Our History
Our History
John Tracy, son of two actors Spencer and Louise Tracy, was born June 26, 1924. When John was 10 months old, his mother became alarmed when he did not react when a door accidently slammed shut.
"I stopped suddenly.... I stood motionless beside his crib. I called his name again -- and then I shouted it. He slept on. And so, I discovered our baby was deaf."
The diagnosis came back as a profound hearing loss, of unknown origin. Louise Treadwell Tracy decided to devote her time and energy in studying how deaf children could be taught to communicate. She patiently guided her son, John, and with her encouragement, he not only learned to communicate, but he thrived.
"We went right on talking to Johnny, singing to him, telling him nursery rhymes, and as it turned out, that was just the right thing to do," Louise once said, according to a 1983 LA Times story.
Years later, once John was grown, Mrs. Tracy responded to a desperate call for help from twelve other mothers of young deaf children. In 1943, JTC was compassionately founded by Louise Treadwell Tracy after she witnessed the limited services, technology, and education available for children like her son, John. At that time, JTC became the only such entity worldwide to provide services to educate and offer support to parents of infants and preschool children with hearing loss. Walt Disney, with whom the family was friends with, was one of the original board members.
In a Daily News article from 2003, before John Tracy passed away, he was asked whether he had a message for the children who are deaf or hard of hearing that attend the center that bears his name.
"I want to let the kids know they can live a full life. Sports, schools, hobbies, interests, dating, marriage, have a family, drive a car -- all of it."-John Tracy
By encouraging parents to build a foundation of communication with their children during the critical stage for language development, JTC has enabled close to half a million children to master the challenges of listening and spoken language and communicate on par with their hearing peers by the time they reach elementary school.
Mrs. Tracy inspired nearly 80 years of service to a community in need of dynamic, interactive, family-focused care. When a family comes to JTC, they find more than a building; they receive family-centered education, encouragement, guidance, and support they need for their child. We owe a debt of gratitude to all those who have come before us to shape this organization and to build on Mrs. Tracy's vision for a worldwide movement.
Timeline
JTC Through the Years
JTC was founded in 1943 by Louise Treadwell Tracy, wife of actor Spencer Tracy. JTC was named in honor of their son John who was born deaf. Mrs. Tracy's vision that children with hearing loss will learn to listen and speak remains the foundation of JTC today. We have evolved our family-centered methodology to be provided through direct service, social media, mail and online services to families around the world. In short, we are no longer just a clinic but a world-wide center. With reverence to Mrs. Tracy's words and the work she inspired, we have become the John Tracy Center. From its founding JTC has provided services for families and children with hearing loss, offering Hope, Guidance and Encouragement.
2021
Expansion Speech Language Pathology Program
Our speech-language pathologists have expanded to welcome children of all needs, though we continue to be specialists in hearing loss. We are experienced in a wide range of communication delays and disorders and aim to empower families to be partners in our therapy plans.
2021
World Renown International Sessions Offered Virtually
Essential Listening Spoken Language Lab for children and families across the state, nation and globe is offered for those who cannot come to our facilities. The program offers online live sessions about LSL for parents of preschoolers, ages 2 to 6.
2020
COVID-19 Impact and Response
JTC’s commitment to support our families remained constant through the COVID-19 pandemic. We moved quickly to provide essential services virtually and reopened critical audiology services as soon as government orders allowed.
2020
JTC’s Grand Opening
JTC unveils out brand new state-of-the-art-facility at our Grand Opening of 2160 W. Adams in Los Angeles, CA.
2019
After a comprehensive search process, John Tracy Center’s Board of Directors announces the appointment of Cathleen Mathes as JTC’s new President and CEO. Gaston Kent retires after more than eight years of service as President and CEO of the JTC community.
2019
John Tracy Clinic is renamed to John Tracy Center, relocates to a newly renovated state-of-the-art facility, and begins the Capital Campaign: Becoming John Tracy Center.
2019
JTC opens an additional satellite office in San Gabriel, CA, offering Parent-Infant, Listening & Spoken Language, Speech Therapy, and Deaf & Hard of Hearing Services.
2018
JTC Celebrates 75th Anniversary at the Walt Disney Studios
2017
JTC sells 806 West Adams property, purchases 2160 W. Adams property and begins the process of renovating the building to ensure JTC’s long-term sustainability.
2016
JTC expands Audiology services to children up to eighteen years old.
2015
JTC pilots live online Parent Classes for International Families in collaboration with other organizations and facilitated by JTC alumni families.
