Anthony Heinsbergen

Anthony Heinsbergen
Born
Antoon Heinsbergen

(1894-12-13)December 13, 1894
Netherlands
DiedJune 14, 1981(1981-06-14) (aged 86)
Los Angeles County, California, U.S.
EducationChouinard Art Institute
Known forInterior design of movie palaces
SpouseNedith K. Mclean
Children2

Anthony Heinsbergen (December 13, 1894 – June 14, 1981), born Antoon Heinsbergen, was a prolific designer of building interiors, particularly movie theaters, and was also one of the top muralists in the United States.[1]

Biography

Early life

Anthony Heinsbergen was born on December 13, 1894 in the Netherlands.[2][3] At age 10, he worked as an apprentice to a restoration painter, his talent enough that he was paid half the amount an apprentice typically had to pay to apprentice.[4]

Heinsbergen emigrated with his father to the United States in 1906. They settled in Los Angeles, where he continued as an apprentice at the Parker Decorating Company. Heinsbergen was also one of the first students to take formal training from Nelbert Chouinard at her Chouinard Art Institute.[2][4]

Career

At Parker Decorating Company, Heinsbergen was promoted to foreman by age 15 and principal foreman by 18.[4]

Heinsbergen's earliest commissions were numerous murals around Los Angeles.[2] These murals brought him to the attention of Alexander Pantages, who in 1920[4] or 1924[2][3] commissioned him to design and paint the interiors of 22 of his theaters.[2][4] Additionally, in 1925 Heinsbergen secured work on the Los Angeles Elks Lodge by significantly underbidding in order to obtain a high-profile commission. These works earned him considerable recognition, and following them, he did not have to solicit work for 38 years.[4]

In 1922,[3] Heinsbergen founded the Heinsbergen Decorating Company, which at its peak employed more than 180 decorative painters.[2] Heinsbergen and his employees completed approximately 750 projects across North America, including 12 theaters for United Artists, 38 for the Pantages circuit, and 20 branches for California Bank.[4] His company also worked on civic buildings, hotels, private homes, cathedrals, synagogues, and more, but it was best known for its theaters.[2][4] He often worked with architects Curlett and Beelman, who in return designed Heinsbergen's offices and studio in 1928.[4]

Heinsbergen transitioned to interior restorations toward the end of his career and was still working on high profile commissions at the age of 82.[4] After his death, his son took over management of his company.[3]

Personal life and death

Heinsbergen married Nedith K. Mclean, who herself was born on May 22, 1900 in Canada. They had two children together, a son named Anthony and daughter named Nedith. They also employed a servant in their home.[5]

Heinsbergen designed his own home on the south slope of the Santa Monica Mountains in Pacific Palisades.[citation needed] He was also a prolific painter, which he did mostly outdoors and for relaxation.[2]

Heinsbergen died in Los Angeles County on June 14, 1981.[5]

Style and subjects

Heinsbergen movie theater interiors were rooted in Art Deco and Spanish Renaissance Revival styles.[2] He was also credited as the creator of Egyptian temple, Renaissance palace, and Cubist-Gothic fantasy movie theater design.[4]

Heinsbergen described his personal paintings as having an "impressionistic realism" style.[2]

Controversy

While Heinsbergen's works were usually admired by the press and public, a few of his works created controversy. His 1937 mural in the bar of Senator Hotel, which depicted the romance of former king Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson, created debate on the subject of art versus bad taste. Fearing similar outcry, a few years later his mural of six female figures in Tower Theater was repainted to make the woman appear more modest.[3]

List of works

Notable buildings either containing murals or with interiors designed by Heinsbergen or his employees include:

Theaters

Los Angeles

Hollywood Pantages

Elsewhere in California

Orpheum, San Francisco
Fox San Diego

Washington

Fox Spokane

Elsewhere

Hotels

Decorative panel in Plaza Hotel's cocktail room

Other buildings

Los Angeles

Ceiling in Los Angeles City Hall

Elsewhere in California

Elsewhere

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k McLellan, Dennis (February 8, 2004). "Anthony T. Heinsbergen, 74; Restored the Interior Splendor of Landmarks". Los Angeles Times.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Anthony Heinsbergen: Film Palace Forgotten". Bowers Museum. September 16, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Powell, John Edward (1996). "Anthony B. Heinsbergen (1894-1981)". Historic Fresno.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t "California SP Heinsbergen Decorating Company Building". National Park Service. September 20, 1984.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w Michelson, Alan. "Antoon B. Heinsbergen (Interior Designer, Muralist)". Pacific Coast Architecture Database. University of Washington. Retrieved January 23, 2026.
  6. ^ "Westlake Theatre". Los Angeles Conservancy. Retrieved January 23, 2026.
  7. ^ a b c "Warner Huntington Park Theatre". August 21, 2018.
  8. ^ Kitazawa, Yosuke (October 17, 2013). "Leimert Theater: Envisioning a Neighborhood Landmark". PBS Socal.
  9. ^ "Angels Walk LA - NoHo" (PDF). City of Los Angeles. July 2014.
  10. ^ "El Portal Theatre". City of Los Angeles. Retrieved August 28, 2024 – via Historical Marker Database.
  11. ^ Ken, Roe. "Palace Theatre". Cinema Treasures. Retrieved November 5, 2024.
  12. ^ "Metro Theater Building". City and County of San Francisco. 2014 – via Historical Marker Database.
  13. ^ "Fox Fullerton Theatre Complex". California State Parks. October 25, 2006.
  14. ^ a b "History of Theatre on the Square". Bucknell University. Retrieved January 23, 2026.
  15. ^ "Golden Gate Theater". National Park Service. January 12, 1982.
  16. ^ "Merced Theatre" (PDF). National Park Service. March 19, 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 31, 2009.
  17. ^ Krefft, Bryan. "Capitol Theatre". Cinema Treasures. Retrieved January 23, 2026.
  18. ^ Kershner, Jim (July 2, 2008). "Fox Theatre (Spokane)". HistoryLink. Retrieved February 25, 2011.
  19. ^ a b "Admiral Theater" (PDF). Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board. June 19, 1989.
  20. ^ Hoagland, Alison K. (1993). "Anchorage". Buildings of Alaska. New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 84–85. ISBN 0-19-509380-1.
  21. ^ a b c d "Decorative Panel In Cocktail Room, Plaza Hotel". Architect and Engineer. 122 (1): 8-10. July 1935.
  22. ^ "Petitfils-Boos House". 2005 – via Historical Marker Database.
  23. ^ "Historic Resource - Park Plaza Hotel 607 S Park View St". City of Los Angeles. August 5, 2014.
  24. ^ Vincent, Roger (April 28, 2017). "Historic Fine Arts Building in downtown L.A. sells for premium price of $43 million". San Diego Union Tribune.
  25. ^ Meares, Hadley (September 2, 2014). "The Fine Arts Building: Art, Artifice, and Illegal Operations in L.A.'s Commercial Cathedral". PBS Socal.
  26. ^ Knight, Christopher (May 22, 2019). "Four blocks along Grand Avenue offer a sketch of shifting ideas in public art". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on December 2, 2021.
  27. ^ "Lake Norconian Club". National Park Service. September 28, 1998. Retrieved October 15, 2018.
  28. ^ "Valley National Bank Building". National Park Service. July 24, 2003.
allikas: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Heinsbergen