Misplaced Pages

#946053

60-622: From the time of its completion in 1928 through to 1955, it was the second-tallest building, and the tallest private building, in Southern California. The 16-story Châteauesque building has been called the city's "most elegant landmark" and a building that "has helped define the city." The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1996 and is currently used as condominiums with approximately 134 units, including three penthouse apartments occupying

120-589: A French château. Châteauesque buildings are typically built on an asymmetrical plan, with a roof-line broken in several places and a facade composed of advancing and receding planes. The style was popularized in the United States by Richard Morris Hunt . Hunt, the first American architect to study at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, designed residences, including those for the Vanderbilt family , during

180-606: A Wurlitzer Pipe Organ. The Amusement Room had been used various ways over the decades—as a private residence, a nightclub called the Oceanic Club, the "Chapel in the Sky", an event space, before being returned to a private residence in 1952. Most of the original 15th floor spaces were converted into separate apartments sometime after 1938. The upstairs bedroom and "Fish" bathroom of the Architect's personal Penthouse were connected to

240-540: A little under an hour. In March 1900 Leigh joined USS  Oregon in its relief of international forces during the Boxer Rebellion . After the end of the Boxer Rebellion, Oregon was put into reserve status. Leigh was transferred to USS  Brooklyn for the month of March before returning to Oregon to join the ship for her return voyage to the United States. Leigh returned to teaching at

300-486: A magnitude of 6.4, resulted in the destruction or severe damage of about 70 schools and over 120 buildings, including homes and businesses in the area. Thousands of other buildings were also damaged to varying degrees. Most of the destruction was concentrated in Long Beach, but other parts of Los Angeles and Orange Counties were also affected. The Villa Riviera suffered no structural or significant damage, even though it

360-842: A shot in anger or intercepting a single enemy vessel. With the Caribbean no longer experiencing active hostilities, Princeton was reassigned to the Asiatic Fleet and completed a redeployment through the Suez Canal , across the Indian Ocean to Manila . Once in Manila Princeton once again redeployed, this time to China to service a cruise for the American Minister in Peking , Edwin H. Conger , completing

420-738: A single grand penthouse. (All the five apartments on the 15th floor called "The Penthouse House" Floor and were two-story apartments, each had an internal staircases to access additional rooms on the 16th floor. Only three Penthouse apartments remain and only the Petite Penthouse has its original floor plan.) The architect, Richard D. King , designed the largest penthouse for the McWhinney's--a grand completely custom apartment which included: three bedrooms, private foyer, five bathrooms, live-in maid's quarters & bath, living room, dining room, study, two kitchens, and an Amusement Room replete with

480-594: A teaching position, this time at the New York Naval Yards School of Electrical Engineering. In 1908 Leigh requested a transfer to be put in charge of the Navy's Nautical School and commander of the schoolship Newport . He was denied and returned to sea service aboard USS  Washington . Washington made several cruises along the Pacific coast of South America before returning for refitting at

540-687: A tour of coastal China. At the start of the Philippine–American War Leigh was transferred to the captured Spanish gunboat Pampanga . Here Leigh experienced his first hostile action of his career. Pampanga acted in support of the United States Army providing resupply, naval fire support, and blockade duties in Lingayen Bay and Luzon . In one incident, Pampanga came under fire near San Jose de Buena Ventura receiving more than one hundred hits from small arms fire in

600-804: The Bering Sea and North Pacific. Albatross traveled extensively across the North Pacific, visiting most of the Aleutian Islands , Japan , Russia , and the Kingdom of Hawaii . After his scientific cruise with Albatross Leigh was assigned to the Naval Academy as a gunnery instructor. During this time Leigh found teaching agreeable, but the outbreak of the Spanish–American War would bring an end to his academic teaching for

660-723: The French Renaissance architecture of the monumental châteaux of the Loire Valley from the late fifteenth century to the early seventeenth century. The term châteauesque (literally, " château -like") is credited (by historian Marcus Whiffen ) to American architectural historian Bainbridge Bunting , although it can be found in publications that pre-date Bunting's birth. As of 2011, the Getty Research Institute 's Art & Architecture Thesaurus includes both "Château Style" and "Châteauesque", with

SECTION 10

#1732793013947

720-634: The Grand Trunk Railway . Richard H. Leigh Admiral Richard Henry Leigh CBE (August 12, 1870 – February 4, 1946) was a United States Navy officer who served during the late 19th and early 20th century. His service included active duty in the Spanish–American War , Philippine–American War , American Intervention in China, World War I , as well as numerous smaller actions in South America. His service during World War I led to

