Former Showcase House in La Cañada highlighted in documentary on architect Paul R. Williams
A 1927 English Revival home on lower Commonwealth Avenue in La Cañada is one of the properties featured in a PBS documentary “Hollywood’s Architect — The Paul Williams Story.”
Doors to the historic estate, which includes a guest cottage, were opened to the public in the spring of 2011 after it was transformed into the 47th annual Showcase House of Design by the nonprofit group Pasadena Showcase House for the Arts.
Williams, an African American born in 1894, persevered to become a noted and sought-after architect despite being warned early on in his career that no white clients would want to work with him. The local Showcase House was just one of several he built in this community and throughout the Southland.
According to KCET, Williams “had a life story that could have been dreamed up by a Hollywood screenwriter.”
Marti Farley, who served as PSHA president in 2011, is on screen during the documentary, pointing out some of the unique features Williams incorporated into the Commonwealth Avenue home’s design.
Produced by Royal Kennedy Rodgers and Kathy McCampbell Vance, the 56-minute documentary’s next local airing is at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 23 on KCET-HD. Or, viewers can watch it online at kcet.org.
— Valley Sun staff.