DISQUS

I was happy to see your article on the American Hotel. I presented a paper on Dr. W. R. Price at an academic conference that I am currently expanding into a book.

Dr. Price's organization was called "The Holy Kiss" society mainly by its critics. The official name was the "Society of the New and Practical Psychology" and the building was the "Psychological Temple". It was clearly inspired by and modeled after the Masonic Temple on Pine Avenue.

W.R. Price was a former Baptist minister, traveling hypnotist, and one of the most colorful figures in early Long Beach history. Between his arrival in 1904 and his departure for Los Angeles in 1919 he was involved in a series of psychological experiments, public debates, personal feuds, sexual scandals, investment schemes, and several lawsuits. The Psychological Temple was the eye of the storm. The intensity of the controversy may be gauged by the fact that when his creditors (and former followers) gained control of the Psychological Temple they removed his name from the plate glass with acid and from the cornerstone with a chisel.

I look forward to reading updates on the future of the American Hotel/Psychological Temple.