One of Silver Lake's largest estates at 11,743 square feet on a lot of 82,764 square feet. This huge residence has a storied history, culminating in the development of the Hathaway Estates, a planned subdivision within Silver Lake. The house was built in 1923 and has a commanding 360 Degree View atop one of Silver Lake's highest hills. The house is built entirely of reinforced concrete; there is not one stick of wood in its structure. Mr. Hathaway apparently had a great fear of fire, and did not want his house burning down! It was recently (September 2004) on the market for $3,250,000. The house is located at 1809 Apex Avenue in Silver Lake. It is currently owned by Dov Charney, founder and CEO of American Apparel, known for his success as an entrepreneur and passion for simple clothing. His leadership style has drawn extensive praise and criticism. He has earned recognition in the media for management decisions to pay a fair wage and refusing to outsource manufacturing. The Los Angeles Times named him as one of the Top 100 powerful people in Southern California and in 2009, he was nominated as a Time 100 finalist by Time magazine.

If any of our readers know about the development of Hathaway Estates, details about the original owner, architect or builder, please feel free to contact the editor of this column.

NOTES: I recently received an e-mail from Michele Martin informing me that 'the Estate belonged to a Charles Hathaway, a director/studio head from the silent screen era. His great granddaughter, Robin Clarke, was my best friend and neighbor when I lived at 2400 Micheltorena Street.'

Michele Martin

Greenwich Library

SLN Subscriber Ken Puchlik writes: 'From 1950 to 1965 I lived on Redesdale Ave. on the west side of the valley looking east at the Hathaway house on top of the hill. It was always vacant and never a light on. One night, the mansion was ablaze with light and everyone came out to wonder what was going on. It was simply the moon rising behind the home and the light was passing through the windows and out the other side. Obviously, it was devoid of furniture or curtains.

I also remember that there was another large building or home next to it; people said it was another mansion. It apparently was demolished during the construction of the 'tract' homes that I believe were a poor use of the viewscape. Having half the number of lots with higher end-well designed homes, taking better advantage of the pre-existing topography, would have been better use of the land. The developer should have used the axiom of 'less is more' and probably realized more investment return by developing premium lots on what was a rare piece of land. Paradise lost.

Mr. Hathaway had good reason to fear fire. In the early 50's a grass fire at the end of summer burnt up to the edge of the estate. Every local fire unit was on the scene. Dry summer grass was prevalent with all the vacant lots at the time. After that, the fire department started controlled burns of the lots every summer.

Before the hum of the freeways diminished the neighborhood's ambient sound, you could hear the trains switching in the yards off Fletcher Dr. late at night. The greatest chili dogs in the world were sold out of the old Signal Gas station at Effie and Silver Lake Blvd. Across the street, the 7/11 was a Union Oil Gas station with the friendliest guys who took good care of you at 20 cents a gallon of gas. And a kid could walk the 0.75 mile to catch the PE and go to the Ramona and see a 25 cent movie without any concern for safety, even at night.

Craig Collins writes 'When I moved here in 1982, the subdivision was just being built. The land had been bought by CalTrans for continuation of the Glendale Freeway, which was to connect with the Hollywood Freeway (near Vermont...where there's that very wide median), then on to Beverly Hills, which was to be the name of the freeway. As a result of that unfortunate choice of name and alignment, one of the very first successful opposition to a California freeway project was mounted, and the freeway ended at Glendale Boulevard. After many years, CalTrans began selling off the property, and you can pretty much trace the path by much of the newer construction, especially on the south side of Sunset.

I had heard about an effort to create a park on the Hathaway hill, but know nothing further about it. How spectacular that would have been!

Anyway, Peggy Stevenson was City Councilperson at the time, was a fervent supporter of the development community, and she evidently got quick approval of the housing project. After the development was completed, it mysteriously became a gated community. It's worth noting that Stevenson was defeated in a reelection bid by Michael Woo, who shepherded many of the pro-planning and more progressive changes in the city (such as getting a moratorium on the explosive development of mini-malls that was then in full swing). Upon her defeat, Stevenson systematically destroyed all the district constituent and project files in her office, forcing Woo to begin his office with nothing to aid projects and constituent concerns. That was the good old days in the LA City Council!

Well, that's what I know, subject to verification by others who may have a better historical perspective.

Veteran Silver Lake activist Maryann Kuk writes 'My recollection about Hathaway is that it had nothing to do with the #2 freeway. It was before I participated in any community stuff. The Hathaway estate (they are old money LA Athletic club, Riviera Country club, CA yacht club) sold it to a developer who wanted to build 100's of condos. SLRA got heavily involved opposing along with the immediate 'hood and the developer backed down to the 40+ or so [ugly, tract, crappy] houses. He promised to leave all of the mature tress, but the day after he got his permit he cut them all down. The Hathaway family had been collectors of specimens and I'm told it was beautiful.'

The Silver Lake News thanks our readers for their generous contributions of history and insights of Silver Lake!