780-584: The Mediterranean to operate submarine chaser squadrons. Leigh selected Govino Bay on Corfu for this task. A second base was constructed in Plymouth , and another in Queenstown . By the end of the war 142 American submarine chasers were operating out of these bases. Leigh's work with submarine chasers and development of anti-submarine warfare instrumentation and tactics was instrumental not only in

840-697: The Portsmouth, New Hampshire Navy Yard in 1911. Leigh returned to shore duty, this time at the Secretary of the Navy 's Office in Washington D.C. Again Leigh petitioned for a sea command, though this time he request was granted. In 1913 Leigh was granted his first sea command, the cruiser USS  Galveston . After Galveston finished her outfitting in the Puget Sound Naval Yard she

900-408: The U.S. Pacific Fleet , U.S. Atlantic Fleet , Battle Fleet and Scouting Fleet under one command. Admiral Leigh quickly responded when a major earthquake struck Long Beach, California and surrounding areas on March 10, 1933. He provided assistance to the city from US Naval vessels stationed in Long Beach harbor. Tents, food, doctors and medical supplies were delivered to neighborhoods struck by

960-634: The West Indies , Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina. On 11 April Leigh was ordered off Chicago and ordered to return to the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland for final examination. On July 1 Leigh was bestowed the rank of ensign , number 186 on the active list. Leigh was subsequently ordered to USS  New York , part of the South Atlantic Squadron. New York was soon dispatched to patrol

1020-521: The 1870s, 1880s and 1890s. A relatively rare style in the United States, its presence was concentrated in the Northeast , although isolated examples can be found in nearly all parts of the country. It was mostly employed for residences of the extremely wealthy, although it was occasionally used for public buildings. The first building in this style in Canada was the 1887 Quebec City Armoury (now named

1080-588: The 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th submarine chaser squadrons and charged with training then deploying the squadrons against German submarine raiders. In order to conduct his tests the British Admiralty loaned Leigh three British trawlers as well as a P-boat , an auxiliary sub-hunter meant to externally resemble a submarine. Though Leigh only conducted his tests for ten days in the English Channel his results were resounding. Not only did he show that

1140-547: The American listening devices were superior to anything employed by European navies, but that submarines could be located and hunted by hydrophones. British Naval engineers had been working with this problem since the beginnings of the war, yet Leigh proved the concept practical and revolutionized anti-submarine warfare. Leigh's success in the Atlantic motivated Admiral Sims to direct Leigh to establish an American naval base in

1200-484: The Amusement Room in 1968 creating its current floor plan. The North Penthouse's "Amusement Room" (per the original blueprints and 1928 photographs) still possesses its soaring two story ceilings, original stenciled beams and faux wood effects, wood floor, fireplace and original fireplace screen, and original art deco bathroom tile. Fortunately, in all those incarnations, no one ever saw fit to redecorate, making it

1260-539: The Amusement Room only space used publicly, while maintaining the architect's original vision. The rest of the grand North Penthouse has been reimagined to reflect the amazing gothic revival style of 1928 in harmony with the Amusement Room in design, decor, and scale. Ch%C3%A2teauesque Châteauesque (or Francis I style, or in Canada , the Château Style ) is a revivalist architectural style based on

SECTION 20

#1732793013947

1320-696: The Bureau of Navigation until June 1920, when he was given a command of newly commissioned dreadnought battleship USS Tennessee at Brooklyn Navy Yard . Leigh commanded the ship during the sea trials in Long Island Sound , which lasted from October 15 to 23, 1920. Tennessee under his command also won trophy for efficiency in naval gunnery. Leigh returned to the Bureau of Navigation in June 1922 and served again as Assistant Chief until July 1924, when he

1380-571: The Homeowners Association conducted a $ 4 million facelift that included restoration of certain historical elements, including replacement of six of the original grotesques that had been removed. In 2022, the Villa Riviera's North Penthouse was restored to its 1928 glory by the current owners. The North Penthouse was originally owned by Clyde and Jessie McWhinney. They purchased three penthouse apartments to be reimagined as

1440-576: The King Albert I of Belgium . The Navy Department decorated Leigh with Navy Distinguished Service Medal . Upon returning to the United States in March 1919, Leigh was ordered to Washington, D.C. , where he was appointed Assistant Chief, Bureau of Navigation under Rear admiral Victor Blue . Due to the illness of admiral Blue, Leigh served as acting chief for five months before Rear admiral Thomas Washington arrived to take command. He then served at

