Charles E. Toberman
Encyclopedia
Charles E. Toberman was a real estate developer who was known as "Mr. Hollywood" and the "Father of Hollywood" for his role in developing Hollywood and many of its landmarks, including the Hollywood Bowl
, Grauman's Chinese Theater, El Capitan Theatre
, the Roosevelt Hotel, the Grauman's Egyptian Theatre
and the Hollywood Masonic Temple
.
to Philip and Lucy Ann Toberman; his uncle was Los Angeles mayor James R. Toberman
. He attended the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas
for three years and Metropolitan Business College at Dallas for one year.
Toberman began his career as a stenographer, working in Dallas and Wichita Falls, Texas
before moving to Los Angeles
in 1902. He returned to Wichita Falls and ran a hardware store before returning to Los Angeles, where he held a variety of positions including City Treasurer
of Hollywood
. He worked in real estate from 1907 on, incorporating the C.E. Toberman Company in 1912. Mr. Toberman placed fifty-three Hollywood subdivisions on the market, formed more than thirty companies and organizations, built twenty-nine commercial buildings in Hollywood, including the world -famous Chinese Theater and was affiliated with forty-nine clubs, civic, and fraternal organizations up until retirement Toberman managed all of his real estate holdings from his office in the heart of Hollywood.
Throughout the 1910s and 1920s, Toberman developed many notable buildings and neighborhoods in Hollywood, including notable theatres with showman Sid Grauman
. In 1924, he built a Spanish-style
mansion known as the C.E. Toberman Estate
. He co-founded the Black-Foxe Military Institute
in 1928.
He married Josephine W. Bullock on June 25, 1902. The couple had three children: Jeanette, Homer (d. 1992), and Catherine.
Charles Toberman died in November 1981.
Hollywood Bowl
The Hollywood Bowl is a modern amphitheater in the Hollywood area of Los Angeles, California, United States that is used primarily for music performances...
, Grauman's Chinese Theater, El Capitan Theatre
El Capitan Theatre
El Capitan Theatre is a fully restored movie palace at 6838 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood. It is owned by Pacific Theatres and operated by the Walt Disney Company. It serves as the venue for many of Walt Disney Pictures' movie premieres...
, the Roosevelt Hotel, the Grauman's Egyptian Theatre
Grauman's Egyptian Theatre
Grauman's Egyptian Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California, is one of the world's most famous movie theatres. Opened in 1922, it was the venue for the first-ever Hollywood premiere.- History :...
and the Hollywood Masonic Temple
Hollywood Masonic Temple
Hollywood Masonic Temple, now known as the El Capitan Entertainment Centre, is a building on Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California that was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. The building was designed by architect John C. Austin, also noted as the lead architect of...
.
Biography
Charles Edward Toberman was born on February 23, 1880 in Seymour, TexasSeymour, Texas
Seymour is a city in and the county seat of Baylor County, Texas, United States. The population was 2,740 as of the 2010 Census.-Geography:Seymour is located at ....
to Philip and Lucy Ann Toberman; his uncle was Los Angeles mayor James R. Toberman
James R. Toberman
James Robert Toberman served six one year terms as Mayor of Los Angeles. He first served between 1872 and 1874 and again from 1878 to 1882. Mayor James R Toberman switched on the city's first electric streetlights. He helped map out the first street car grid and water and sewer systems...
. He attended the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
for three years and Metropolitan Business College at Dallas for one year.
Toberman began his career as a stenographer, working in Dallas and Wichita Falls, Texas
Wichita Falls, Texas
Wichita Falls is a city in and the county seat of Wichita County, Texas, United States, United States. Wichita Falls is the principal city of the Wichita Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Archer, Clay and Wichita counties. According to the U.S. Census estimate of 2010,...
before moving to Los Angeles
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...
in 1902. He returned to Wichita Falls and ran a hardware store before returning to Los Angeles, where he held a variety of positions including City Treasurer
City Treasurer
The City Treasurer is a position of responsibility for a city according to the prevailing laws in that city.The treasurer of a public agency is elected by the voting public or is appointed by the city council or city manager...
of Hollywood
Hollywood, Los Angeles, California
Hollywood is a famous district in Los Angeles, California, United States situated west-northwest of downtown Los Angeles. Due to its fame and cultural identity as the historical center of movie studios and movie stars, the word Hollywood is often used as a metonym of American cinema...
. He worked in real estate from 1907 on, incorporating the C.E. Toberman Company in 1912. Mr. Toberman placed fifty-three Hollywood subdivisions on the market, formed more than thirty companies and organizations, built twenty-nine commercial buildings in Hollywood, including the world -famous Chinese Theater and was affiliated with forty-nine clubs, civic, and fraternal organizations up until retirement Toberman managed all of his real estate holdings from his office in the heart of Hollywood.
Throughout the 1910s and 1920s, Toberman developed many notable buildings and neighborhoods in Hollywood, including notable theatres with showman Sid Grauman
Sid Grauman
Sidney Patrick Grauman was an American showman who created one of Southern California's most recognizable and visited landmarks, Grauman's Chinese Theater. He was the son of David Grauman who died in 1921 in Los Angeles, California and Rosa Goldsmith...
. In 1924, he built a Spanish-style
Spanish architecture
Spanish architecture refers to architecture carried out in any area in what is now modern-day Spain, and by Spanish architects worldwide. The term includes buildings within the current geographical limits of Spain before this name was given to those territories...
mansion known as the C.E. Toberman Estate
C.E. Toberman Estate
The C. E. Toberman Estate, also known as Via Las Colinas, is a gated Mission Revival mansion and estate on Camino Palermo in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.-Architecture:...
. He co-founded the Black-Foxe Military Institute
Black-Foxe Military Institute
The Black-Foxe Military Institute was a private school on both sides of Wilcox Ave. in Hollywood, adjacent to the Wilshire Country Club to the west and south and the Los Angeles Tennis Club to the east....
in 1928.
He married Josephine W. Bullock on June 25, 1902. The couple had three children: Jeanette, Homer (d. 1992), and Catherine.
Charles Toberman died in November 1981.