Update: Without editing the content, I found some new "wrinkles" to our ongoing story, as reported in the popular real estate blog, "Take Sunset", March 28th, 2011:

"The Garbutt House actually has a very interesting history. It’s one of Silver Lake’s largest estates at 11,743 square feet of interior space, 3-stories tall with 20 rooms. It was built by Frank A. Garbutt, a movie pioneer, inventor, industrialist, and “one of the most prominent citizens of Los Angeles in the late 19th and early 20th Century” according to the Los Angeles Times. In 1923, Garbutt acquired the 37-acre hilltop site overlooking the Silver Lake Reservoir with views of the Pacific Ocean, the Santa Monica and Verdugo Mountains, and the downtown skyline. He built three houses on the site, which came to be known as the Garbutt-Hathaway Estate. (Garbutt’s son-in-law was Charles F. Hathaway, a shipbuilder and real estate developer.) The structures were built primarily of concrete, and were designed to withstand earthquakes, floods, and fire, which Garbutt was particularly afraid of. (There were also no fireplaces in the home.) He did allow some design touches, however. There were bronze window frames, hand carved teak and marble floors, and the first floor was entirely travertine.

Garbutt lived in the mansion until his death in 1947. In his spare time, he experimented with new inventions, built race cars, (his homemade car appears in the photograph above), invented a soapless detergent, and worked on a superior chewing gum.

Garbutt’s three children and their families lived on the estate after his death in 1947. The estate was eventually sold by his daughter in 1960. According to the LATs, The houses sat dormant for several years as owners battled with the city and preservationists over plans to raze the three houses and build condominiums or a large housing development on the site. In 1978, two of the houses were torn down to make room for a 100-home development, but the Garbutt House was spared. In 1987, the Garbutt House was listed in the National Register of Historic Places. It’s now part of the gated community Hathaway Hill Estates, and it most recently sold in 2004 for $3,250,000".

The project was designed to bring high design to the offices of a design-savvy developer in an otherwise unremarkable, "bank-on-the-ground-floor" building. The radical-but-functional design is aimed at distinguishing the client from others in his field.

The fist design act involved the ceiling. The architects removed the suspended grid tiles, revealing an 11-foot height. We painted this a deep blue/black and hung crisscrossing low-voltage lights at 9 feet to create a constellation of lights, randomly placed to illuminate working surfaces. Blood red, angle-sided metal panels run the length of the ceiling of the main hallway, the route taken by clients to the conference room. A wall of dark red cabinets in the main space and above the copiers and file cabinets pull the color from the ceiling panels into the working space. Private offices were divided from the main space with a curving green glass wall (see red line in detail at left) to provide sound privacy. The blue epoxy-pebble poured floor is a tribute to the Aegean blue of the Greek owners' heritage.

Located at 2434 Lincoln Blvd. in the Venice neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Please do not use this image in any media without my permission. © All rights reserved.

For holiday lights, you can't beat the Americana at Brand in Glendale, California! The two acre park, designed as a civic center is a popular destination throughout the year, more so during the holidays.

The Americana at Brand is located at 889 Americana Way in Glendale, California. Please do not use this image in any media without my permission. © All rights reserved.

Eclectic Mediterranean style house designed and built by Akop Supikyan in 2008. Supikyan demolished an existing ranch style house, replacing it with a new 3,000 square foot residence. Materials used include concrete tile roofing. stucco wall, wrought iron ornamental gates. stone veneer, and wrought iron railings.

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A marvel of eccentric 'Storybook' style, the Spadena House was originally designed as a movie set and office for Irvin V. Willsit Productions in Culver City. The house has been lovingly preserved. Located at 516 Walden Drive in Beverly Hills, California. Please do not use this image in any media without my permission. © All rights reserved.

One Santa Fe is a 438-unit apartment complex designed by Michael Maltzan Architecture and located in the arts district of Los Angeles. The complex is only six stories tall but it is a quarter-mile long. According to Los Angeles Times architecture critic Christopher Hawthorne, “the design takes banality and stretches it like taffy in the direction of monumentality”.

The apartments run parallel in two long train-like “wings”; the longer of which is three blocks long, following along the course of the Los Angeles River on its eastern flank. The ground level appears to be mostly shops with landscaping and gathering places between the two wings.

One Santa Fe is located at 300 South Santa Fe Avenue in the downtown arts district of Los Angeles, California. Please do not use this image in any media without my permission. © All rights reserved.

Architect R.M. Schindler designed the studio for Peter Yates, a music critic for Arts & Architecture Magazine and founder of the "Evenings on the Roof" concert series, which took place on the upper level of the house. Originally they planned to build a studio behind the house, however Schindler came up with the idea of putting the studio on top of the house to take advantage of the views.

The "Evenings on the Roof" concert series showcased the work of modern composers in live performances, and was a meeting place for Los Angeles' Bohemians and leftist politics.

The Yates Studio is located at 1735 Micheltorena Street in the Moreno Highlands of Silver Lake. Please do not use this image in any media without my permission. © All rights reserved.

Architect Thornton Fitzhugh designed the Tudor Craftsman style residence for Thomas H. Murphy in 1917. Fitzhugh was born in Indianapolis, Indiana on May 18, 1864. He was married twice; to Anne (1868-1909) and Mabel (1885-1964). He died in Los Angeles on December 4, 1933 and is interred at Evergreen Cemetery.

The Thomas H. Murphy Residence is located at 356 South Lorraine Boulevard in the historic Hancock Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Please do not use this image in any media without my permission. © All rights reserved.