1500-402: The Naval Academy, becoming a mathematics instructor for both plebes and older students. After one year of teaching Leigh became an instructor on USS Chesapeake , a ship used for training midshipmen at the Naval Academy. In 1903 Leigh was assigned to the newly commissioned USS  Cleveland as navigator before being replaced by a higher seniority lieutenant Leigh was quickly reassigned to

1560-658: The South Atlantic and to protect American interests in Brazil following the 1893 Brazilian Naval Mutiny . During his time on New York Leigh lamented at the ports and nations visited. He described the ports as "desolate revolution-ridden places." During his time on New York Leigh visited Rio de Janeiro , Colón , various Caribbean islands, and Bluefields, Nicaragua . New York was dispatched to many of these locations to protect American interests during uprisings across South and Central America in 1893. From New York Leigh

1620-420: The United States fleet, after rushing down the stairway with most of the other 400 occupants and out into the street, returned to his suite around midnight in disdain of the succeeding shocks, which continued through the night. George Kingreet, assistant manager of the Villa Riviera, painted a picture of the hurried exit of the naval notables when the first shock came. 'The elevator stopped and everybody rushed down

1680-724: The Voltigeurs de Québec Armoury, formerly called the Grande-Allée Armoury (French: Manège militaire Grande-Allée, or simply Manège militaire) designed by Eugène-Étienne Taché . Many of Canada's grand railway hotels , designed by John Smith Archibald , Edward Maxwell , Bruce Price and Ross and Macdonald , were built in the Châteauesque style, with other mainly public or residential buildings. The style may be associated with Canadian architecture because these grand hotels are prominent landmarks in major cities across

1740-693: The West." The Villa Riviera is considered among the earliest examples of skyscrapers designed for seismic safety. After completing the Villa in 1928, McClintic-Marshall structurally designed many significant buildings and bridges including, the Empire State Building (1930) and the Golden Gate Bridge (1933). The 1933 Long Beach earthquake , which occurred on March 10, caused significant damage across Southern California. The earthquake, with

1800-413: The areas on the 15th and 16th floors of the building, complete with grotesques outside the 16th floor windows. Built in 1928 at a cost of $ 2.75 million, the Villa Riviera is a 16-story French Gothic Building. The steel-framed structure is topped with a steeply pitched verdigris copper roof. The building was designed by architect Richard D. King who won a grand prize at an international contest for

1860-536: The building noted : In its exterior design, VILLA RIVIERA will be distinctively individual. In general, it will savor of the majestic Tudor Gothic, but with a marked feeling of French and Italian Renaissance, all blended into a composite grace of line which will overshadow any single decorative detail. ... Within VILLA RIVIERA will provide its one hundred and thirty owner-residents and their families with every comfort, luxury and modern convenience afforded by

Villa Riviera - Misplaced Pages Continue

1920-488: The building was used by the Navy to spot enemy ships off the Southern California coast. In 1955, the building was purchased by the Morris Hotel chain for $ 1.75 million. Within months, the new owner converted the building to its original use as a residential "own-your-own" cooperative building. Despite the conversion, the owners kept the hotel's cocktail lounge, beauty salon, coffee shop, dining room and valet service for

1980-453: The convenience of the cooperative residents. The first Miss Universe Pageant was held in Long Beach in 1952 and the Villa Riviera provided the backdrop to many of the photos and the parade on Ocean Boulevard. Marine Corps and Navy officers acted as escorts, one for each contestant. In 1952, George Allen announced the Villa Riviera would seek tourist business and add hotel operations to Villa's many long term apartment residents and owners. This

2040-830: The country and in certain national parks. In Hungary, Arthur Meinig built numerous country houses in the Loire Valley style, the earliest being Andrássy Castle in Tiszadob , 1885–1890, and the grandest being Károlyi Castle in Nagykároly ( Carei ), 1893–1895. The style began to fade after the turn of the 20th century, and it was largely absent from new construction by the 1930s. Many of the Châteauesque-style buildings in Canada were built by railway companies, and their respective hotel divisions. They include Canadian National Railway and Canadian National Hotels , Canadian Pacific Railway and Canadian Pacific Hotels , and

2100-550: The country, McClintic-Marshall, structurally designed and built its heavy duty Bethlehem steel skeleton. One thousand tons of steel, heavier that required at that time, was used. They used foundation a revolutionary new method designed to be more stable, faster, and safer, Rather than simply digging a foundation hole, they dug a large central trench down to stable soil with radiating perpendicular side trenches radiating out which were all filled with concrete. On top of that base, they poured forty-five wide stepped concrete bases to support

