Lester Avery was an architect in the United States. Avery began his career in Clearwater and is known for his Mid-Century Modern architecture apartment buildings in Miami and ranch style home designs with angled, flat roofs and merging wings.[1] He expanded Lawrence Murray Dixon's The Temple House in Miami's South Beach area. Avery was the architect of Clearwater, Florida's Capitol Theatre (Clearwater, Florida), opened March 21, 1921. It was built by Senator-elect John Stansel Taylor and the contractor was John D. Phillipoff.[2][3] He also designed the Jackie Gleason House (1959) at 2232 Alton Road in Miami.
Avery was arrested in Clearwater for culpable negligence in the death of his father, Lester Avery Sr., who had served as U.S. consul to Nicaragua. Avery and has wife had taken a trip to Miami and were accused of leaving Avery's father without food or care, precipitating his death. Avery was 35 and already an accomplished architect in the city.[4] Avery's style for residential architecture was characterized by one-story ranch designs with angled, flat top roofs and merging wings. He designed The Schubert Hotel and the Panama Club (Fort Lauderdale, Florida).[1]