The Street Seen: Don't Stow Stones
2402 2nd Street @ Hollister Ave
Three carved limestone blocks on the southwest corner of 2nd Street & Hollister are all that remains of a pile of antique carved stones, originally from Europe, stored in the 1960s in the parking area behind 2401 Main St.
In 1961, Main Street woodworking and antique furnishing business owner, John J Weidemann1 acquires a 2-story 15th-century Italian stone façade, and a 3-story 16th-century French stone façade from the William Randolph Hearst estate at San Simeon.2 Weidemann buys a 1926 truck and, over the next five years, tediously moves the stones to the parking lot behind his under-construction building at 2401 Main St.3 Weidemann has no immediate use for the stones. His plan is to eventually incorporate the pieces into interiors that he is hired to design and build.
The neighbors complain about the “at least 10-ft-high” rock pile. The City - threatening six months imprisonment, a $500 fine, or both - orders Weidemann to appear in Municipal Court on two misdemeanor charges.4
Weidemann says he doesn’t see why the city wants to put him out of business, “My place here is a credit to an otherwise run-down neighborhood. Due to the nature and condition of the surrounding buildings, the storage does not detract from their appearance”. City Planning Director L.S. Storrs says zoning laws make no exceptions for storing works of art.
Weidemann requests for a variance. The variance is denied. Weidemann surrenders.5
John J. Weidemann (1929 - 2014). Born in New Jersey, by 1935, he and his parents are living at 2021 6th St in Ocean Park. In 1947, Weidemann (age 18) marries Lucille Kathryn Smith (1929 – 1979) (age 17). In 1950, Weidemann is separated and in the Armed Forces. In 1953 he has a uncredited beefcake part in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.
In 1958, Weidemann (accompanied by pregnant girlfriend Theodora D. Starros and their 7-month-old daughter Juliet) is in Los Angeles Superior Court for failing to pay child support (to Smith ?). Weidemann tells the judge that he met the mother while playing with “Kismet” company on the road – he had a small walk-on role. He married the girl 3 years ago (it is actually 11 years ?). He wasn’t sure their divorce was final - so he hadn’t married Starros. Judge Doyle says “This won’t do. You must be married right away. I’ll perform the ceremony and it won’t cost you a cent.” Weidemann says he is a cabinet maker with a salary of $75 a week that is completely consumed looking after his girlfriend and their daughter. Doyle orders Weidemann to send his former wife $10 a month child support.
Weidemann and Starros divorce in 1967. Weidemann moves to 222 Palisades Ave.
The Italian façade and the French Gothic façade are bought by Hearst in Europe in the 1920s.
The facades are disassembled, crated, and shipped to San Pedro in 1925 to 1927 and carted to San Simeon. There they are left in storage, still uncrated, with countless other art objects.
In 1962, Weidemann is operating a woodworking and antique furnishing business (Weidemann Designs) at 2403 Main St. In 1964, he acquires the adjacent vacant lot (2401 Main St) and in 1966 builds a 2-story workshop.
The 1958 Santa Monica city directory lists Weidemann as a sample maker for Packard Bell Electronics. Weidemann’s father, Murray Weidemann (1894 – 1976), is a machinist, and his stepmother, Clara Weidemann (1901 – 1982), is a housekeeper at the Riviera Country Club. Theodora’s father, Peter Georgeos Starros (1909 – 1995), a retail produce market owner, seems to be the most likely source of the funds to acquire 2401 and 2403 Main St - and the Hearst antiques.
In 1967, Weidemann is responsible for the interior of the Granada Theater at 9000 Sunset Blvd. The theater is a newly constructed space on the ground floor of an office building. Weidemann includes Spanish details that he has purchased from the Hearst Estate at San Simeon.
While the 2401 Main St. neighbors base their objection to the stone storage on the appearance (and the rats), the City's objection is that storage is not a permitted use, the space is required for parking, and there is a public safety issue about the earthquake stability of stacked stones.
Weidemann retires in 1980, and from 1981 until at least 1993, is living at 17520 Revello Dr in Pacific Palisades.