Hugo Ballin

Hugo Ballin NA (March 7, 1879 – November 27, 1956) was born

in New York City and studied at the Art Students League of New York. When the

Wisconsin State Capital was built in the early 20th Century, Ballin created 26

murals for its interior. In 1917 he began working for Goldwyn Pictures in New

Jersey as an art director and production designer and in 1921 he moved to Los

Angeles at the request of Samuel Goldwyn. He was soon also directing, writing,

and producing silent films for his own production company. He was married to

the actress Mabel Croft Ballin.

When Hollywood began making talking pictures, Ballin left

the film industry to return to his first career as a classically trained

artist. He became one of the foremost muralists in the Los Angeles area,

producing murals which still stand at landmark locations such as Griffith

Observatory, Wilshire Boulevard Temple, LA County General Hospital (now known

as Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center), and Burbank City Hall.

Ballin was made a National Academician in 1940. He is buried

in Woodlawn Memorial Cemetery, Santa Monica.