Laguna's Artists Tutor a soon-to-be HOLLYWOOD Image-maker

Part 1

BY LOUIS F. D'ELIA

By 1929, Hurrell decided to give up his pursuit of a career in painting and focus on photography. With an assist from Barnes, he became head portrait photographer at famed MGM. Photo copyright Estate of George Hurrell

Laguna Beach has well earned its place in history as an artist's colony, with its natural beauty inspiring countless artists. Many world-class artists continue to call Laguna Beach their home, or second home. Less well known is that one of the most influential photographers of the 20th Century began his career in Laguna Beach. His name was George Hurrell.

George Edward Hurrell (1904 - 1992) is credited with developing the glamour idiom in photography and creating the standard for the idealized Hollywood glamour portrait. He invented the boom light, and is credited with developing other innovative lighting techniques. Today many Hollywood photographers refer to their own work as shooting in the "Hurrell style."

At age 18, George Hurrell started out as a fine art painter, studying at the prestigious Art Institute in Chicago. Attracted to all things new, and impressed with innovation, Hurrell was greatly influenced by the paintings of early Italian surrealist painter, Giorgio De Chirico (1888 - 1978), and so began painting in that style. However, Hurrell also enjoyed painting the occasional standard issue landscape.

Upon arriving in 1925, Hurrell took to the warm climate and Western lifestyle. He began painting portraits and countryside scenes. Later, he began photographing local artists to help them with their publicity efforts. Photo copyright Estate of George Hurrell

One spring day in 1925, while still attending the Art Institute, Hurrell heard that famed landscape painter, Edgar Alwyn Payne, an alum of the Art Institute, would be giving a lecture at the school. Mr. Payne was passing through town on his way back home to his wife and family in Laguna Beach after having spent two years painting in Europe. Hurrell attended the lecture, and afterwards Payne reviewed the students' work. Payne was particularly impressed with Hurrell's experimental painting style, and also liked a recently completed landscape painting. Payne told him, "If you plan to be a serious artist, you should come back with me to Laguna Beach and paint." Since Hurrell wanted to be a fine artist, he eagerly accepted the opportunity.

Florence Barnes owned 40 acres along the bluff of what is now Smith Cliffs and Emerald Bay. Next to her home she installed Laguna Beach's first cliffside fresh water pool. Photo copyright Pancho Barnes Trust Estate Archive

Payne and Hurrell set out for Laguna Beach by car, arriving in Laguna Beach just in time for Hurrell to celebrate his 21st birthday on June 1, 1925. Mr. Payne arranged for Hurrell to stay at the hillside beach shack owned by Mal St. Clair, who was no longer living there because he was busy directing Laurel and Hardy movies and other silent motion pictures up in Hollywood. In return for taking care of the house and making sure it was safe and secure while the owner was away, Hurrell got free rent and all the time he needed to paint. Hurrell had brought with him from Chicago a second-hand view camera so that he could photograph various potential scenes during the warm spring and summer months. These photographs would then be used as reference for his painting efforts during the cold winter months when it snowed. But of course, unlike Chicago, it never snowed in Laguna Beach, and so the camera remained stored away in the closet at the hillside beach shack. Hurrell quickly settled into the western life style, enjoying the Mediterranean climate, spending his time going to the beach, fishing, and painting.

Poor Grandma Dobbins. Now grandma had to contend with Pancho's airstrip that she installed next to her home on what is now Smith Cliffs. In the background is Pancho's home, known as 'Dos Rocas'. Photo copyright Pancho Barnes Trust Estate Archive

For Christmas dinner in 1925, Hurrell was the guest of the Payne family at the home of William Griffith, another prominent Laguna Beach painter. Payne and Griffith had founded the Laguna Beach Museum of Art, and it was now time to formally introduce Hurrell to all the major artists in the community. However, the most important person he met that evening was not a famous or influential painter, but a major character three years his senior by the name of Florence Leontine Lowe Barnes. Florence was a large, good-hearted woman with a big smile and hearty laugh. She was extremely intelligent, could hold her own in any conversation with 'the guys' and shared Hurrell's passion for fishing. She also was a treasure trove for off-color jokes and witty observations. She was all this and married to a prominent Pasadena Episcopal minister. Naturally, the two became fast friends.

George Hurrell arrived in Laguna Beach in Summer 1925 and house sat for famed director Mal St. Clair while he was away making movies. Photo copyright Estate of George Hurrell

Part 2 next week.

Louis F. D'Elia is the curator of the Pancho Barnes Trust Estate Archive

Florence Barnes held numerous parties at her Laguna Beach home, much to the dismay of Grandma Dobbins, who lived next door. Eventually the parties got so frequent and noisy, grandma insisted that Florence pay to have her home moved further down the property. Look closely: you will see Florence at the bottom of the pile, and Richard Halliburton and Ramon Novaro on top of the pile. Photo copyright Pancho Barnes Trust Estate Archive Florence's best friend was famous film star Ramon Novarro, who was a frequent guest at her beloved Dos Rocas estate in Laguna Beach. Here, Ramon posed next to Florence's cliffside pool. Photo is by Hurrell, circa 1928." Photo copyright Estate of George Hurrell

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