Skip to main content
Back to Show
Lost LA

Paul R. Williams – Architect for the Masses

Best known for his residential projects with Hollywood's elite, Paul R. Williams nevertheless sought to provide affordable design to L.A.'s growing population. Appointed to the National Board of Municipal Housing in 1940, Williams began his journey into the world of public housing, where his eye for design and keen understanding of the needs of the people shone in homes that still stand today. Listen to UCLA historian Eric Avila as he explains the dynamics of affordable housing in Los Angeles and Paul R. Williams' civic aspirations.

Support Provided By
Season
California Blooms
26:29
From wildflowers to jacarandas, explore the plants that paint California in vibrant hues.
True Crime
26:40
Discover how the True Crime genre was shaped by its deep historic legacy in Los Angeles.
Sci-Fi Origins
26:43
Uncover the origins of the sci-fi genre and its unique connection to historic Los Angeles.
The Fast and the Forgotten
27:10
Auto racing's LA roots, from dry lake beds to movie ranches, left tread marks across the region.
Lost LA Season 7
28:46
Uncover Disney’s LA roots and how the city became the birthplace of modern animation.
When the St. Francis Dam Collapsed
27:05
Trace the devastation of the 1928 St. Francis Dam collapse and its deadly flood.
Cold War Secrecy
26:40
How Cold War vigilance and secrecy shaped Southern California culture.
Space Shuttle
26:39
The Space Shuttle Endeavour’s journey is traced from its origins.
Lost LA Season 6
26:40
Tiki culture isn’t a Polynesian import — it’s a Hollywood creation.
Tuberculosis: The Forgotten Plague
26:49
Archives reveal the “forgotten plague” that shaped Southern California: tuberculosis.
Eternal City: Los Angeles Cemeteries
26:50
Visit Hollywood Forever, Evergreen and Forest Lawn, where L.A. reinvented the cemetery.
Hiking Trailblazers
26:40
The hiker-activists who led Angelenos into their hills and onto the trails.
Active loading indicator