Benjamin Platt
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Platt was a philanthropist and founder of the Platt Music Corporation, which he started in 1905. Platt Music Corporation was a private company that leased space in department stores and sold consumer electric products. Benjamin Platt and his family have been residents of Los Angeles
since the 19th century.
in 1905 when he was only 20 years old. He was born in a small town near Kiev
, Russia
(now a part of Ukraine
). Platt started his career as a salesman in New York City
, for the Singer Sewing Machine Company. He moved to Los Angeles later that year and started The Platt Music Company; he began the company by selling pianos door-to-door
.
in downtown Los Angeles: 830 Broadway, 840 Broadway, and 620-622 Broadway, next to the Orpheum Theatre. Walker & Eisen
was the architectural firm that designed the 840 Broadway building. (Walker & Eisen is best known for the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, California
.) Lange and Bergstrom were the contractors for 840 building.
By 1928, Platt Music was one of the largest retailers of its kind in the world. In 1929, the stock market crashed
and Platt Music went into receivership
. Because of Platt’s good relationship with Tom May of the May Company
, Platt rebuilt Platt Music to be bigger than ever. Platt Music contracted with the May Company to sell appliances in all of their stores.
By 1955, Platt Music was the largest retail business of its kind in America. Platt was honored at the Ambassador Hotel in 1955, on the anniversary of his 50th year in business. Some of the biggest names in Los Angeles attended this event, some from as far as Mexico.
and was active on its board for many years. He was the President of the Jewish Home for the Aging, and was one of the founders of the University of Judaism, now the American Jewish University. He was the first executive vice president of the University of Judaism. Platt was the president of Sinai Temple
for 21 years, the longest-serving president to date. Platt was active in Masonry
and was a member of Westgate Masonic Lodge, Scottish Rite
s, and the Al Malaikah Temple of the Shrine.
At age 77, Platt died at Cedars Hospital on Monday April 18, 1960. On April 19, the Los Angeles City Council adjourned in memory of Platt and stopped conducting any business transactions the rest of the day. He is the father of Herman Platt
, the grandfather of Cynthia Platt Flagg and Nancy Platt Jacoby, and the great-grandfather of Josh Flagg
.
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
since the 19th century.
Early life
Ben Platt came to the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1905 when he was only 20 years old. He was born in a small town near Kiev
Kiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
(now a part of Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
). Platt started his career as a salesman in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, for the Singer Sewing Machine Company. He moved to Los Angeles later that year and started The Platt Music Company; he began the company by selling pianos door-to-door
Door-to-door
Door-to-door is a sales technique in which a salesperson walks from the door of one house to the door of another trying to sell a product or service to the general public. A variant of this involves cold calling first, when another sales representative attempts to gain agreement that a salesperson...
.
Business
By 1926, Platt Music’s annual sales volume was in excess of $3,000,000 and the company's total assets were approximately $2,700,000. Platt owned three buildings on BroadwayBroadway (Los Angeles)
Broadway is a major thoroughfare in Los Angeles, California, that runs from Lincoln Heights on the Eastside, through Chinatown, passing through Central Plaza and the Dragon Gate, the Los Angeles Civic Center, passing the Los Angeles Times building at First Street, and Broadway's historic commercial...
in downtown Los Angeles: 830 Broadway, 840 Broadway, and 620-622 Broadway, next to the Orpheum Theatre. Walker & Eisen
Walker & Eisen
Walker & Eisen was an architectural partnership of architects Albert R. Walker and Percy A. Eisen in Los Angeles, California. Some of their notable buildings include the Fine Arts Building, James Oviatt Building, The Hotel Normandie , The Platt Building and the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. They are...
was the architectural firm that designed the 840 Broadway building. (Walker & Eisen is best known for the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, California
Beverly Hills, California
Beverly Hills is an affluent city located in Los Angeles County, California, United States. With a population of 34,109 at the 2010 census, up from 33,784 as of the 2000 census, it is home to numerous Hollywood celebrities. Beverly Hills and the neighboring city of West Hollywood are together...
