L.A. Smith

Lewis Arthur Smith was an American architect of German descent, born in Ohio and later based in Los Angeles. He became one of the most prolific theater architects of the 1920s, designing approximately forty theaters throughout Southern California. Smith began his Los Angeles career in 1914 with residential and institutional projects, including a home for invalids. He partnered with William Pennell in 1920 and worked extensively with Bard's and Fox West Coast Theatres throughout the decade. From 1925 onward, he focused exclusively on theater design until bankruptcy ended his career. Smith was married to F. W. Smith from 1914 until her death between, and lived with his elder sister in his later years.

Smith specialized in entertainment architecture, demonstrating expertise in theater design that balanced functional requirements with the glamorous aesthetic demands of the cinema age. His work spanned various theater types from neighborhood cinemas to grand movie palaces, suggesting an adaptable approach that could accommodate different scales and budgets while maintaining the theatrical experience essential to 1920s cinema culture.