2160-768: The defeat of German on the seas, but in the advancement of anti-submarine warfare while in its infancy. After the war Leigh was retained by Sims for his chief of staff until the withdrawal of the United States Navy in Europe in the Spring of 1919. For his help in defense of the United Kingdom, King George V made Leigh a Commander of the Order of the British Empire . He also received Order of Leopold by

2220-479: The demand for luxury cooperative apartments declined. While some original owners gave up their apartments, others stayed. The buildings control and management was ceded to the mortgage company renting many of the apartments. In 1933, the high-rise Villa Riviera was shaken in the Long Beach earthquake but did not sustain structural damage due to its construction. The most prominent construction engineering firm in

2280-429: The design that he referred to as "Tudor Gothic." The structure features fierce-looking grotesques perched along the ridges of the higher floors. The four styles of grotesques are: a bear holding a shield, a cougar, an eagle, and a winged chimera featuring a wolf's head and a bird's body. They adorn each uppermost corner of the building and both sides of the 16th floor balconies overlooking the city and ocean. The building

2340-521: The end of World War I as he was transferred to the Bureau of Steam Engineering effective September 1915. With the American entrance into World War I in 1917 naval assets were deployed to European waters under Admiral Sims to counter German submarine raiders and surface threats . Leigh was sent along with several experimental listening devices , "K-tubes" and "c-tubes", designed to detect submarines . The United States Navy gave Leigh command over

2400-487: The finest hotel or the perfectly appointed individual home. When the Villa Riviera was completed, the 277-foot high structure was the second tallest in the region—surpassed only by Los Angeles City Hall . Until the 1950s, it remained the second-tallest building in Southern California and "the tallest private building in Southern California." Shortly after the Villa Riviera opened, the Great Depression hit, and

2460-413: The former being the preferred term for North America. The style frequently features buildings heavily ornamented by the elaborate towers, spires, and steeply-pitched roofs of sixteenth century châteaux, themselves influenced by late Gothic and Italian Renaissance architecture. Despite their French ornamentation, as a revival style, buildings in the châteauesque style do not attempt to completely emulate

Villa Riviera - Misplaced Pages Continue

2520-497: The further development of hydrophone technology to hunt submarines . Following World War I Leigh rose to the rank of four-star admiral and served as Commander, Battle Force , U.S. Fleet (COMBATFOR) from 1931 to 1932 and as Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet (CINCUS) from 1932 to 1933. On June 6, 1891, Richard H. Leigh received his first assignment and was ordered to the protected cruiser USS  Chicago . Though this assignment

2580-642: The largest realty transactions in Southern California in several years." Talmadge lived in the penthouse for a time. Since 1932, when the US Navy brought the Pacific Fleet to Long Beach, the Villa Riviera was known as the "Home of Admirals" as it served as the home of many of the senior officers of the United States Pacific Fleet . During World War II, several U.S. Navy officers lived at the Villa Riviera.[1] The turret-like tower atop

2640-582: The protected cruiser USS  Des Moines again as a navigator. Des Moines sailed extensively in the North Atlantic, patrolling from the North Sea to the West Indies. At the behest of Admiral Bradford, Leigh was appointed as the navigator for Bradford's flagship, USS Minneapolis . Leigh completed Minneapolis ' final cruise before being decommissioned . Again Leigh found himself in

2700-407: The space serves as a Barber Shop. Another post-prohibition addition was the "Oceanic Club" on the 15th floor where patrons drank and danced the night away. It is now a privately owned space. In 1937, silent film star Norma Talmadge and her ex-husband Joseph M. Schenck , president of 20th Century Fox, bought the building for $ 1.5 million. The Los Angeles Times reported that "the deal was one of

2760-493: The stairs and out into the street. The bellboy stuck right on the job and went through the rooms, clearing them of people."' In 1934, just months after prohibition ended, the Villa Riviera added a new cocktail bar adjacent to the Villa Riviera Cafe, (a fine dining establishment serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner). The cocktail bar featured art deco styling with a beamed barrel roof and half moon shaped bar. Currently

2820-553: The temblor. By the next morning 2,000 sailors of the Pacific Fleet patrolled the streets, providing security and offering aid to stricken civilians. Civilian-military relations greatly improved as a result of Adm. Leigh's actions. In June 1933, Leigh assumed his final duty as Chairman, Navy General Board , an advisory body of the United States Navy . He retired from the Navy with his permanent rank of Rear admiral on September 1, 1934 after 43 years of active service. Leigh

2880-612: The time being. Leigh saw his first war sea patrol aboard the schooner USS  Justin for collier duties under command of Commander George E. Ide. Justin performed collier and resupply duties around Chesapeake Bay before sailing for Cuba on June 2. However, before Justin was dispatched to the Caribbean Leigh was reassigned to the yacht USS  Aileen for port protection duties in New York Harbor under command of Lieutenant William Kilburn. Aileen