Architect R.M. Schindler designed the studio for Peter Yates, a music critic for Arts & Architecture Magazine and founder of the "Evenings on the Roof" concert series, which took place on the upper level of the house. Originally they planned to build a studio behind the house, however Schindler came up with the idea of putting the studio on top of the house to take advantage of the views.

The "Evenings on the Roof" concert series showcased the work of modern composers in live performances, and was a meeting place for Los Angeles' Bohemians and leftist politics.

The Yates Studio is located at 1735 Micheltorena Street in the Moreno Highlands of Silver Lake. Please do not use this image in any media without my permission. © All rights reserved.

Architect and builder W.C. Schultz designed the Mediterranean Revival style house in 1926. The estate was home to heiress Dorothy Taylor who married the Count Carlo Dentice di Frasso in 1923. The couple rarely spent time together and by the 1930s, as Countess di Frasso, Dorothy was living in Hollywood, including briefly at the Garden of Allah, where she conducted a romance with Gary Cooper. A few years later, she had a lengthy affair with mobster Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel. Di Frasso hired Elsie de Wolfe, to design the interiors in an art deco style, with hand-painted wallpapers. Di Frasso used the house for lavish Hollywood parties which included the pianist José Iturbi, who so admired the place that he purchased the house in the 1940s complete with all its furnishings. Iturbi lived in the house until his death in 1980.

The 8-bedroom, 7-bath residence is currently (October 2016) on the market listed for sale for $24,995,000 and described in the listing as "rare & legendary Countess Di Frasso's Beverly Hills Estate. Built for hosting glamorous Hollywood parties and later sold to renown classical pianist Jose Iturbi, Elsie De Wolf designs still well preserved, rooms w/ great scale & volume, and home is well positioned on lot. A wonderful restoration project or development opportunity on approx 1.12 acres of mature park-like grounds".

The Countess Di Frasso Estate is located at 913 North Bedford Drive in Beverly Hills, California.

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French Eclectic style apartments originally built in 1940. The structure features a steeply pitched hipped roof with stucco wall cladding and arched dormers typical of the style. Located in the Hollywood Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles, California.

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The Morrocan is a 1930s era apartment building located in Hollywood's Beachwood Canyon at 2266 N. Beachwood Drive. The complex features ornate and art deco details and antique lighting.

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For holiday lights, you can't beat the Americana at Brand in Glendale, California! The two acre park, designed as a civic center is a popular destination throughout the year, more so during the holidays.

The Americana at Brand is located at 889 Americana Way in Glendale, California. Please do not use this image in any media without my permission. © All rights reserved.

Architect Wallace Neff designed the Spanish Colonial Revival style house in 1926. The house gained a bit of notoriety when aviator and filmmaker Howard Hughes crashed his XF-11 airplane into the living room on its maiden flight on July 7, 1946. On the flight, one of the engine propeller controls ran out of oil and "Hughes attempted to make an emergency landing at the Los Angeles Country Club. But his luck had run out, he dove downward short of the golf course, and into a neighborhood in Beverly Hills," according to the aviation history website Check-Six.com.

Hughes hit two houses on North Linden Drive and one on Whittier Drive. One of the houses was 805 N. Linden, which at the time belonged to the actress Rosemary DeCamp ("best known for her role as James Cagney's mother in Yankee Doodle Dandy"). The plane "sliced through the bedroom where her and her husband, John Staler, were, and ripped across the couple's garage rooftop." The incident was reenacted in the film "The Aviator", directed by Martin Scorsese.

The 5-bedroom, 5-bath mansion in 6500 sq. ft. is currently (November 2016) on the market listed for sale for $14,950,000 and described in the listing as "Impeccably restored and redesigned for today's luxury lifestyle. Dramatic two-story formal living room features hand painted cathedral ceilings & fireplace overlooking beautifully landscaped patios and gardens. Formal dining room, gourmet kitchen with top of the line stainless steel appliances.

Luxurious master suite with walk-in closets and veranda. Office/den with charming fireplace and original details, authentic grill and iron work. Flexible floor plan and huge family entertainment/guest room overlooking the large al fresco dining area w/ BBQ, fire pit, spa & pool".

Located at 805 North Linden Drive in Beverly Hills, California. Please do not use this image in any media without my permission. © All rights reserved

Contemporary Mediterranean Revival style house designed by Peter Choate c. 1986 for Robert Schwab. The 7-bedroom, 7-bath home in 0,124 sq. ft. most recently (September 2012) sold for $10, 450,000. Located at 802 North Linden Avenue in Beverly Hills, California. Please do not use this image in any media without my permission. © All rights reserved.

Marc Whipple of Whipple Russell Architects designed the dramatic contemporary style house in 2011. The house is located at 1159 Summit Drive in Beverly Hills, California. Please do not use this image in any media without my permission. © All rights reserved.

French Normandy style house located in Beachwood Canyon in the Hollywood Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Please do not use this image in any media without my permission. © All rights reserved.

Prominent African American Architect Roy Sealey designed the contemporary style house for Larry Lauterbach in 1961. The 5-bedroom, 8-bath home is currently (October 2016) on the market listed for sale for $9,250,000 and described in the listing as "designer furnished and appointed with all the bells and whistles. Set back behind gates and a hedge with a circular driveway for privacy. Features include high ceilings with an open floor plan, walk-in wet bar and screening room. The fabulous kitchen has a center island, breakfast area and adjacent family room. Fleetwood sliding glass doors open to the glistening pool, spa and grill/bar for seamless indoor/outdoor living and entertaining. A separate cabana/guesthouse opens to the pool as well. Located one block from the Beverly Hills Hotel and walking distance to Rodeo Drive".