2008
JTC introduces dual language learning to enable children from non-English speaking homes to become bilingual, once thought to be impossible for deaf children.
2004
Sunrise Courtyard is dedicated to the many guilds and auxiliaries Children’s Benefit League, San Marino Guild, Orange County Guild, Long Beach Guild, Brentwood Guild, Women’s Auxiliary and AMVETS National Ladies Auxiliary to acknowledge their many years of support.
2004
JTC Begins using Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) testing, establishing the Clinic as one of the top four institutions in Southern California for comprehensive pediatric hearing assessments.
2002
Twelve families from eight Spanish speaking countries attend first Spanish International Summer Session.
2001
“Doors to the Future” Capital Campaign begins to support the expansion of John Tracy Clinic
1997
The Correspondence Course is renamed to Parent Distance Education Program and begins offering it online. Spanish Parent Distance Education was offered online in 2000.
1993
The 50th Anniversary Celebration is held at the Doheny Mansion in Los Angeles. Mrs. Doheny was a close friends with Louise Tracy.
1993
A $2,000,000 Capital Renovation Campaign is launched by the Board of Directors. Campaign Committee members include co-chairs Susie Tracy & Dickinson C. Ross.
1993
Louise Treadwell Tracy passes away and is remembered as one of the great innovators in the field of early childhood deaf education.
1978
Desert Friends of John Tracy Clinic founded and begins to conduct hearing screenings at preschools in the Coachella Valley.
1975
Fundraising partnership established with AMVETS Auxiliary, a national volunteer organization representing families of American Veterans.
1974
After more than 30 years, Louise Tracy resigns as Director of JTC due to a decline in health. The position is filled by Dr. Edgar L. Lowell, Clinic Administrator since 1954.
1969
The Speech & Research Laboratory Building is built at JTC’s 806 W. Adams location.
1967
Spencer Tracy passes away
1965
John Tracy Clinic opens satellite Long Beach center offering Demonstration Home Parent-Infant Program
1963
JTC begins offering a Community Hearing Screening Program to preschools in Southern California
1954
JTC’s Spanish translation of Correspondence Course offered Worldwide
1953
JTC and University of Southern California offer the first master’s and credential program in special education with an emphasis on deaf and hard of hearing.
1952
Louise Tracy advocates for testing children’s hearing at 2 to 3 months of age.
1951
John Tracy Clinic purchases a new building at 806 West Adams Boulevard.
1949
JTC’s Parent-Infant Program opens as the first of its kind in the nation
1946
Preschool Class of 1946
1943
In addition to on-site services, to reach those who could not travel to JTC, the Worldwide Correspondence Course is adapted. The course helps parents teach language to their deaf children.
1943
Walt Disney is the first Chairman of the Board of Directors. Founding Board members also included Spencer Tracy, Neil McCarthy, and Audrey Caldwell
1943
John Tracy Clinic is founded by Louise Tracy. She responded to a desperate call for help from twelve mothers of young deaf children. JTC becomes the first organization on the west coast to develop a parent-centered, spoken-language curriculum for preschoolers with hearing loss.
1927
Louise devoted her time and energy traveling throughout the U.S., using materials from different schools studying how to teach John to communicate with the hearing and speaking world. At age 3 he said “Mama” for the first time.
1924
Spencer and Louise Tracy’s first child, John, is born. In 1925 he is diagnosed with hearing loss. The cause of his deafness is Usher syndrome, which rendered him blind as an adult.
Hollywood Connections
Rian Johnson
Academy Award nominated American film maker; Rian Johnson was honored at John Tracy Center's JTC 75th Anniversary Gala at Disney Studios on May 6th, 2018. Rian, who once worked as JTC's media intern, joined the 2019 Capital Campaign, A Clinic to the World: Becoming John Tracy Center. We are grateful that in his Hollywood success and in gifting the Rian Johnson Auditorium, he continues to support John Tracy Center's mission to help children with hearing loss learn to listen and speak.
Special guests attending the 75th Gala were Mark, Marilou, Chelsea and Nate Hamill, Joseph Gordon Levitt, Kelly Marie Tran, Ram Bergman, Kelly Marcel, Gus Van Sant, Stephen and Lorrie Clark, Noah Segan, among others
Walt Disney
American entrepreneur, animator voice actor and film producer. Walt Disney is considered a pioneer of the American animation industry. As a film producer, Disney holds the record for most Academy Awards earned by an individual, having won 22 Oscars from 59 nominations.