.) Lange and Bergstrom were the contractors for 840 building.
By 1928, Platt Music was one of the largest retailers of its kind in the world. In 1929, the stock market crashed
Wall Street Crash of 1929
The Wall Street Crash of 1929 , also known as the Great Crash, and the Stock Market Crash of 1929, was the most devastating stock market crash in the history of the United States, taking into consideration the full extent and duration of its fallout...
and Platt Music went into receivership
Receivership
In law, receivership is the situation in which an institution or enterprise is being held by a receiver, a person "placed in the custodial responsibility for the property of others, including tangible and intangible assets and rights." The receivership remedy is an equitable remedy that emerged in...
. Because of Platt’s good relationship with Tom May of the May Company
May Company California
May Company California was a chain of department stores operating in the Southern California and Nevada, previously with headquarters in North Hollywood, California. It was a subsidiary of May Department Stores and merged with May's other Southern California subsidiary, J. W...
, Platt rebuilt Platt Music to be bigger than ever. Platt Music contracted with the May Company to sell appliances in all of their stores.
By 1955, Platt Music was the largest retail business of its kind in America. Platt was honored at the Ambassador Hotel in 1955, on the anniversary of his 50th year in business. Some of the biggest names in Los Angeles attended this event, some from as far as Mexico.
Philanthropy
Ben Platt had several humanitarian and philanthropic endeavors. Platt was one of the founders of The City of HopeCity of Hope National Medical Center
City of Hope National Medical Center, is a private, not-for-profit clinical research center, hospital and graduate medical school located in Duarte, California, United States...
and was active on its board for many years. He was the President of the Jewish Home for the Aging, and was one of the founders of the University of Judaism, now the American Jewish University. He was the first executive vice president of the University of Judaism. Platt was the president of Sinai Temple
Sinai Temple (Los Angeles, California)
Sinai Temple in the Westwood district of Los Angeles, California is the oldest and largest Conservative congregation in the greater Los Angeles area. Architect Sidney Eisenshtat designed the current synagogue building, constructed in 1956 and expanded in 1998...
for 21 years, the longest-serving president to date. Platt was active in Masonry
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
and was a member of Westgate Masonic Lodge, Scottish Rite
Scottish Rite
The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry , commonly known as simply the Scottish Rite, is one of several Rites of the worldwide fraternity known as Freemasonry...
s, and the Al Malaikah Temple of the Shrine.
At age 77, Platt died at Cedars Hospital on Monday April 18, 1960. On April 19, the Los Angeles City Council adjourned in memory of Platt and stopped conducting any business transactions the rest of the day. He is the father of Herman Platt
Herman Platt
Herman Platt was an American business executive and philanthropist. He and his wife endowed the Marjorie and Herman Platt Gallery. Platt was also the president of Sinai Temple for two years. Platt was the president of Vista del Mar Charities and was one of the men responsible for creating Mount...
, the grandfather of Cynthia Platt Flagg and Nancy Platt Jacoby, and the great-grandfather of Josh Flagg
Josh Flagg
Josh Flagg is an American real estate agent and media personality who co-stars alongside Josh Altman and Madison Hildebrand on the show Million Dollar Listing on the Bravo! television network. Appearing on television for the first time in 2008, Flagg came back to do the third season of the show in...
.
Sources
- LA Times “Music House to Finance” Dec 12, 1926
- B’Nai B’rit Messenger
- City of Los Angeles Resolution File No. 95830
- Los Angeles Examiner Fri May 6, 1955
- Los Angeles examiner Mon May 19, 1958 p5 sec 1 “50 yrs. wed, say ‘dont fight wife’
- “Music Firm Awards Job on Building” Los Angeles Times April 10, 1927 p e5
- Los Angeles Times April 5, 1922 p 113 “Long Lease on Broadway Site”