Whitley Heights 101

2101 Fairfield Avenue (relocated)

2102 Fairfield Avenue was built in 1922 by owner W.P. Erbes who constructed a 5 room cottage with 2 bedrooms. The Erbes moved into a bigger home in 1924 and rented the home. Before the 101 Freeway plowed through a section of Whitley Heights in the 1950’s, Fairfield Avenue circled around from Whitley Terrace, crossed over Odin Street, and stopped at or before Cahuenga Blvd. (see below). The next image shows what is left of Fairfield Avenue which sits next to a parking lot.

In 1928, 19 year old actor Charles Bruins lived in the home and was performing in local plays. He starred in George Scarborough’s play, Bad Babies, and had been arrested with a dozen other actors for participating in an “indecent” show. Reverend R.P. Shuler decided that the play contained “objectionable words and phrases” and had the play raided by police after a few performances at the Figueroa Playhouse. Bruins and the others were released on $500 bail and the case eventually went in front a jury that actually deadlocked and another trial was set. The case ended in which Scarborough was sentenced to 3 months in jail and the others, including Bruins, had to pay $300 or serve 1 month in jail. Reverend Shuler was sued by Scarborough for libel. Bruins went on to do 2 uncredited parts in Naughty Marietta (1935) and The Great Ziegfeld (1936).

In 1932, actor Manuel Zyzz resided at the Fairfield Avenue cottage. Zyzz’s claim to fame was that he was the last name in the 1931 and 1932 Los Angeles City Directories. No movie credits could be found for Mr. Zyzz.

In 1940, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Rhodes were living at 2102 Fairfield Avenue. They also owned 2 beachfront properties off Roosevelt Highway in the Castle Rock area between Santa Monica and Topanga Canyon.

That same year, a fire started from faulty wiring at one of the homes near the beach. Mrs. Charles Rhodes homes located at  18108 and 18110 Roosevelt Highway were two of six homes destroyed by the fire. Below is a photograph showing residents taking their belongings to the beach in an attempt to be saved.

Ten years later the home at 2102 Fairfield Avenue faced the fate of being torn down for the construction of the Hollywood Freeway. Between 1949 and 1950, several advertisements ran in the Los Angeles Times to purchase the property and relocate it to another location.

In 1950, the 5 room cottage and carport was purchased by actress Ruth Clifford and relocated to 2009 Calgary Lane, just off N. Beverly Glen Blvd. in the Beverly Glen hills of Los Angeles. Ms. Clifford never lived in the property and probably used the rental property as extra income at the time. Ruth was born in Rhode Island in 1900 and moved to Los Angeles when she was 11 to live with her aunt, also an actress. Ruth got into acting at the age of 15 and was known for the voice of Minnie Mouse and Daisy Duck. She also was Abraham Lincoln’s love interest in the 1921 movie, The Dramatic Life of Abraham Lincoln. Clifford married real estate developer John Cornelius from 1924-1938. Clifford, shown below, lived to be 98 years old.

Clifford kept the property on Calgary Lane until the mid-1960’s. Not only did she relocate the home in 1950, she built a “rumpus room” in 1962. In the 1980’s a second floor was added to the property. Pictured below is the aerial view of 2009 Calgary Lane.