Roy A. Sealey was born in Panama and came to America with his mother and sister through Ellis Island in 1924. When he was 22 years old, USC offered him an academic scholarship to come and study Architecture. He had shown promise in the field studying at Prairie View Agricultural & Mechanical College in Texas. In 1963, Sealey is best remembered for his design of the Googie style Edgewater Inn (now the Seaport Marina Hotel) in Long Beach, built in anticipation of the 1967 World’s Fair planned to be held in Long Beach which never materialized.

The Lauterbach House is located at 003 North Beverly Drive in Beverly HIlls, California. Please do not use this image in any media without my permission. © All rights reserved.

Architect Harold J. Bissner designed the Spanish Colonial Revival style house as a speculative venture for Lawrence L. Frank, President of Van Dyck Builders in 1928. The home building business was a "mere sideline" to Frank's main concern; he and his brother-in-law Theodore Fan de Kamp were founders of the Van de Kamp's Holland-Dutch Bakeries that became a vast empire of bakeries, coffee shops and Lawry's specialty food products. Frank also controlled many restaurants in the Los Angeles area including Lawry's Prime Rib in Beverly Hills and the Tam O'Shanter Inn in Glendale. Inasmuch as my father, John A. Locke was Chief Engineer at Van de Kamps beginning in 1958 until the firm finally went out of business in 1990, the names Harold Bissner, Ted Van de Kamp and Lawrence Frank were frequently up for discussion around the family table at dinner time (Bissner was also Van de Kamps corporate architect and as such was a close friend of my dad's).

The 5-bedroom, 6-bath home in 4362 sq. ft. is currently (December 2016) on the market listed for sale for $3,129,000 and described in the listing as "The E. Lawrence Brown House, a Harold Bissner, Sr. 1928 Spanish Colonial Revival style home with Moorish accents. Located in the prestigious Cal Tech neighborhood, the home is surrounded by architecturally interesting homes. Enter through the carved wood mahogany door into the entry showcasing the stairway with original California tiles on the risers and wrought iron handrail, leading the eye upward to a stained glass window depicting a Spanish galleon. From the entryway, there are arched entrances to the public rooms (step-down living room, library with French doors leading to the courtyard and dining room), all with detailed ceiling treatments and more tile treatments in the living room. The large gourmet kitchen showcases several of the home's original features into a modern kitchen.

A spacious veranda overlooks the magical courtyard garden with original tiled wall fountain, private entertainment space, and built-in barbecue. A charming side garden courtyard is enclosed in an original scalloped wall with brick accents. Attention to period detail and picturesque charm give this grand and comfortable home tremendous appeal".

The E. Lawrence Brown House is located at 1981 San Pasqual Street in Pasadena, California.Please do not use this image in any media without my permission. © All rights reserved.

Building Contractor James F. Dickason designed and built the Spanish Colonial Revival style house for George M. and Florence Lewis in 1930. The house is located at 614 North Sierra Drive in Beverly Hills, California

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Architects Daniel, Mann, Johnson & Mendenhall (DMJM) designed the St. Vincent Medical Center in 1969. Established in 1856 by the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul as the first hospital in Los Angeles. In 1913 the hospital became the first in California to be accredited by the American College of Surgeons.

The hospital has claims to many firsts, including the first successful open-heart surgery on West Coast (1957); first to use the surgical microscope to operate on the inner ear (1960); first hospital to offer hemodialysis to kidney failure patients (1962) and first artificial heart implant and first human heart transplantation (1966).

The St. Vincent Medical Center is located at 2131 West 3rd Street in the Westlake neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Please do not use this image in any media without my permission. © All rights reserved.

Minassian Architects designed the 6-unit townhouse style condominium complex in 1983. The most recent sale was for a 2-bedroom, 3-bath unit in 1394 sq. ft. that sold for $518,000 in July 2016 and was described in the listing as "Immaculate Tri-level townhouse located in the highly desirable Woodbury neighborhood of Glendale. The wonderful tree lined street welcomes you home as you enter this cozy 6-unit complex w/ unit #B conveniently situated on the quiet, rear side of the property. A 2 car garage provides direct entry into the foyer area that makes for a terrific home office space. You will love the open floor plan of the main level and the gorgeous natural light that shines throughout. The living & dining rooms feature cozy balcony areas for lounging and entertaining while you BBQ away the summer. The kitchen has been nicely updated with stone counters & backsplash, stainless appliances and features a nice pantry closet. Stylish powder room, perfect for guests. The Master Bedroom is made to order with its beautiful en-suite bathroom, tons of closet space and a private balcony. The guest bedroom is equally spoiled w/ its own en-suite bath".

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Architect Gus Kalionzes designed the cathedral with funds raised by theater mogul Charles R. Skouras, president of National Theaters and Fox West Coast Theaters. As inspiration, Skouras chose the Hagia Sophia, the Cathedral of the Holy Wisdom of God, built by the Emperor Justinian in Constantinople between 532 and 537.

