Willard H. George
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Furrier, Fashion |
| Founded | January 1, 1918 |
| Founder | Willard Hampton George |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles, California , United States |
Area served | United States |
| Products | Fur garments |
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Willard Hampton George (born July 20, 1889 – died October 24, 1956) was a prominent American furrier operating out of Los Angeles, California. Beginning in the 1920s, he specialized in designing and supplying fur garments for Hollywood film studios.
Among the notable actresses who wore furs crafted by George were Lucille Ball, Greta Garbo, and Rita Hayworth.
As of 2017, efforts were underway to restore his former showroom at 3300 Wilshire Boulevard to its original Art Deco style.
Early life
Willard H. George entered the world on July 20, 1889, in Lincoln, Nebraska. He was the son of Sadie Kiel George and descended from Conrad Kiel, an early Las Vegas pioneer and proprietor of the Kyle Ranch in Las Vegas.[1] George spent his formative years in Los Angeles, where he attended Manual Arts High School.[1]
Career
By 1910, George had begun working as a furrier at a retail establishment in Los Angeles.[1] Within eight years, he had established Willard H. George Limited, a company that designed and retailed fur products from its location at 701 West 7th Street in downtown Los Angeles.
From 1929 through the 1950s, his operations were based out of the Art Deco Willard H. George building situated at 3330 Wilshire Boulevard, at the intersection with South Catalina Street, in what is now known as Los Angeles' Koreatown neighborhood.[1][2] Afterward, this building housed Sherman Clay and Company, a piano retailer, for several decades before becoming vacant in 2010 and facing potential demolition. Restoration work began by 2017 to remove a later-added false wall that had obscured the original facade from the 1920s and to reinstate the expansive staircase from the 1950s.[2] This staircase was uniquely utilized by George as a runway for models to showcase his fur designs directly to clientele instead of relying on traditional store displays.[2]
George’s clientele included Hollywood stars such as Lucille Ball, Rita Hayworth, and Greta Garbo.[1] He earned the nickname "The Chinchilla Industry's Greatest Friend" after developing a grading system for chinchilla fur that gained nationwide acceptance and received endorsement from the National Chinchilla Breeders Board in 1947.[3]
Personal life
He was the parent of musician Lowell George, known for his collaborations with Frank Zappa and as the founder, lead singer, and guitarist of Little Feat.
George passed away on October 24, 1956.
References
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<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedCurbed - ↑ The Willard H. George Co. Furriers store, 3330 Wilshire Blvd, in 1931. Archived 2019-06-24 at the Wayback Machine Martin Turnbull, January 29, 2014. Retrieved June 25, 2019.