While on a map it looks like the city of Los Angeles is a
giant amoeba that has engulfed everything in the county, there is an island in
the middle of it that stands out: Beverly Hills is an incorporated city to this
day. It had not existed for very many years as a city (it was originally a lima
bean farm) when it was proposed that it be annexed by Los Angeles- the denizens
of Beverly Hills had huge gardens with water hungry plantings and the small
well in city property wasn’t keeping up with demands. Allowing themselves to be
annexed by LA would give them access to the Owens Valley water that was making
Los Angeles green. But it would also mean they could no longer have their own
school system and police force. In Prohibition Era Beverly Hills, having police
that turned a blind eye to booze fueled parties was a very nice perk.
Not all Beverly Hills denizens wanted or needed these perks,
and developers were dying to put in more housing but needed a good water source
to do so. So it was put up to a vote. This was when the first instance of
celebrity campaigning took place. Mary Pickford (and others, but she was the main
one) took to speaking for remaining a separate city heavily. And it worked.
This started the habit of Hollywood stars speaking out for politicians and
issues.
The book is fairly short, and if you are into early century
southern California history, it is fun. The celebrities, the horribly corrupt
LA police force, the development of what Beverly Hills was going to look like;
it all made its mark on the area. Well written. Four out of five stars.
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I received this book free from Net Galley in return for an unbiased review.
Neither of these things influenced my review.
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