Skouras envisioned the church as his "Parthenon of the West". It is said that Skouras "passed the plate" during film screenings at his various theaters in order to supplement the necessary funds required for construction. Skouras selected a fellow Greek, William Chavalas, the artist responsible for the interior designs of many of Fox and National movie palaces to oversee the ornamental plasterers, gilders, artisans and painters to create the opulent interior of the church. In contrast to the typical abstract Byzantine style of iconography, the artistry of the church demonstrates a more natural Renaissance style that Skouras thought the worshiper would more readily identify with.

The Cathedral of St. Sophia is located at 1324 S. Normandie Avenue in the Pico Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles. Declared a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument (No. 120) in 1973. Please do not use this image in any media without my permission. © All rights reserved.

Architect Gus Kalionzes designed the cathedral with funds raised by theater mogul Charles R. Skouras, president of National Theaters and Fox West Coast Theaters. As inspiration, Skouras chose the Hagia Sophia, the Cathedral of the Holy Wisdom of God, built by the Emperor Justinian in Constantinople between 532 and 537.

Skouras envisioned the church as his "Parthenon of the West". It is said that Skouras "passed the plate" during film screenings at his various theaters in order to supplement the necessary funds required for construction. Skouras selected a fellow Greek, William Chavalas, the artist responsible for the interior designs of many of Fox and National movie palaces to oversee the ornamental plasterers, gilders, artisans and painters to create the opulent interior of the church. In contrast to the typical abstract Byzantine style of iconography, the artistry of the church demonstrates a more natural Renaissance style that Skouras thought the worshiper would more readily identify with.

The Cathedral of St. Sophia is located at 1324 S. Normandie Avenue in the Pico Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles. Declared a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument (No. 120) in 1973. Please do not use this image in any media without my permission. © All rights reserved.

In the early 1950s, Glendale was a typical suburb without a distinct identity. Incorporated in 1908, the community experienced rapid growth, largely due to its proximity to downtown Los Angeles (ten miles south), and today is the third largest city in Los Angeles County with a population of approximately 200,000.

As population began to explode after World War II, Glendale began to express a unique identity, setting itself apart from its larger neighbor, Los Angeles, embracing Modernism as an expression of its forward-thinking. Anchored by and complimenting the adjacent Moderne Style Glendale City Hall (designed by architect Albert E. Hansen,1940-42), the Municipal Services Building serves as a key element of Glendale's Civic Center, anchoring the intersection of East Broadway and Glendale Avenue. Upon completion, City Manager C.E. Perkins exclaimed, 'The new building reflects the evolution of Glendale from a suburban bedroom community to an independent city.'

The property was listed in the Glendale Register of Historic Resources (No. 100) in 2013. Please do not use this image in any media without my permission. © All rights reserved.

Architect Gus Kalionzes designed the cathedral with funds raised by theater mogul Charles R. Skouras, president of National Theaters and Fox West Coast Theaters. As inspiration, Skouras chose the Hagia Sophia, the Cathedral of the Holy Wisdom of God, built by the Emperor Justinian in Constantinople between 532 and 537.

Skouras envisioned the church as his "Parthenon of the West". It is said that Skouras "passed the plate" during film screenings at his various theaters in order to supplement the necessary funds required for construction. Skouras selected a fellow Greek, William Chavalas, the artist responsible for the interior designs of many of Fox and National movie palaces to oversee the ornamental plasterers, gilders, artisans and painters to create the opulent interior of the church. In contrast to the typical abstract Byzantine style of iconography, the artistry of the church demonstrates a more natural Renaissance style that Skouras thought the worshiper would more readily identify with.

The Cathedral of St. Sophia is located at 1324 S. Normandie Avenue in the Pico Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles. Declared a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument (No. 120) in 1973. Please do not use this image in any media without my permission. © All rights reserved.

Architect Paul R. Williams designed the Spanish Colonial Revival style house for stock broker Emil B. Yoakum and his wife Gladys in 1924. The house is located at 519 Meadow Grove Street in La Canada Flintridge, California.

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For holiday lights, you can't beat the Americana at Brand in Glendale, California! The two acre park, designed as a civic center is a popular destination throughout the year, more so during the holidays.

The Americana at Brand is located at 889 Americana Way in Glendale, California. Please do not use this image in any media without my permission. © All rights reserved.

Architect Paul R. Williams designed the Colonial Revival style house for Louis Zalk and his family in 1935. Zalk was born in Lithuana on November 28, 1883. In Los Angeles he became a wholesale hardware merchant and owner of a steel plant. He lived in the house with his wife Estelle and their two children, Allen F. and Helene Louise. He married his second wife Erma H. Williams on May 29, 1953. He died on October 29, 1964 in Ventura, California.

The Zalk House is located at 238 McCarty Drive in Beverly Hills, California.

The Mediterranean Revival style house was designed for Hollywood producer and screenwriter B. P. (Benjamin Percival) Schulberg. Born In Bridgeport, Connecticut on Jan. 19, 1892, Schulberg turned out some of the best pictures of the silent era and launched the careers of several well known Hollywood stars including Ernst Lubitsch, Emil Jannings, Maurice Chevalier, Shirley Temple and Marlene Dietrich, among others.

He worked as production chief at Paramount Pictures from 1925 to 1932. By the end of his life he was virtually forgotten and even placed ads in the trade papers looking for work. He died in his sleep in Key Biscayne, Florida on February 25, 1957.

