Did the LA library burn in 1986?
That’s when the best-selling author of The Orchid Thief (made into the film Adaptation) and other books first learned about the April 29, 1986 fire that destroyed the main branch, burned or damaged more than one million books, and became the largest library fire in American history.
Who burned the LA library?
Orlean
In a reverse “Fahrenheit 451,” Orlean took a fire and turned it into a book. Titled — aptly and ingeniously — “The Library Book,” it tells the story of the mysterious fire that burned 400,000 books while also tracing Orlean’s love of libraries, from trips with her mother to taking her son.
When did the Los Angeles library burn?
1986
As terrible as the 1986 fire at Central Library was, it shone a spotlight on how much the residents of Los Angeles value their libraries.
When was the LA Central Library built?
1926
Designed by New York architect Bertram Goodhue, the original Central Library was built during the mid 1920s. It was the last project of Goodhue’s career. He died suddenly in 1924, and his associate Carleton Winslow took over supervision of construction, bringing the building to completion in 1926.
When was the fire at the Central Library in Los Angeles?
Firefighters battle a blaze at the L.A. Central Library downtown on April 29, 1986. Smoke billows from the Los Angeles Central Library during the blaze that raged out of control for hours on April 29, 1986. Fire Capt. Don Stukey probes damage after the devastating fire at the L.A. Central Library in 1986.
What was the story of the 1986 library fire?
Susan Orlean’s new book is like exploring the stacks of a library, where something unexpected and interesting can be discovered on every page. The Library Book tells the story of the 1986 fire that damaged or destroyed more than one million books in Los Angeles’ Central Library. “The fire burned for seven hours,” Orlean says.
Who was the suspect in the Los Angeles library fire?
Handsome and underemployed, he was a little bit rootless and quite a big talker; some news reports called him a part-time actor. He matched a sketch of the suspect. According to some (but not all) accounts, he was downtown at the time.
Who was the architect of the Los Angeles Central Library?
Architect Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue designed the original Los Angeles Central Library with influences of ancient Egyptian and Mediterranean Revival architecture.
