Hollywood Professional School was a private school in Hollywood, California. Initially established as a music conservatory by pianist Gladys T. Littell in 1921 under the name Hollywood Conservatory of Music and Arts, the school quickly expanded its offerings into theater and dance as well as music. In 1929 the Hollywood Professional School (HPS) was established by Viola Foss Lawler as a companion private school to the conservatory, with both schools operating legally as a single institution under the Hollywood Conservatory of Music and Arts name. In 1944 the school was purchased by Bertha Keller Mann and it ceased teaching the arts and became solely a private school teaching traditional academic subjects in grades K-12 to mostly children working in the entertainment business or competitive athletics in Los Angeles. It operated until 1985.
History Hollywood Conservatory of Music and Arts The Hollywood Professional School (HPS) was established in 1921 by pianist Gladys T. Littell under the name the Hollywood Conservatory of Music and Arts (HCMA). The HCMA taught both children in a pre-professional program and young adults on a pre-professional conservatory track of development. Originally the school only offered instruction in string instruments, piano, and vocal music, with instruction in singing initially being led by Louis Graveure, and Frances Kendig teaching piano and music theory, and string instruction by Zoellner. For the Fall of 1924, bandmaster, clarinetist, and composer Albert Perfect joined the faculty of the school when it expanded its offering to include woodwinds and brass instruments. At the same time Modest Altschuler was a visiting lecturer at the institution, and Russian pianist Alexander Kosloff joined the piano faculty. Soon after, Bruno David Ussher was hired to teach music history for the school, Arthur Kachel was hired to teach acting in the tradition of Leland T. Powers, Roy Harris was hired as an instructor in ear training, and Jean Galeron taught French and diction for singers.
Several important appointments were made in December 1924 for the beginning of the Spring 1925 academic semester, including the appointment of the HCMA's first official administrative director, its founder Gladys T. Littell. Hugo Kirchhofer was appointed as the head of the vocal music department, and Lizeta Kalova taking over the strings department. In 1925 the HCMA moved into new premises at 5400 Hollywood Boulevard at Serrano Avenue with a recital on November 17, 1925. Opera singer Alma Stetzler taught singing at the school in the late 1920s. German concert pianist and composer Georg Liebling was a member of the piano faculty in the early 1930s. The school presented numerous student recitals and productions during the 1920s and early 1930s, as well as hosting concerts given by established professionals. During the late 1930s and early 1940s the conservatory portion of school reduced steadily. The HPS continued to operate at the HCMA under Littell.
In 1944 Littell sold the HCMA to Bertha Keller Mann and it ceased teaching the arts. The HPS private school became the sole focus of the institution. In 1948 the school was enrolling students K-12 and operating under the name the Hollywood Professional School while legally still existing under its former name, the Hollywood Conservatory of Music and Arts, on paper. Many of the pupils who attended the school were children working in show business, operating mornings only so that the children could work in the afternoon. It closed down in June 1985 due to insufficient enrollment and the death of the owner that same year. The school's building and many of its assets were auctioned in August 1985.
Hollywood Professional School In 1929 Viola Foss Lawler established the Hollywood Professional School (HPS) at 5402 Hollywood Boulevard as a private school addition to the HCMA. This allowed students at the conservatory to attend grammar school and secondary school classes while studying subjects like music and drama. Lawler's school focused on catering to children in the entertainment business, following a similar model pioneered by the Professional Children's School in New York City. By 1930 there were close to 300 students enrolled in the first through 12th grades at HPS.
Lawler parted ways with the HCMA in 1937 to establish her own independent school, the Lawler Professional School which was later known as the Mar-Ken Professional School. Martha O'Driscolls mother was a financial partner in the Mar-Ken Professional Children's School.
Notable alumni
Beverly Aadland, actress Dick Addrisi of "The Addrisi Brothers" Donna Atwood, figure skater Jill Banner John Drew Barrymore, actor Molly Bee, singer Valerie Bertinelli, actress Henry Blair, child actor"Short and Simple Ads Best, Boys Tell Club". Hollywood Citizen-News. May 4, 1948. p. 12. Retrieved April 26, 2024. Barbara Bouchet, actress Jimmy Boyd, actor, singer Todd Bridges, actor Lonnie Burr, actor, dancer Tony Butala, singer (member of The Lettermen) John Hope Bryant, entrepreneur and actor Charles L. Campbell, sound editor Roger Campbell, ice skater and Olympic medalist Jo Ann Castle, pianist Cyd Charisse, dancer and actress Tommy Cole, actor, makeup artist Larry Collins, singer Lorrie Collins, singer The Cowsills, singing group Martha Crawford Cantarini, actress Joan Davis, actress, comedian Gloria DeHaven, actress Bobby Driscoll, actor Edith Fellows, actress Peggy Fleming, Olympic figure skater, television sports commentator Annette Funicello, actress Judy Garland, singer, actress Leif Garrett, actor, singer John Gary, singer Lisa Gaye, actress Wally George, talk-show host Barry Gordon, actor, former Screen Actors Guild President Peter Gowland, photographer Scott Walker singer, experimental composer the Walker Brothers Betty Grable, actress, singer, dancer Urbie Green, trombonist Melanie Griffith, actress Arthur Hamilton, song writer Sherry Jackson, actress Larry Kert, actor, singer Val Kilmer, actor Tommy Kirk, actor Christopher Knight, actor (The Brady Bunch) Marta Kristen, actress Mickey Kuhn, actor Piper Laurie, actress Brenda Lee, singer Roberta Linn, singer Peggy Lipton, actress Michael Lloyd, musician, producer, screen composer Julie London, actress, singer Mike Lookinland, actor (The Brady Bunch) Skip E. Lowe, actor Susan Luckey, actress Sue Lyon, actress David Marks guitarist, singer (member of The Beach Boys Billy and Bobby Mauch, actors Eddy Medora, guitarist (member of The Sunrays) Maureen McCormick, actress (The Brady Bunch) Ann Miller, actress, dancer, singer Shirley Mills, actress Yvette Mimieux, actress Marrian Murray, Canadian figure skating champion Donald O'Connor, actor, dancer Susan Olsen, actress (The Brady Bunch) Cubby O'Brien, actor, drummer Griffin O'Neal, actor Ryan O'Neal, actor Tatum O'Neal, actress Annette O'Toole, actress Debra Paget, actress Butch Patrick, actor Melody Patterson, actress Mackenzie Phillips, actress Tommy Rall, dancer Angel Romero, guitarist Mickey Rooney, actor Peggy Ryan, actress, dancer Lugene Sanders, actress Jill St. John, actress Karen Sharpe, actress Mark Spiegler, talent agent The Steiner Brothers (tap-dancing trio) Connie Stevens, actress Matthew Ward, singer Tone Loc, rapper Tuesday Weld, actress Virginia Weidler, actress Andy Williams, singer Carl Wilson, singer, guitarist (member of The Beach Boys) Lana Wood, actress Natalie Wood, actress
References
External links HPS Alumni Association Reed v. Hollywood Professional School (1959) Anti-discrimination lawsuit against the school by a black child denied admission.