4 comments

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  Gunther

  1 year ago

  i like this story a lot. i'm glad to see the redevelopment people are finding a way to work with this building. it's a cool building that could have a second life as something else.
  
  we should hold onto anything that gives us a sense of uniqueness. i like this building more then i like the new ones next to it.
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  Mary Walker

  1 year ago

  I was happy to see your article on the American Hotel. I presented a paper on Dr. W. R. Price at an academic conference that I am currently expanding into a book.
  
  Dr. Price's organization was called "The Holy Kiss" society mainly by its critics. The official name was the "Society of the New and Practical Psychology" and the building was the "Psychological Temple". It was clearly inspired by and modeled after the Masonic Temple on Pine Avenue.
  
  W.R. Price was a former Baptist minister, traveling hypnotist, and one of the most colorful figures in early Long Beach history. Between his arrival in 1904 and his departure for Los Angeles in 1919 he was involved in a series of psychological experiments, public debates, personal feuds, sexual scandals, investment schemes, and several lawsuits. The Psychological Temple was the eye of the storm. The intensity of the controversy may be gauged by the fact that when his creditors (and former followers) gained control of the Psychological Temple they removed his name from the plate glass with acid and from the cornerstone with a chisel.
  
  I look forward to reading updates on the future of the American Hotel/Psychological Temple.
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  Maureen Neeley

  1 year ago

  I, too, look foward to seeing continuing coverage of this building (American Hotel). Its past is quite unique to the history of Long Beach - a town of fairly conservative religions at the turn-of-the-last-century. I find it intriguing that we experimented with the sub-conscious and subliminal psychology at that time.
  
  Remember, the early twentieth century was still grappling with Darwin's theories as well as the seduction of seances; i.e., connecting with other realms. The Psychological Temple was Long Beach's nod to alternative lifestyles. In fact, if you dig into Mary Walker's thesis you will find that several prominent Long Beach-eans were members, including major developer Geoge Lazenby and his wife, Dr. Alice Lazenby.
  
  Dr. Price's contributions in Long Beach provide some color to our early fabric - let's capitalize on this!
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  marie jones

  2 months ago

  I`m from texas ,and i stayed at the american hotel on long beach blvd. i remember that there was a little chinese resturant on the corner..I was there in the 80s. (stayed a month)... This place had a style all of it`s on, and lord, if those walls could talk..... I remember sitting on the fire escape watching all the people go by and the cops on horses,, being from texas, it was different. at the time, little did i know i was staying in such an old, antique, hotel.... it was definitely an experience. please keep me updated on the rise or fall of it.. my email address is sweetascanb73@yahoo.com sincerely, marie J. in texarkana,texas
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