Whitley Heights 101

2040 Las Palmas Avenue

2042 and 2042 1/2 Las Palmas Avenue is a duplex that was built in 1922 by retiree Marion C. Wyckoff and formerly 6691 Whitley Place. Whitley Place changed to Las Palmas Avenue soon after as Wyckoff built the one car detached garage in 1924 and listed the property as 2042 Las Palmas Avenue. This property does not have street access and its only access is a concrete stairway that is shared by 2040 Las Palmas Avenue (see previous post). Below the garage on the left belongs to 2042 Las Palmas with the stairway in the middle leading up to both properties.

The two story duplex has a total of 2,200 square feet and lists 2042 1/2 as the lower floor and 2042 as the upper floor with a separate entrance. Below is the entryway to 2042 1/2 Las Palmas and the stairway continuing to 2042 (left) and 2040 (right) Las Palmas.

2042 1/2 Las Palmas was a rental for the Wyckoffs when they lived at the property and was always sold as a duplex with one owner. Between 1925-26 silent screen actress Trilby Clark rented the lower residence. The Australian born actress came to the United States and was hired as a Zeigfeld girl which helped her to get a movie contract in Hollywood. She is credited in 24 movies between 1920 and 1930. Her father was said to name her “Trilby” because she was born with 6 toes on one foot.

While living at this residence, Trilby had filmed two movies: Seventh Bandit and Satin Town. She was mentioned as living at this house in a 1926 newspaper:

Trilby had to leave Hollywood during the Great Depression as her bank went out of business and she lost all of her money. She moved to London and left acting to marry Ronald Simmons, a nephew of Lord Reading. The wedding took place at the Prince’s Row registry office in June 1932. Below is the entry leading to 2042 1/2 Las Palmas Avenue upon opening the gate near the stairway.

Actor Burton Stancliff rented the lower unit between 1936-37; there is no listed credits of him acting in any movie or television show. Below is the entrance to 2042 1/2 Las Palmas Avenue. The upper unit windows can be seen and has separate entrances to the side and back of the home.

In 1940 actor Wilson Millar lived at 2042 1/2 Las Palmas Avenue and was credited 8 movies between 1937 and 1953, including the 1952 film, April in Paris, starring Doris Day. His claim-to-fame was perhaps, photographing James Dean in 1951 and was listed as a struggling film student who attended UCLA. Below Millar’s signature can be seen on Dean’s photograph.

The lower unit consists of two bedrooms, two bathrooms and an open kitchen/dining/living area (below).

The upper unit, listed as 2042 Las Palmas Avenue, has two bedrooms, one bathroom, a living/dining room area and a separate kitchen. Below is the entrance through the kitchen.

In 1953, theater actor, producer and director Alphonse Luttringer died while living at this property at the age of 74. Luttringer had spent 55 years in the entertainment business. He was part of the WPA Federal Theater Project, which was created in 1935 and its purpose was to create jobs for unemployed theatrical people during the Great Depression. In 1936, the Boston director and eight of his colleagues were accused of sexual misconduct after they invited four young actresses, who were part of the WPA, to a hotel so they could “parade” around the room. The girls indicated that there were liquor bottles all around the room and the men were intoxicated. Below is the living/dining area of the upper unit. This residence was recently on the market and sold in April 2022 for 1.4 million.