The Schulberg House is located at 525 South Lorraine Boulevard in the historic Hancock Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, California.

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Contractor Arthur Porter designed and built the Spanish Colonial Revival style house for Samuel B. Burnham in 1937. Burnham was born in Missouri on March 4, 1906. He worked his way up from teller to Vice President of the First National Trust & Savings Bank. He lived in the house with his wife Ruth Willette Burnham and their daughter Sandra. By 1949 he was living in Santa Barbara and working as Vice President and Trust Officer of the bank. He died on November 6, 1966 and was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in the Hollywood Hills.

The 4-bedroom, 4-bath home in 3010 sq. ft. is currently (November 2016) on the market listed for sale for $1.895,000 and described in the listing as "Stunning views can be found in almost every room of this beautiful & well-maintained home. Featuring living room with fireplace, opening out to a balcony that surrounds you in panoramic views of Griffith Park and the city lights of downtown Glendale in the distance. The cozy den offers an abundance of light with floor to ceiling windows, an open kitchen is fully equipped with Thermador double ovens and cook top, Sub-Zero refrigerator, wine cooler, large counter tops & breakfast bar. Separate formal dining rm for entertaining. 3 of the 4 downstairs bedrooom are perfectly situated with canyon views; the Master Suite has breathtaking views, along with its own private balcony. Private bath offers double vanity sinks, separate shower and soaking tub. The backyard has a fabulous garden to grow your veggies and fruits. With two bonus rooms, offering over 1,000 sq. ft. of additional storage space.

The Burnham House is located at 3755 Shannon Road in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles. Please do not use this image in any media without my permission. © All rights reserved.

Architect Richard Neutra designed the apartment building for his in-laws, Alfred Balthasar Niedermann, his wife Antoinette and their four daughters, Regula, Verena, Doris and Dionne, Richard Neutra's wife in 1942. The apartments are grouped in two buildings with each unit having its own private outdoor terrace.

The Niedermann Apartments are located at 646-648 Kelton Avenue in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Designated a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument (No. 365) in 1988.

I had the opportunity to visit this stunning contemporary home during an open house last Sunday. The 5-bedroom, 7-bath house in 6271 sq. ft. is currently (October 2016) on the market listed for sale for $7,995,000 and described in the listing as "a masterpiece of light and design, featuring walls of glass and high ceilings that lend a sense of space and scale to every room. A study with garden faces an open living area with fireplace and a formal dining room spills into a gourmet kitchen.

An additional living area is roomy and bright with easy access to one of two lower level powder rooms. Upstairs, three en-suite guest rooms feature walk-in closets and designer bathrooms. A striking master suite boasts a sitting area, fireplace, huge closet and Carrera marble bathroom.

A balcony extends the length of the room and floor-to-ceiling windows evoke a feeling of openness and connection to nature. An infinity pool with deck and stunning canyon views feels like a natural extension of the home, seamlessly integrated with the indoor spaces through sliding pocket doors. An elevator, wine room, bonus outdoor area, additional en-suite guest room and ample parking complete this exquisite home".

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One of Glendale's few remaining examples of the Queen Anne/Eastlake architectural style, the house derives its name from an illustrious owner, Edgar D. Goode, Road Commissioner for Los Angeles County. Goode occupied the home from 1897 until 1917, during which he was involved in civic improvement projects that were instrumental in the early development of Glendale. The house was extensively renovated in 1995 and now serves as a privately-owned adult recreation center. In 1997 the house was registered in the Glendale Register of Historic Places (No. 8).

The E.D. Goode House is located at 119 N. Cedar Street in Glendale, California. Please do not use this image in any media without my permission. © All rights reserved.

Spanish-Moroccan style house originally built in 2002. The 3-bedroom, 3-bath house in 313 sq. ft. was most recently (June 202) advertised for sale for $$2.050,000 and described in the listing as "unique custom architecture with many vaulted ceilings and skylights.

Sparkling pool and patio with spectacular views of the golf course. Living room with fireplace and dark hardwood floors plus a second living area. Gourmet kitchen and family room overlook golf course. Master with vaulted ceiling, fireplace, walk-in closet, luxury bath and balcony. Guest quarters with bath over two car garage.

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Contractor Arthur Porter designed and built the Spanish Colonial Revival style house for Samuel B. Burnham in 1937. Burnham was born in Missouri on March 4, 1906. He worked his way up from teller to Vice President of the First National Trust & Savings Bank. He lived in the house with his wife Ruth Willette Burnham and their daughter Sandra. By 1949 he was living in Santa Barbara and working as Vice President and Trust Officer of the bank. He died on November 6, 1966 and was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in the Hollywood Hills.

The 4-bedroom, 4-bath home in 3010 sq. ft. is currently (November 2016) on the market listed for sale for $1.895,000 and described in the listing as "Stunning views can be found in almost every room of this beautiful & well-maintained home. Featuring living room with fireplace, opening out to a balcony that surrounds you in panoramic views of Griffith Park and the city lights of downtown Glendale in the distance. The cozy den offers an abundance of light with floor to ceiling windows, an open kitchen is fully equipped with Thermador double ovens and cook top, Sub-Zero refrigerator, wine cooler, large counter tops & breakfast bar. Separate formal dining rm for entertaining. 3 of the 4 downstairs bedrooom are perfectly situated with canyon views; the Master Suite has breathtaking views, along with its own private balcony. Private bath offers double vanity sinks, separate shower and soaking tub. The backyard has a fabulous garden to grow your veggies and fruits. With two bonus rooms, offering over 1,000 sq. ft. of additional storage space.

