Whitley Heights 101

2014 N. Las Palmas Avenue (1921)

2014 N. Las Palmas Avenue, another early home in Whitley Heights, was built in 1921 by architect Arthur S. Barnes. The 2-story, 6 room Mediterranean home, has a square tower overhanging from the lower floor and carved wooden chalet balconies. In 1928, the next owner added one bedroom, one bathroom and a closet to the house. In 1935, the same owner extended the size of the second floor by adding a 17 x 20 space (believed to be the sunroom). In 1935, the house was rented as having 8 rooms, 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and a sunroom.

Up until this time, it was a quiet house with little drama as new owners came and went. Even singer Jay Barrie, who lived here between 1940-42, led a serene life to the fact, he left his Hollywood singing career to become a monk and moved to a monastery 80 miles out of L.A. until 1955. Jay was born Miles Gordon from a small town in Texas and moved to Hollywood at the age of eighteen with no singing experience. In 1932, after hearing other local singers, he tried out his luck and auditioned for Slim Martin, the orchestra leader at Pantages Hollywood Theater, Martin hired him on the spot. Barrie also performed at the Ambassadors Coconut Grove as a solo tenor and was known for his voice. Actress Luli Deste heard him sing and got him a cameo in her film, She Married an Artist (1937), but his name could not be found in the credits. After that, his name disappeared from any media.

Jay became the assistant, the owner of the monastery, Michael Heard. After Heard sold the monastery, he became very interested in social issues involving mental health facilities. Jay would travel with him touring the facilities. The picture above, was taken in 1960, as Jay (left) was traveling with Michael Heard to Honolulu, Hawaii to visit a mental health facility.

Dance instructor and choreographer, Jacobina Caro, also lived here between the same time, 1940-42. Caro had worked in many theatrical ,productions most of her life. However, the big news was in 1951 when it was alleged that she and her husband, Sidney Davidson were involved in the Communist Part through an organization called, Actor’s Laboratory. Actor’s Laboratory, a school for actors, was formed in the 1940’s.

The Actors’ Laboratory was eventually denounced as a communist organization, and some of its members and former-members, such as Lloyd Bridges were blacklisted from the Hollywood entertainment industry. Notable students of the organization included Marilyn Monroe and Dorothy Dandridge. The organization was closed in 1950’s due to losing financial support. Caro, seen the the above photo, during a work performance.

An unfortunate accident occurred at 2014 Las Palmas Avenue on Christmas day 1940. Ione Bushfield found her son, 22 year old Benjamin Bushfield dead in a car inside the closed garage at 2014 Las Palmas Avenue. The mother indicated she had no knowledge of why her son would commit suicide and was living in the house with him at the time. She moved out shortly after his death. Below is a copy of Benjamin’s draft card cancelled due to his death.

Another unfortunate accident occurred on April 12, 1951 while George and Bertha Chiverton were living at this address. Bertha was waiting for a Pacific Electric Bus at the corner of Sunset Blvd. and Highland Avenue with a group of people. The bus lost power to the brakes, went over the curb and into the crowd of people. Bertha who was caught between the bus and a firebox was the only person killed. All the injured people survived. The irony was the bus ran over people sitting at a bench with a mortuary ad on the back of the bench. How morbid. Bertha was only 49 years old and worked as a film technician at Columbia Pictures. She also was an American born in France who migrated back to the United States in 1915.

Since 1935, no other home alterations have been made on 2014 Las Palmas Avenue. It has been for sale several times.