Burbank in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Burbank City Hall

Photographed by Craig Baker, May 16, 2025

1. Burbank City Hall Marker

Inscription.
Burbank City Hall - April 18, 1996.
This Property has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior.

Erected by U.S. Department of the Interior.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Architecture. In addition, it is included in the Art Deco, and the Works Progress Administration (WPA) projects series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1943.

Location. 34° 10.914′ N, 118° 18.47′ W. Marker is in Burbank, California, in Los Angeles County. It is at the intersection of Olive Avenue and 3rd Street, on the left when traveling east on Olive Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 275 E Olive Ave, Burbank CA 91502, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s The Valley — the San Fernando Valley,

in Greater Los Angeles,

and in the Transverse Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Burbank's First City Hall (within shouting distance of this marker); Story Hardware (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Burbank Post Office (about 700 feet away); Burbank Railway Depot (approx. 0.3 miles away); Compass Tree Park (approx. 0.7 miles away); Grangetto Winery (approx. 0.9 miles away); Tropico Strawberry Growers (approx. 0.9 miles away); The Mentzer House (approx. 0.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Burbank.

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sectionhead>Another marker is no longer nearby. Cartoon Network Studios (was approx. 0.2 miles away but has been permanently removed).

Regarding Burbank City Hall. (from signs in the lobby:)
City Hall was designed by William Allen and George W. Lutzi and built by city employees in 1943. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.

City Hall is notable for its Public Works Administration Moderne/Art Deco architecture which was popular in the 1930s and 1940s.

The large 8 feet by 24 feet mural in the Rotunda - "Burbank Industry" — was installed in 1943 by the artist Hugo Ballin. The mural features Burbank-built airplanes, the motion picture industry, agriculture, a power plant, and scenes of Burbank family life, all representing the economic and social base of the community.
In 1964 the bottom third was removed to make way for a bridge to the then-new Municipal Services Building behind City Hall. It was kept in storage for 37 years.
The mural was restored in 2001 and the two sections were re-attached by fine arts conservation experts.
About the Artist
Hugo Ballin (1879-1956) painted both of the City Hall murals: "Burbank Industry" and "The Four Freedoms." He is well known for his many murals around the Los Angeles area, including those at Griffith Observatory and

Photographed by Denise Boose, May 16, 2012

2. Burbank City Hall Marker

the Times-Mirror Building. He was a skilled painter, writer, stage designer, muralist, and motion picture director. Born in New York on March 7, 1879, he studied art in New York, Paris, Rome, and Florence. In 1913 he decorated the Wisconsin State Capitol Building in Madison. In 1921, Ballin came to Los Angeles to work as a studio art director. He went on to direct and produce over 100 silent films. With the coming of talkies, he returned to mural painting and painted many murals for area buildings. In 1932 he designed the commemorative medallion for the Los Angeles Olympic Games.
Hugo Ballin died in Santa Monica, CA on November 27, 1956.

Burbank City Hall and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, May 16, 2025

3. Burbank City Hall and Marker

Burbank City Hall image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Denise Boose, May 16, 2012

4. Burbank City Hall

Art Deco Mailbox - 1943 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, May 16, 2025

5. Art Deco Mailbox - 1943

"Burbank Industry" Mural image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, May 16, 2025

6. "Burbank Industry" Mural

"The Four Freedoms" Mural image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Denise Boose, May 16, 2012

7. "The Four Freedoms" Mural

This is inside the city council chamber.

Photographed by Denise Boose, May 16, 2012

8. Lobby Floor

Lobby Stairways image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Denise Boose, May 16, 2012

9. Lobby Stairways

West side bas-relief image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Denise Boose, May 16, 2012

10. West side bas-relief

Burbank Centennial Time Capsule image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, May 16, 2025

11. Burbank Centennial Time Capsule

City of Burbank Sister Cities image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Denise Boose, May 16, 2012

12. City of Burbank Sister Cities

Solna, Sweden, 1960. Incheon, South Korea, 1961. Gaborone, Botswana, 1975. Ota, Japan, 1984.

Credits. This page was last revised on May 19, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 28, 2012, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. This page has been viewed 1,952 times since then and 52 times this year. Last updated on May 28, 2012, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. Photos: 1. submitted on May 19, 2025, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 2. submitted on May 28, 2012, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. 3. submitted on May 19, 2025, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 4. submitted on May 28, 2012, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. 5, 6. submitted on May 19, 2025, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 7, 8, 9, 10. submitted on May 28, 2012, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. 11. submitted on May 19, 2025, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 12. submitted on May 28, 2012, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.