The Burnham House is located at 3755 Shannon Road in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles. Please do not use this image in any media without my permission. © All rights reserved.

Contractor Arthur Porter designed and built the Spanish Colonial Revival style house for Samuel B. Burnham in 1937. Burnham was born in Missouri on March 4, 1906. He worked his way up from teller to Vice President of the First National Trust & Savings Bank. He lived in the house with his wife Ruth Willette Burnham and their daughter Sandra. By 1949 he was living in Santa Barbara and working as Vice President and Trust Officer of the bank. He died on November 6, 1966 and was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in the Hollywood Hills.

The 4-bedroom, 4-bath home in 3010 sq. ft. is currently (November 2016) on the market listed for sale for $1.895,000 and described in the listing as "Stunning views can be found in almost every room of this beautiful & well-maintained home. Featuring living room with fireplace, opening out to a balcony that surrounds you in panoramic views of Griffith Park and the city lights of downtown Glendale in the distance. The cozy den offers an abundance of light with floor to ceiling windows, an open kitchen is fully equipped with Thermador double ovens and cook top, Sub-Zero refrigerator, wine cooler, large counter tops & breakfast bar. Separate formal dining room for entertaining. 3 of the 4 downstairs bedrooom are perfectly situated with canyon views; the Master Suite has breathtaking views, along with its own private balcony. Private bath offers double vanity sinks, separate shower and soaking tub. The backyard has a fabulous garden to grow your veggies and fruits. With two bonus rooms, offering over 1,000 sq. ft. of additional storage space.

The Burnham House is located at 3755 Shannon Road in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles. Please do not use this image in any media without my permission. © All rights reserved.

Tyler Gonzales designed The Monarch, a three-story mixed-use building in 2011. Intended to be eight-unit condominium project with additional retail and office space, the condos instead became high-end two-story rental units, offering rooftop terraces, high ceilings and small private yards.

The Monarch is located at 1457 Colorado Boulevard in the Eagle Rock neighborhood of Los Angeles, California.

The Italianate style home was designed for Sanson M. Cooper as his personal residence in 1917. The actual architect was likely a draftsman in Cooper's office; Robert D. Jones, who would collaborate as architect with Cooper on many Windsor Square projects, had yet to join the firm.

Sanson M. Cooper, who was trained as a minister at Bethany College in West Virginia, had come to Los Angeles from Cincinnati in about 1912, bringing with him artisans and crew.Cooper died while still living at the house on May 19, 1935. In his obituary, the Los Angeles Times referred to him as "Rev. Sanson Milligan Cooper," the "pioneer builder" was "credited with building hundreds of homes in Windsor Square, the Wilshire District, Beverly Hills and San Marino."

After her husband's death, Ella Cooper moved to 157 North Gower Street; the house was later occupied by screenwriter Sam Mintz (Tom Sawyer with Jackie Coogan, 1930, and Anne of Green Gables with Anne Shirley, 1934). Despondent over ill health, Mintz slashed his wrists and throat in a bathroom at the house on May 4, 1937.(he survived). Source: windsorsquarelosangeles.blogspot.com

The Sanson M. Cooper House is located at 435 South Lorraine Boulevard in the historic Windsor Square neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Please do not use this image in any media without my permission. © All rights reserved.

Architect Harold J. Bissner designed the Spanish Colonial Revival style house as a speculative venture for Lawrence L. Frank, President of Van Dyck Builders in 1928. The home building business was a "mere sideline" to Frank's main concern; he and his brother-in-law Theodore Fan de Kamp were founders of the Van de Kamp's Holland-Dutch Bakeries that became a vast empire of bakeries, coffee shops and Lawry's specialty food products. Frank also controlled many restaurants in the Los Angeles area including Lawry's Prime Rib in Beverly Hills and the Tam O'Shanter Inn in Glendale. Inasmuch as my father, John A. Locke was Chief Engineer at Van de Kamps beginning in 1958 until the firm finally went out of business in 1990, the names Harold Bissner, Ted Van de Kamp and Lawrence Frank were frequently up for discussion around the family table at dinner time (Bissner was also Van de Kamps corporate architect and as such was a close friend of my dad's).

The 5-bedroom, 6-bath home in 4362 sq. ft. is currently (December 2016) on the market listed for sale for $3,129,000 and described in the listing as "The E. Lawrence Brown House, a Harold Bissner, Sr. 1928 Spanish Colonial Revival style home with Moorish accents. Located in the prestigious Cal Tech neighborhood, the home is surrounded by architecturally interesting homes. Enter through the carved wood mahogany door into the entry showcasing the stairway with original California tiles on the risers and wrought iron handrail, leading the eye upward to a stained glass window depicting a Spanish galleon. From the entryway, there are arched entrances to the public rooms (step-down living room, library with French doors leading to the courtyard and dining room), all with detailed ceiling treatments and more tile treatments in the living room. The large gourmet kitchen showcases several of the home's original features into a modern kitchen.

