Simeon Charles Lee, AIA was an American architect recognized as one of the most prolific and distinguished motion picture theater designers on the West Coast. Born in Chicago to German-Jewish parents, Lee grew up attending vaudeville theaters and early movie houses, which sparked his lifelong passion for theater design. He graduated from Lake Technical High School in 1916 and Chicago Technical College in 1918 with honors.
After serving in the Navy during World War I, he studied architecture at the Armour Institute of Technology, where he was exposed to École des Beaux-Arts principles. Early in his career, he worked for the renowned Chicago firm Rapp & Rapp, known for movie theater design. In 1922, Lee moved to Los Angeles, where he would become the principal designer of motion picture theaters during the 1930s and 1940s, credited with designing over 400 theaters throughout California and Mexico.
AWARDS
Featured in Architect & Engineer magazine for Tower Theatre work (1928)
Honored by Royal Institute of British Architects at the International Exhibition of Contemporary Architecture for Fox Florence Theatre (1934)
Featured in Architectural Record for Temple Israel of Hollywood work (1946)
Society of Registered Architects Synergy Award - highest recognition (1975)
UCLA Graduate School of Architecture and Urban Planning established an endowed chair in his honor (1986)
NOTABLE WORKS
Hollywood & Western Building/Mayer Building (1928), Hollywood – NRHP, LAHCM #336
Fox Florence Theatre(1930-32), Florence-Graham – NRHP