Whitley Heights 101

6691 Whitley Terrace (1921)

6691 Whitley Terrace was built in 1921 by architect, Arthur S. Barnes, and owner, W.R. Rennacker. The 3,139 square foot Spanish style home has 12 rooms (4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms) and sits on a 9,381 sq. ft. lot. The property has 2 fireplaces and a pool. In 1924, screenwriter Fred J. Jackson and actor Pierre Gendron lived in the home. Fredrick J. Jackson (1886-1953) wrote over 63 plays, television shows and movies starting in 1912. He is best known for The Jade Box (1930), The Perfect Lady (1931) and This Woman is Mine (1941). Gendron (1896-1956) was an actor from 1920-1927 and also wrote six screenplays, including Fog Island in 1945. Gendron is pictured below after filming The Lover of Camille in 1924 around the same time that he lived here.

Actor Eugene O’Brien (1880-1966) bought the property in 1925 and immediately added a 2-story addition to the home. O’Brien starred in over 50 films between 1915-1928. He is best known for The Moonstone (1915), Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm (1917), De Luxe Annie (1918), and The Last Door (1921). O’Brien actually flunked out of medical school because he wanted to be an actor against his parents wishes. As he was very handsome, he was often paired with Hollywood’s top leading ladies such as Mary Pickford, Norma Tallmadge, and Gloria Swanson. He starred in 11 movies with Norma Tallmadge made by her production company, Norma Talmadge Film Corp. or Joseph M. Schenck Productions, both of which were run by her husband, Joe Schenck. Schenck and Talmadge were married in 1916 and he was 18 years older than she. She was known to sleep around with her leading cast members so Schenck tried to pair her with gay men and O’Brien was rumored to be on the list. O’Brien’s last movie was Faithless Lover in 1928 at the age of 47 when talking pictures were coming out. Years later, O’Brien confessed that he did have an affair with Talmadge. Below: O’Brien, Talmadge, and Schenck.

While residing at 6691 Whitley Terrace, Eugene O’Brien had a unfortunate year in 1927. A group of thieves were caught by the gardener moving $30,000 worth of tapestries and antiques into a parked van in the front of the house that had the engine running. After they were caught, they dropped all the goods, left the van, and took off on foot. That same year, he was returning home one foggy night and slipped on the steps that went up to the house. O’Brien ended up breaking his knee cap.

In 1929, O’Brien extended the size of the kitchen and added a loggia and balcony 2-stories high. He also bought property in Beverly Hills that same year and is unclear if he moved and rented out this house. His name was still attached to the property in 1950. In 1929, actor J. Albert King listed the property as his address.

Sometime around 1925 or possibly later between 1931-32, actor Richard Barthelmess lived at 6691 Whitley Terrace. Barthelmess was a silent screen actor who starred in over 80 films from 1916 to 1942. He was nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role for The Patent Leather Kid (1927) and The Noose (1928). Since his acting ability was not suited for sound, the retired from acting and joined the Navy Reserve in 1942 and when the war ended, he moved to Long Island and lived off of real estate investments.

Barthelmess (pictured below) was said to have lived at the house when there were pineapple statues on top of the garage as seen in the above photo. In 1925, a private detective told Joe Schenck that his wife was having an affair with Richard at this residence.  They allegedly began the affair right after Talmadge married Schenck.  Schenck ordered a “hit” on him via castration and his wife, Mary Hay, be delivered the body parts.  Talmadge was able to call off the hit if she promised to stop seeing Richard.  Barthelmess’ wife was not that forgiving and got a divorce as told in the book, “The Fixers” by E.J. Fleming.

A Richard G. Barthelmess resided at 2303 Fairfield Avenue in Whitley Heights during the 1940’s. That Richard Barthelmess turned out to be the bar manager at Pig ‘N Whistle.

In the 1970’s screenwriters and life partners William Bast and Paul Huson lived at 6691 Whitley Terrace up until Bast’s death in 2015. Huson may have continued to live here longer. Both Bast and Huson are known for writers on The Colby’s (1985-87), a spin-off series from the show Dynasty. The Colby’s won the 1986 People’s Choice Award. Bast and Huson wrote many television screenplays together including: Twist of Fate (1989), The Big One: The Great Los Angeles Earthquake (1991) and Secrets (1995). Bast also chronicled his relationship with James Dean after he had died in a book and a movie. While living here in 1987, Bast and Huson added a den, dining room, bathroom and remodeled the kitchen.

Once again, the inside of 6691 Whitley Terrace remains a mystery. However, Eugene O’Brien’s home was featured in the magazine “Pictorial California” in the October 1929 edition. (Very rare to find). It is said that the house still appears today just as in those photographs from 1929. Above: 6691 Whitley Terrace is the third house from the left.

featured in a photographic essay. The pictures of sixty-nine years ago

match almost perfectly the house that appears today.