Oral Histories

Interview of Harry L. Lewis

Oil speculator, periodicals publisher, sports agent, boxing promoter, horse racing organizer and manager, and real estate developer.
Subtitle:
The Recollections of Harry L. Lewis
Series:
Z: Orphan Interviews pre 1999
Topic:
Business
Community History
Biographical Note:
Oil speculator, periodicals publisher, sports agent, boxing promoter, horse racing organizer and manager, and real estate developer.
Interviewer:
Nunis, Doyce B. Jr
Interviewee:
Lewis, Harry L.
Supporting Documents:
Records relating to the interview are located in the office of the UCLA Library's Center for Oral History Research.
Language:
English
Copyright:
Interviewee Retained Copyright
Abstract:
Travels to Alaska during gold rush, 1901-2; experiences during San Francisco earthquake and fire, 1906; careers as West Coast newspaper editor and publisher, Federal Bureau of Investigation agent, wildcat oil speculator, boxing promoter, racetrack manager, and builder of exclusive resort hotels; participation in capture of Juárez, Mexico, by Pancho Villa, 1914; promotion of racetrack in Chicago during Capone era; building in Santa Monica of Edgewater Beach Club, 1925-26, and Breakers Club, 1928; retirement to Palm Springs before Depression; involvement in developments in Palm Springs; campaign to have racing legalized in California; reestablishing racing in Arizona; managing racing meets in Phoenix, Tucson, and Portland, 1935-40; opening Puente racetrack after World War II; wife's motion picture career, 1920s and early 1930s.