Early Life
Born in Joplin, Missouri, Allen's father died of typhoid fever when he was three, and his mother died during the flu epidemic about nine years later. Allen lived with relatives in Missouri until attending school in Minnesota. While there, he developed rheumatic fever, and on the advice of a doctor, moved to California to live with an aunt and uncle. His health improved, but the rheumatic fever weakened his heart.
After completing high school, Allen attended UCLA, and joined the ROTC. He became comfortable around military people, which later resulted in servicemen being recruited to help run the Gorre and Daphetid.
In 1934, Allen and his brother went to the World's Fair in Chicago, and saw scale model trains in operation, and he was impressed. He was attending UCLA studying economics, but decided to go to art school. He attended art school for three years, specializing in photography. There he acquired the skills that set his layout and model photography apart.
In 1935 John's paternal grandparents died, and his inheritance was about $1900 (the equivalent of a year's salary for a middle class man). John invested the money with the help of his brother, and in about 11 years, the value was such that he didn't have to work. His investments, combined with a frugal lifestyle, resulted in a sum of over $500,000 at the time of his death.
After completing school, John partnered with another student and opened a photography business in the Westlake Park area of Los Angeles.
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