Whitley Heights 101

2020 Grace Avenue: Gone but not forgotten

2020 Grace Avenue (listed at 6737 Whitley Terrace) was built in 1914 by Charles Kent and his son, Ray Kent as real estate investor, Minnie S. Jewel, purchased 5 acres of land from the Hollywood Grand View Tract on the very top of the hill in Whitley Heights. Jewel originally built a 17 room home, a 6 room home, and a separate garage intended the property to be used as a hotel and restaurant. The Cahuenga Vista Inn opened its doors for business in 1915 with Edward W. Whalen as the manager.

The Cahuenga Vista Inn was advertised as having 20 rooms in the main building (see above), with several hundred feet of broad verandas built around a patio in the back. The five acres of land was landscaped by landscape architect, Arthur E. Simpson, who planted a variety of shrubs, palm trees, rose hedges, pergolas, and fruit trees throughout. There was a long winding driveway lined with trees that drove up to the main building. Spanish and American style lunches and dinners would be served daily. The hotel was very popular and dubbed “The Motorists Paradise” as there would be luncheons, weddings, and “motor parties” on the hill. It is unclear why the hotel closed down in one year later in 1916. It was announced in the newspaper:

It does not sound like Ms. Jewel wanted to close to establishment; perhaps as new homes were being built on the hill, the noise offended the neighbors. Minnie Jewel decided to buy a large property in Silver Valley, San Bernardino and was building a huge ranch where she planned to live. Edward Whalen, the manager remained at the residence to overlook the property. Ms. Jewel leased the property to actress, Blanche Sweet (pictured below) in 1918 where she lived for a few years. She probably moved after September of 1920 when she was robbed by 3 armed burglars during the evening. It was unclear if Ms. Sweet was in the residence at the time of the home invasion, but they attacked the watchman who ended up in the hospital. The maid had heard the commotion and called the police.

Blanche Sweet was a silent film actress that starred in over 160 movies and television shows beginning in 1909 when the movie industry was emerging. Her career did not last when talking movies came about as she was cast in only three talking movies. She started her own production company in 1918 called the “Blanche Sweet Film Corporation”. While residing at Cahuenga Vista, her film, “The Unpardonable Sin” was showing. Sweet had an affair with the director, Marshall Neilan, whom she ended up marrying in 1922; they divorced in 1929 due to his nonstop affairs. (She should have known him to be an adulterer when he cheated on his prior wife with her!)

In July of 1921, Minnie Jewel erected a another one-story building with a 5 foot swimming pool which was 12 x 17 square feet. Jewel continued to rent the property out and eventually sold it to actor Francis X. Bushman circa 1926. Bushman used 2022 Grace Avenue as the address of the larger home. Also in 1926, Bushman’s son, Francis Bushman, Jr. ,also an actor, lived in the smaller home, listed at 6737 Whitley Terrace. By 1927, Bushman Jr. was living at 6671 (1/2) Sunset Blvd.

Bushman began his acting career in 1911 and had gained a large female following through the 1920s and is best known for his role in “Ben Hur”. He then moved to the stage and “talking” pictures and appeared in nearly 200 films. He also starred in several television shows from 1954 through 1956. In 1918, his affair with long-time star Beverly Bayne became public as he was married to Josephinne Duval, with whom they had 5 children together.  Three days after his divorce became final, he married Bayne until 1925. Below is Bushman with Bayne.

Bushman loved the colors purple, lavender and lilac. He drove in a pastel purple limousine and his chauffeur dressed in the same color. Much of his home was also decorated in purple. Around this home, he planted purple flowers such as Plumbago and Passion flowers. Francis X. Bushman also had a kennel in Whitley Heights where he raised Great Danes. He hung out with Rudolph Valentino, who lived just down the street on Wedgewood Place. Bushman led Rudy keep two parking spaces as he owned a 1925 Isotta Fraschini, 1925 Chevrolet Roadster, 1922 Ford truck, and restored Cadillac touring car. On the 40th anniversary of Valentino’s death, Francis X. Bushman passed away at the age of 83.

