic events and adapting to the ever-changing community.

Jensen's innovative combination of shopping and entertainment in his buildings was a precursor to modern shopping malls and entertainment complexes like Universal City Walk. His business ventures contributed to the revitalization of areas, and his attention to quality and design ensured that many of his constructions have survived to this day.

Conclusion

Henry C. Jensen's life was a blend of innovation, tenacity, and shrewd business acumen. His journey from a brickmaker to a real estate developer to a builder of cultural landmarks is emblematic of the American success story. Though his character and methods were sometimes questioned, his impact on early Los Angeles's architectural landscape is undeniable. His constructions are not only architectural treasures but also symbols of a city's growth and transformation, reflecting both the era's aspirations and the eclectic nature of the neighborhoods they reside in.

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Sources provided to ChatGPT prior to asking it to  write the above composite article.

Mentions architect Elimar Meinardus.  (also comment by descendant, 2008/8/13,here).

Meinardus also designed Recreation Center (here) and was German, like Jensen.  Wally Meinardus (1912-1988) is LA-born and at IMDB.

(For real nerds, there was an earlier, vanished, Melrose Theater, here.)

https://ukrainianculturecenterla.com/history-of-the-building/

Many photos, including a Henry Jensen sidewalk plaque:  https://www.avoidingregret.com/2015/03/photo-essay-jensens-melrose-theatre-now.html

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7zO2I1gY1h/



I also asked CHAT GPT to compare Jensen and Rick Caruso, a modern developer/billionaire who ran for Mayor in 2022.   CHAT used the above article feed for Jensen, and its body of knowledge, for Caruso.


HENRY JENSEN AND RICK CARUSO: An AI COMPARISON

by Chat GPT

The comparison between Henry C. Jensen and Rick Caruso is an interesting one. Both figures have left significant marks on the urban landscape of Los Angeles, and their careers share some intriguing parallels.

Rick Caruso is a prominent real estate developer known for creating upscale shopping centers in the Los Angeles area. He is the founder and CEO of Caruso, a company responsible for well-known developments like The Grove, The Americana at Brand, and the Palisades Village.

Here's a look at some similarities between Jensen and Caruso:

Second Careers: As you mentioned, both Jensen and Caruso found their significant success in urban development after starting in different fields. Jensen began in brickmaking, while Caruso's family was involved in the Dollar Rent A Car business.

Innovation in Urban Commerce: Both Jensen and Caruso were innovators in their time, blending commerce and entertainment in unique ways. Jensen's early 20th-century creations like the Jensen Recreation Center laid the groundwork for multi-use entertainment complexes. Caruso's developments, on the other hand, are known for blending retail with leisure experiences, creating an inviting atmosphere for shoppers.

Community Impact: Both developers have had a lasting impact on the communities they've touched. Jensen's work has left a historical mark on the city, with some buildings still standing as monuments to his vision. Caruso's developments are often seen as revitalizing the areas they're built in, turning them into thriving community hubs.

Entrepreneurial Spirit: Both men share an entrepreneurial spirit that drove them to success. They were able to envision and create spaces that resonated with the public and contributed to the urban fabric of Los Angeles.

While there are certainly differences in their approaches, time periods, and specific achievements, the comparison between Henry C. Jensen and Rick Caruso illustrates how visionary entrepreneurs can shape and transform the urban landscape. Their legacies are a testament to the power of innovative thinking and a commitment to community development.

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For the above: Chat URL Share

https://chat.openai.com/share/89cb9eb6-17cf-40f4-abed-136b02382171

Direct URL [my account for my reference]

https://chat.openai.com/c/788c2a89-2229-436c-87d4-c455a62ed181

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Finding the Grave at Angelus-Rosedale Cemetry, Los Angeles

Find a Grave is correct.

Enter at 1831 W Washington Blvd (just east of Normandie).  

Drive north and go past a central roundabout and then find a roundabout near the north edge of the cemetery (Venice Blvd).  Park at the north roundabout.  You'll see a walk-in crypt with columns, "Hotchkiss."  You will be west and north of that. 

Look for big markers "Coffin" and "Cromer."  The Jensen family has several flat markers just north of the Cromer big marker.   "Jensens" are about halfway between the north roundabout and the Venice Blvd fence, starting from about the 10 o'clock position of the roundabout.  See figure.









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