Revelations

Not since Mike Eberts wrote Griffith Park: A Centennial History had anyone dived deep into the life, times and crime of Griffith Jenkins Griffith. But that was in 1996, and since then the Internet has transformed research and revealed details about people that shed light on the who and why of their persona. It was that technological advance that allowed such revelations in this book, chief among them:

Entire rancho for sale. It had been thought that Griffith, as per his autobiography, had intended to donate land after an 1882 Europe tour inspired his appreciation for parks. But newspaper ads placed in February 1889 show Griffith was willing to sell his entire rancho. That didn’t happen, probably because the 1880s land boom was over. Had it happened, no Griffith Park.

Mining scam? Griffith’s role as superintendent of the Wales mine in Eureka, Nevada, included writing telegrams to prospective investors that suggest he was willing to exaggerate, if not invent, the mine’s potential.

Earlier violence. Griffith’s San Francisco years were a mystery to Angelenos and few ever picked up on the fact he was once arrested for threatening a mine speculator over a failed investment. His early Los Angeles years were also easily ignored and there, too, he was involved in an altercation: a bare-knuckled fight with a stonemason demanding payment for certain  work.

Paying for publicity? Accused of forging checks, Griffith’s secretary was never convicted but made a strong case that he wrote flattering profiles of Griffith that Griffith allegedly paid to publish in local newspapers.

Industrialist under pressure. Griffith was the face of an ambitious tile factory that quickly faced financial pressures just as Griffith was nearing the day he shot his wife.

Social climber. Griffith was well known as a man about town, but just how ascendant he was soon after the park donation was never documented. Cases in point: as part of the city’s Fiesta de las Flores, he was bestowed a “knighthood” along with two other prominent Angelenos; he was also instrumental in organizing celebrations for the “Free Harbor” port victory, and the photo of him commanding his flower-covered horse carriage at the parade speaks to a Griffith in his glory.

Secondhand park. Today’s Barnsdall Park was once property owned by Griffith and might have become the site of a resort hotel had he not had to sell it in 1903 to cover trial expenses and payment to Tina.

Odd bedfellows. Anarchists (Emma Goldman and William Owen) as well as a prohibitionist (Eugene Chafin) as allies? That really did happen with Griffith when he focused on prison reform.