Local Stories by Local People

Opus 2 Otis
By Lisa Knox Burns

"Inventing LA - the Chandlers and Their Times"

Epic is the word to describe the film, "Inventing LA". Those of us who grew up in LA saw the exponential explosion in population growth. "Inventing LA" shows that growth doesn't just happen - it was created by a newspaper that had an interest in increasing newspaper sales and selling advertising.

This film is the story about the men who owned and operated the Los Angeles Times. From founder Col. Harrison Otis, who did not care to run for public office when he could select candidates to support - to Harry Chandler, who set in motion the project to transport water past the Owens River Valley. "Inventing LA" could be titled "investing LA" because northern California water ended up in the San Fernando Valley where Harry Chandler bought vast tracts of land (40,000 acres).

Harry Chandler is the inspiration for the character played by John Huston in the movie Chinatown. He had financial stakes where inside information allowed companies to make financial killings. Money made in San Fernando Valley land deals was then infused into downtown Los Angeles, creating 20th century skyscrapers. All this growth was in line with Los Angeles Times founder Col. Harrison Grey Otis' and, subsequently, Harry Chandler's vision for LA. But Harry Chandler was a real estate developer, not a newspaperman.

Harry Chandler lived a very long time, and finally the question of who would take over the reins of the LA Times divided between Philip, a John Birch society member who saw communist influences in labor unions, and Norman Chandler, a successful businessman. Norman Chandler met Dorothy Buffum at Stanford University; and while not fully explained in the movie, Dorothy felt rebuffed by the Chandler cousins to the extent that she enlisted the help of a psychologist to build up her self-confidence in facing up to Norman's extended family. The family trust that owned the Times Mirror Corporation caused Norman and later, his son Otis, despair because of their ultra-conservative views.

On a lighter note, "Inventing LA" is about Dorothy Chandler who almost single-handedly raised funds for the renovation of the Hollywood Bowl and later the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. She did this by going outside the Country Club set that the ultra-conservative branch of the Chandler family clung to.

Bringing the tale up to this generation. The heirs of Harrison Grey Otis no longer own the Times Mirror, but the family remains estranged even though Norman & his son Otis Chandler took the LA Times to a world-class newspaper. Tad Williamson did not express regret that the family trust fired Otis Chandler, who is widely acknowledged as the best publisher of the LA Times, from a journalistic standpoint. In a snide comment, the film says some of the Chandler family considered the LA Times under Otis Chandler to be the "tool of the Pulitzer Prize committee".

Finally, "Inventing LA" is a tribute to Otis Chandler, a man's man, a world-class athlete and a dedicated publisher and editorial chief. This film is an opus to Otis, who did not live to see it completed but whose presence is felt. Otis Chandler believed in "the Best" journalism. I think that's what everyone who attended the film and the private reception following at the Santa Barbara Historical Museum wanted too.

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Lisa Knox Burns reviewed Inventing Chandlers Times story owned operated