Los Angeles County CA Archives Biographies.....Behymer, Lynden E. ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ca/cafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Ila Wakley iwakley@msn.com August 15, 2010, 10:16 pm Source: California and Californians, Vol. IV, Published 1932, Pages 71 - 73 Author: The Lewis Publishing Company LYNDEN E. BEHYMER, the outstanding figure in things unusual in Los Angeles, was born in Ohio and his Lutheran ancestors left Holland many generations ago, went to England, and from there came to Virginia in 1650. One of his ancestors, Jonathan Behymer, was a soldier under Washington at Valley Forge. His father, Aaron S. Behymer, survived the battle of Gettysburg, after being wounded nine times. His mother was a daughter of Philip and Matilda (Moyer) Leach, and of the same lineage as Doctor Edgar Leach, a noted surgeon and scientist of Edinburgh, Scotland, and author of many medical works. Lynden E. Behymer graduated from high school in Shelbyville, Illinois, May 30, 1881, and then became a pioneer in the Dakota territory, establishing a mercantile business at Highmore, Hyde County. At Highmore, January 3, 1886, he married Miss Menettie Sparks, daughter of Harvey Harrison and Julie (Dunbar) Sparks. She was born at Fredonia, Chautauqua County, New York, May 8, 1866. To their marriage were born; Glenarvon, a well known Los Angeles attorney; Enid Lynn, wife of Dr. Roy Malcom, of the University of Southern California; and Elsie Olive, wife of Captain Egbert Earl Moody, M. D. A cyclone having destroyed all his possessions in Dakota, Mr. Behymer came to Los Angeles in 1886 and was given the management of the book department of Stoll & Thayer, book dealers and stationers. He also became literary editor of the Los Angeles Daily Herald and almost from the first became a power in encouraging the Los Angeles community to support meritorious and high class literary, dramatic, operatic and musical talent. In the fall of 1886 he assisted in bringing the first operatic organization of importance to the city, the National Grand Opera Company, with Theodore Thomas as conductor. The performances were rendered in Hazzard's Pavilion on the site of Temple Auditorium, and then for the first time the people of the city heard the operas of "Nero," "Othello," "L'A fricaine," "Tannhauser," "Les Huguenots" and "Norma." While not a man of wealth, Mr. Behymer's tremendous enthusiasm and enterprise in succeeding years brought many great artists and distinguished figures to Los Angeles, including Adelina Patti, Henry M. Stanley, Sarah Bernhardt, and others. In turn Mr. Behymer has managed all the leading theatres and auditoriums established and maintained at different times in Los Angeles and identified with the outside circuits throughout Southern California and Arizona. He formed the well known Philharmonic courses in the larger cities of the southwest in connection with the local music clubs, and gradually built up centers of music rivalling those of the older musical and dramatic circles of the east, founding a cultural heritage unequalled for the coming generations. With Harley Hamilton and Joseph Dupuy he founded and organized the Los Angeles Symphony Orchestra, and was its manager eighteen years, holding it up through struggles and adversities. For many years he has been advisor and manager of the Los Angeles Woman's Orchestra, and of the Los Angeles Oratorio Association. In 1919, as a result of the liberal gifts of W. A. Clark, Jr., financial security was assured for the Philharmonic Orchestra of Los Angeles, and the assemblying and managing of the organization was entrusted by Mr. Clark to Mr. Behymer. During the past quarter of a century nearly all the most famous individual artists in the musical world have appeared in Los Angeles under Mr. Behymer's management. He also provided the necessary financial guarantees for the appearance here of many celebrated musical organizations, including the great American and foreign orchestra, opera companies and dramatic organizations. So far as his time and energy have permitted, Mr. Behymer has generously given of them to the promotion of civic undertakings, including fiestas, pageants and entertainments by fraternal and charitable organizations. He is a rare combination even for a successful impresario. Mr. Behymer has been active for a number of years in the work of the Playground Association, the City Planning Association, the City Club, and the Drama League of America. He has collected what is probably one of the most complete musical and dramatic libraries on the Pacific Coast. Mr. Behymer, with Fred W. Blanchard, president of the Gamut Club, was instrumental in securing for Los Angeles the first performance of the first American Grand Opera, in Temple Auditorium in Los Angeles, on July 1, 1915. Among the opera companies formed by Mr. Behymer have been La Scala Grand Opera Company, touring the west, the California Grand Opera Company, in which were associated Gaetano Merola, the well known maestro, and Alexander Bevani. In addition to the grand opera productions, outdoor operatic and ballet performances have been given in the Hollywood Bowl, presenting Cadman's American opera, "Shanewis," and the Kosloff Oriental ballet, "Scheherazade," June 24 and 28, 1926, and other well known spectacles. Manager Behymer has been the artistic adviser for many of the well known club boards and producers. Mr. Behymer is probably one of the most widely traveled residents of Los Angeles. Traveling has been his recreation, though primarily performed in the line of duty. None of the artistic centers of Europe are strange to him. His favorite organization in Los Angeles is the Gamut Club. He is a member of the Los Angeles Athletic Club and of the Uplifters, is an officer of the Los Angeles section of the Drama League of America, the Hollywood Bowl Association, the City Club, the Edgewater Beach Club, the Arts Alliance, a trustee of the University of Southern California, an honorary member of the Savage Club of London; a member of the Wagner Opera League of Bayreuth. The University of Southern California gave him the honorary degree "Master of Business Administration," the first to be bestowed by that institution of learning. He is the dean of Los Angeles theatrical and musical managers; for many years he has been a member of Los Angeles Lodge No. 99, B. P. O. Elks, a Knights Templar, Scottish Rite Mason, and a member of Al Malaikah Temple of the Mystic Shrine. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/losangeles/bios/behymer1038gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/cafiles/ File size: 6.9 Kb