Bushman had another residence in Baltimore, Maryland, known as Bush Manor at 1812 Landrake Road, Riderwood (now Towson, Maryland). Unfortunately, all property was seized from that home in 1919 to pay off alimony he owed Josephinne as she was going to make sure he get every cent he earned!

The estate was eventually turned into an assisted-living facility called Holland Manor.  A fire set ablaze to the facility in 2011, destroying the home. The land is currently for sale.

Bayne got pregnant with a Bushman’s son in 1919 and this was her only child, but one more for Bushman. Bushman left for Italy in 1924 to begin filming Ben Hur. Bushman and Payne announced their separation in early 1925 while he was still filming in Rome. She was living at 2108 N. Sycamore Avenue with their son and her mother at the time of the separation. Bayne filed for the divorce as Bushman wanted to reconcile, claiming he deserted her. About that time, it was reported Bushman owed over $23,000 in back taxes and he began selling some of his prized dogs around the same time. Below was one of the many advertisements selling his dogs in the Los Angeles Times in 1926. In October of 1926 his bird, Messala, the parrot that he got in Rome, Italy, while filming Ben Hur, went missing at 2022 Grace Avenue.

In September of 1930, Bushman announced that he was “flat broke” and had been sued by his ex-wife, the government and ex-employees, and he quietly sold the estate to Mr. and Mrs. Burton Holmes as they obtained a building permit in August of 1932 to add/repair a garage and swimming pool. The property now listed at 2020 Grace Avenue was called “Topside” to reflect how Burton felt about the spectacular view. Below is the entrance of Topside with the name listed on the sign to the left.

Burton Holmes had been making short films for Hollywood as early as 1915, and by the 1920’s, he was constantly traveling to Los Angeles and decided to have a second home. Burton had also traveled the world and took photographs of what he had seen. The Burton’s decorated the home with their artwork, statues and ceramics, many obtained from Burton’s trips to China and Japan. Below are Mr. and Mrs. Burton by their pool enjoying a meal.

Holmes actually photographed Jean Harlow and Samuel Kayzer while she was taking a voice interpretation lesson at his residence in Whitley Heights in 1931. He rented out the house as he was taking a trip around the world. It was advertised in the Los Angeles Times in November of 1931 as “Topside the beautiful home of Burton Holmes, acre of grounds, unsurpassed view, top of Whitley Heights, 4 master bedrooms, 3 baths, servants rooms & bath.” Rent would be $350 per month. Renters included: Hermione Gingold (1930), director Alex Leftwich (1934-35), actress Eleanor Boardman (1930s), actress Patricia Ellis (1936), motion picture director Joseph May (1937-39), actor Tyrone Power (1940s), song writer Frederick Hollander (1940-42) and Erno Verebes (1940-42). Below is Burton Holmes in his car.

Burton Holmes died at 2020 Grace Avenue in 1958. Burton Holmes company, BHI, tried to keep operating after his death. They would make money by renting out this home, but it was not enough. BHI sold the home in the early 1970’s to real estate developers who tore the house down in 1978, before the Whitley Heights Preservation was formed so no other home on the hill would be subjected to such a fate. However, before anything was developed on the land, there were some conditions that had to be met:

1. All residences built must be Mediterranean in style and have Mexican tile roofs.
2. Thirty-Nine of the Fifty planted palm trees must remain in place.
3. The Six lots will share the common existing driveway with no interruption of existing curbs.
4. No streets be used for garage access except for the driveway on the north lot.

Five of the properties were now on Kendra Court and one property was listed as the original address: 6737 Whitley Terrace. Below are the current residences on Kendra Court via entrance on Grace Avenue. From left to right:

1. 2023 Kendra Court: built 1994
2. 2037 Kendra Court: built 1998
3. 2031 Kendra Court: built 1997
4. 2041 Kendra Court: built 1997
5. 2051 Kendra Court: built 1994
6. 6737 Whitley Terrace: built 1997