The Tracy and Disney relationship was long and deep, they knew each other from polo and the entertainment industry. Perhaps the greatest link was John Tracy. Louise and Spencer's son, John had an interest in art and as child started a newspaper. The first issue sported a Mickey Mouse cover with and inscription by Disney, which read, "Good Luck to Johnny Tracy"." IN 1957, Disney hired John to work at the studio. He eventually left when his sight deteriorated, and he was no longer able to do his job.
Disney later funded and supplied a director from his studio. Larry Lansburgh, to produce a short film about John Tracy Clinic's Programs, titled Listening Eyes.
Walt Disney took an active role as Founding Director for the Clinic and served as Vice President of the Board of Directors until his death in 1966. He personally participated in fundraisers, lent his expertise for film-based documentation and instruction, and chaired the Endowment Committee.
John Tracy Clinic celebrated its 75th Anniversary Gala at Disney Studios Legends Plaza under Walt Disney's office in 2017.
Annette Joanne Funicello
Achieved teenage popularity starting in October 1955 after she debuted as a Mouseketeer. Walt Disney himself saw her preforming the lead roles in "Swan Late" at her ballet school's year-end recital in Burbank and decided to have her audition along with two hundred other children. Annette became the last Mouseketeer of the twenty-four that was picked. By the run-through in 1958 of the Mickey Mouse Club (1955) in which she appeared in her own multi-segmented series entitled "Annette", she had become the most popular of them all and the only one kept under contract by Walt Disney after he canceled the show. After that she appeared in several films. Annette was very closed with Walt Disney and participated in several of John Tracy Clinic's benefits especially the annual Bazzars during the 60's.
Spencer Tracy
One of the major stars of Hollywood's Golden Age. Spencer Tracy won two consecutive Academy Awards for Best Actor in 1937 and 1938 for Captains Courageous and Boys Town. Tracy was considered one of the best actors of his time. Despite the perception of being able to perform effortlessly, acquaintance of Tracy said that he would carefully prepare for each role. He continues to receive praise from his scholars, describing Tracy as a master of acting technique.
Spencer Tracy met Louise Treadwell when they were both members of the Wood Players in New York and married in 1023. Their son was born in 1924, and soon after diagnosed with hearing loss. Spencer was devastated by the news of his son's deafness. He supported Louise as she worked tirelessly in teaching John to learn to speak.
After Louise founded JTC, Spencer supported her work with the Clinic and was its sole financial support in the beginning. In April 1951, Spencer turned the world premiere of his new film, Father's Little Dividend at Grauman's Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood, into a building fund-raiser for the Clinic's new site. Spencer's support was always strong, and over his Hollywood career, he personally donated more than half a million dollars to the Clinic. His admiration for his wife was another constant. At the dedication of the new Clinic building in 1952, he said to the visiting dignitaries, staff, and press:
"You honor me because I am a movie actor, a start in Hollywood terms. Well, there 's nothing I've ever done that can match what Louise has done for deaf children and their parents."
Robert Wagner
One of the most popular and successful stars in the entertainment industry, boasting three his series and an impressive list of both feature and television films. As a young man under contract to 20th Century Fox, Spencer Tracy saw him in "Beneath the Twelve Mile Reef" and requested Wagner for the role of his sone in "Broken Lance." Tracy was so impressed with Wagner, he cast him as his brother again in "The Mountain."
Over the years Robert Wagner has contributed immeasurably to the advancement of JTC's mission. His support began in the 70s, when both he and his late wife Natalie Wood helped promote a popular tennis and crumpet fundraising event for the Women's Auxiliary of John Tracy Clinic. In 2007, Mr. Wagner expanded his passionate commitment by joining the JTC Board of Directors. He served until 2012 and then transitioned to membership on the Board of Trustees. While involved, Mr. Wagner and his wife, famous actress Jill St. John, helped JTC secure vital funding as well as increased awareness through events and other activities including narrating a video called "Welcome to John Tracy Clinic."
Celebrities involved in JTC 1942- 1964
Walt Disney, John Forsythe, James Garner, Cary Grant, Lorne Green, Charlton Heston, James Mason, Raymond Massey, Dick Powell, Edward G. Robinson, Gregory Peck, Robert Young, Hugh Hefner.
Celebrities that Have made Public Service Announcements for JTC
John Forsythe, Angie Dickinson, Dyan Cannon, Raymond Barr, James Garners, Cindy Williams, Penny Marshall, Cher, Ed Asner, Carol Burnett, Lou Ferrigno, Jeff Float, Gerald McRaney, Bob Newhart, Sylvester Stallone, Mary Hart, Robert Wagner.