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This photograph by Toyo Miatake from the book “Michio Ito: A Man and his Dances” by Helen Caldwell, Ito’s student and a participant in the production, shows the costumed musicians for “The Hawk’s Well” the William Butler Yeats “Noh” play. Caldwell describes the production: “Although “At the Hawks Well” was mounted with far greater sophistication than that of the chandelier lit drawing room advocated by Yeats, it still had no theatricality in the usual sense; the effect was poetic simplicity. Argus Bowl was a small Greek-style theatre in a hillside on the Argus estate. It seated about three hundred persons. High above the actors one saw in dim outline the jagged peaks of a sierra. All around in the dark were trees. And there was a wizard named Lewis Barrington behind the lights to give the scene the otherworld reality Yeats had sought. This new setting still called upon the spectator’s imagination, with its black night, the faint suggestion of hills, and light that seemed a part of the verse”

The performances that are of greatest interest to current researchers were those involving Lester Horton and Michio Ito. Horton first appeared at the Argus Bowl in 1929 as the Chorographer and featured performer in the Song of Hiawatha, a treatment of the Longfellow poem by Clara Nixon Bates. Horton was one of the first to study Native American dance and to incorporate it into his work. (ERVHS)

This Argus family Christmas card by P. F. Brown shows the bowl in a sunny California mood. These handmade cards show the Argus’ longtime interest in promoting the arts. The bowl seems to have come into its most productive period around 1928. A variety of music and dance performances were presented and they began to be reviewed in the Los Angeles Times. (ERVHS)

The Argus family purchased the expansive 13-acre property on Hill Drive from C.C. Loomis in 1919. Mr. and Mrs. Loomis had already developed the garden over the previous 8 years at a cost of $25,000. It combined features of what was considered “Japanese” with elements of rustic California. Argus was the west coast manager for the Goodyear Co. They then began building a suitable residence on the property. It is unknown whether the outdoor theatre, known as the bowl, existed at this date.

This Christmas card shows the Wishing Well and a palm tree with the Argus home in the background. (ERVHS)

Flora Merriam vividly portrays the rustic bridge and water feature, shaded by wisteria, in this print. These Christmas cards appear to be original prints commissioned by the Argus family. (ERVHS)

The restored La Verna Avenue entry welcomed the community. (Photo by John Urquiza / TERA)

This photograph of the Norwalk Avenue entrance was taken by John Urquiza for the TERA (The Eagle Rock Association) Home Tour in 2004. The tour was headquartered in the auditorium. The new owners, the Greater Los Angeles Agency on Deafness (GLAD), had beautifully restored the building.

The elaborate ornamentation of the exterior was carried through in the auditorium. (Photo by Eric Warren / ERVHS)

The home continued to serve its residents in a homelike atmosphere until its closing in 1992 due to declining fortunes. The aging facility was only half occupied at the time. The Eagle Rock community was concerned about the fate of the historic building and precipitated its designation as Los Angeles Historic Cultural Monument #562 in 1992. (Eagle Rock Sentinel photo, probably by Joe Friezer / ERVHS)

This later postcard shows the elaborate over-door removed and replaced by wrought iron arch. This may be due to earthquake concerns. The main doors are covered in plywood. In the 1960’s a one story medical facility was built replacing one of the cottages. Its poor condition at the time of the building’s sale required its demolition. (ERVHS)