2940-410: The vertical heavy duty steel beams. All structural steel was then encased in concrete. "After tests made in the California Institute of Technology., McClintic-Marshall engineers stated in substance that the earthquake resisting steel work specified for use in (the) Villa Riviera, and subsequently installed, was the equivalent, if not, the superior in strength of any ever put into a steel frame structure in

3000-405: The violations were corrected, the building emerged from the condemnation in 1971. In 1991, the building was converted to condominiums. In 1996, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places . In 2003, the Los Angeles Times called it "Long Beach's most elegant landmark", a building that "has helped define the city for nearly three-quarters of a century." In 2007 and 2008,

3060-406: Was a short lived experiment as the Villa was converted back to a co-op building in January 1955. All apartments were sold to private owners. A newspaper feature in 1965 reported that apartments at the Villa Riviera sold "for anywhere from $ 10,000 to $ 40,000 according to size." In 1969, Long Beach residents were surprised to learn that the city had condemned the Villa Riviera as a fire hazard. After

SECTION 50

#1732793013947

3120-416: Was also equipped with luxurious features, including a roof garden, the "Umbrella Room" lobby, high-speed elevators, "vacuum-type steam heating," and a 100-car garage replete with car elevator to aid the staff valets. There was a private beach and food stand for the residents and their guests to enjoy. The Villa Riviera was originally built as a luxury residential cooperative. The 1928 promotional brochure for

3180-459: Was briefly transferred to USS  Raleigh before being assigned to his first division officer station aboard the gunboat USS  Bennington . His service on Bennington marked his first of many tours in the Pacific. On March 1, 1895, Leigh was ordered to his first of many scientific posts of his career. Aboard USS  Albatross , a Department of Fisheries vessel, Leigh conducted deep sea fishing and other oceanographic experiments in

3240-399: Was charged with maintaining the minefields protecting New York. Leigh recalled that while this was not particularly exciting, he found it strenuous. After a month of duty in New York Harbor Leigh was transferred to the Caribbean aboard USS  Princeton . While Princeton did patrol off the coast of Mexico and Central America. The patrol lasted until the end of hostilities without firing

3300-457: Was now principally responsible for the personnel management of the United States Navy . He served in this capacity until May 1930, when was appointed Commander, Battleship, Battle Force . Leigh was promoted to the temporary rank of four-star Admiral on September 15, 1931 and appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Battle Force stationed on Hawaii . After one year in this assignment, Leigh assumed command of United States Fleet , which combined

3360-449: Was ordered for instruction to the Naval War College at Newport, Rhode Island . He graduated in June 1925 and was appointed Chief of Staff of the United States Fleet under Admiral Charles F. Hughes . For his new billet, Leigh was promoted to the rank of Rear admiral on June 4, 1925. He was ordered to Washington, D.C. in February 1927 and appointed Chief of the Bureau of Navigation , the office where he served two times before. Leigh

3420-504: Was ordered to join the Asiatic Fleet. Leigh transitioned well to his new role as captain of USS Galveston , receiving commendations from Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels . Upon inspection by Admiral Winterhalter Gavelston and her crew were found to be excellent and fit for any duty with few exceptions. Gunnery on Galveston was particularly impressive under Leigh, winning the Naval Gunnery Trophy every year under Leigh's command. This would prove to be Leigh's final sea command until

3480-463: Was seriously ill with arthritis before the outbreak of the World War II and was not recalled for active duty. The University of Southern California in Los Angeles awarded made Leigh made an honorary Doctor of Science in June 1933. Leigh was also active in the American Legion . Admiral Leigh died on February 4, 1946, aged 75, in Long Beach, California and was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery , Virginia . He

3540-428: Was still considered part of his training at the United States Naval Academy, from which he had only recently graduated, it proved to be his first experience with the functions of the Navy on the seas as well as on land. At the time Chicago was assigned to the North Atlantic Squadron under Admiral John G. Walker as the squadron's flagship . During his service on Chicago Leigh patrolled Atlantic waters from Maine to

3600-404: Was the 2nd tallest building in the area affected by the quake. A newspaper account described the reaction of the Villa Riviera occupants to the earthquake as follows: "The Villa Riviera, a 16-story apartment hotel, where most of the high-ranking officers of the Navy resided, swayed violently but suffered no more than a few cracks and fallen plaster. Admiral Richard H. Leigh , commander-in-chief of

#946053