Whitley Heights 101

The girl with the music room

Widower Lillian Lohlker had 2040 Las Palmas Avenue built in 1922. This residence is very unique as it sits on a lot that does not have access to the street. There is a stairwell between the one-car detached garage and another property. Below, the 2-story house has a partial street view with the concrete stairs to the right of the garage that was built by Ms. Lohlker in 1927.

Lillian Lohlker, a widow since 1915, had the residence built after her 45 year old husband, Henry, a doctor who worked for the health department, died of poisoning. Her daughter, Marie, was three years old when her father passed. What is interesting is that Marie was terribly sick with food poisoning in 1911 and almost died. Marie was born a “musical genius” and called “The Little Hollywood Baritone”. She also played the piano and her teacher happened to be Joseph Zoellner of the Zoellner Quartet. Zoellner was her neighbor and resided at 6615 Emmett Terrace in the early 1920s. Marie’s first recital occurred at the women’s club when she was only six years old. After that, she played the piano and sang frequently in the community and would often have a spot on the radio.

In 1922, Lillian had one of the rooms converted into a music room and Marie (pictured below) would teach others how to play the piano. Presumably, the music room was on the top floor to the right. Lillian also built the bay window, in 1926, in the living room of the lower floor. Unfortunately, Marie ended up sick in 1934 with an undisclosed illness (more poisoning?) which she was battling for ten days and died at the age of 24. Shortly after, Lillian put the house up for sale.

During 1937-38, cameraman Jockey Arthur Feindel resided at 2040 Las Palmas Avenue. Feindel worked on several films in the camera and electrical department and as a cinematographer between 1929-1960. He was the director of photography for the 1958 film, Island Women and the television series, Judge Roy Bean in 1956. Feindel is pictured below on the right during filming of Studs Lonigan in 1960.

Stuntman and actor Russell Custer resided at 2040 Las Palmas Avenue from 1940 to 1954, began his career in 1930 and appeared in over 269 movies and television shoes mostly as uncredited characters. One of his few named characters was Sergeant Healey in the Adventures of Superman in 1952. Custer, pictured below, was often cast as a townsman in westerns and often appeared in Gunsmoke and Bonanza.

Below is the living room area on the first floor prior a wall being constructed dividing the room into a living room and bedroom. French doors can be seen in the distance where the kitchen and dining area are located. The upstairs had been converted from three bedrooms to a separate living area complete with a kitchenette, living room, and two bedrooms.

Below is a wall with French doors that separates the bedroom and fireplace and a living room area.

The 2000 block of Las Palmas Avenue that is located in Whitley Heights, was previously named “Whitley Place” and changed in the early 1920s. Below Las Palmas Avenue is just off of Milner Place and then runs into Bonair Place. Las Palmas is located below the multi-story yellow house below. 2040 Las Palmas (red arrow), sits between 2042 Las Palmas to the left and 2032 Las Palmas to the right. Both these properties are also on lots that do not have street access. 2038 Las Palmas Avenue is a multi-family tutor-style residence that sits directly in front of 2040 Las Palmas and its red roof can be seen in the picture below.