A spacious veranda overlooks the magical courtyard garden with original tiled wall fountain, private entertainment space, and built-in barbecue. A charming side garden courtyard is enclosed in an original scalloped wall with brick accents. Attention to period detail and picturesque charm give this grand and comfortable home tremendous appeal".

The E. Lawrence Brown House is located at 1981 San Pasqual Street in Pasadena, California.Please do not use this image in any media without my permission. © All rights reserved.

For holiday lights, you can't beat the Americana at Brand in Glendale, California! The two acre park, designed as a civic center is a popular destination throughout the year, more so during the holidays.

The Americana at Brand is located at 889 Americana Way in Glendale, California. Please do not use this image in any media without my permission. © All rights reserved.

North Kinneloa Ranch in the highlands of Pasadena is a gated community with some extravagant architecture including this beautiful modern house at the entrance. Please do not use this image in any media without my permission. © All rights reserved.

Georgian Colonial style house originally built in 2001. The 4-bedroom, 5-bath home in 5200 sq. ft. is currently (December 2016) on the market listed for sale for $3,800,000 and described in the listing as "impeccable and unsurpassed attention to detail; situated on over a half acre of manicured lawns; custom, free-form swimming pool; hand-selected used brick and hardboard siding; grand foyer with sweeping staircase; five fireplaces; custom molding throughout; designer kitchen with large central island, sculpted counters, hand-planked hickory floors, Viking, Bosch and Franke appliances; huge family room with wet bar; large formal dining room; library; sumptuous master suite with custom outfitted closet over 500 sq. ft. Tranquil garden views from every room."

Located in the exclusive Linda Vista neighborhood of Pasadena in close proximity to the world famous Rose Bowl. Please do not use this image in any media without my permission. © All rights reserved.

Brand + Wilson is a mixed use apartment and retail complex located at the corner of Brand Boulevard and Wilson Avenue in downtown Glendale. The complex has ground-level shops and restaurants with outdoor cafe seating, street-level town-homes with stoop entries, and apartments, with generous amenities for its residents, including generous outdoor space, recreation facilities, pool, and a green roof and terrace. The community includes 238 residential units, including six town-homes along Wilson Boulevard and Orange Street, and approximately 10,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space with parking for 388 cars plus an additional 84 bicycle parking spaces.

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According to building permits, contractor John C. Davis designed the Swiss Chalet style home for Marian Austin in 1937. The 3-bedroom, 2-bath home in 1850 sq. ft. is currently (November 2016) on the market listed for sale for $1M. and described in the listing as " designed by a Hollywood set designer for a woman from Switzerland, this Swiss Chalet stands the test of time, bringing a vision of the past to the present. Beautiful craftsmanship and details, the home is set back against the hillside; peg and groove wood floors, stained glass windows, anchored by a wood burning fireplace. exterior features include lush garden, deck on upper terrace and swimming pool".

Located at 1427 Andenes Drive in the Verdugo Woodlands neighborhood of Glendale, California. Please do not use this image in any media without my permission. © All rights reserved.

Architect Harry J. Muck designed the Spanish Colonial Revival style house for Elnar C. Petersen in 1926. Muck was born in Wisconsin in 1890. The house is located at 2706 North Beachwood Drive in the Hollywood Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles, California.

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Architect and builder W.C. Schultz designed the Mediterranean Revival style house in 1926. The estate was home to heiress Dorothy Taylor who married the Count Carlo Dentice di Frasso in 1923. The couple rarely spent time together and by the 1930s, as Countess di Frasso, Dorothy was living in Hollywood, including briefly at the Garden of Allah, where she conducted a romance with Gary Cooper. A few years later, she had a lengthy affair with mobster Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel. Di Frasso hired Elsie de Wolfe, to design the interiors in an art deco style, with hand-painted wallpapers. Di Frasso used the house for lavish Hollywood parties which included the pianist José Iturbi, who so admired the place that he purchased the house in the 1940s complete with all its furnishings. Iturbi lived in the house until his death in 1980.

The 8-bedroom, 7-bath residence is currently (October 2016) on the market listed for sale for $24,995,000 and described in the listing as "rare & legendary Countess Di Frasso's Beverly Hills Estate. Built for hosting glamorous Hollywood parties and later sold to renown classical pianist Jose Iturbi, Elsie De Wolf designs still well preserved, rooms w/ great scale & volume, and home is well positioned on lot. A wonderful restoration project or development opportunity on approx 1.12 acres of mature park-like grounds".

The Countess Di Frasso Estate is located at 913 North Bedford Drive in Beverly Hills, California.

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Architect Paul R. Williams designed the French Eclectic style house for Hamlin Nerney in 1936. Nerney was born in San Diego on October 23, 1888. He started his career with Ford Motor Company with William L. Hughson, the first Ford dealer in the world in 1910, in San Francisco. In 1921 he started his own dealership in Los Angeles operating successfully for 40 years. He was president of Ford Dealers Advertising Association of Southern California, being active from 1943 to 1960. He was a charter member of the California & Catalina Island Yacht Clubs, and the Beach Club of Santa Monica. He died in Los Angeles on April 13, 1976.

The Hamlin Nerney House is located at 711 North Crescent Drive in Beverly Hills, California. Please do not use this image in any media without my permission. © All rights reserved.

Architect George A. Sullivan designed the Mediterranean Revival style house for D. Perel in 1928. The house is located at 109 South Las Palmas in the historic Hancock Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, California.

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