Now Voyager House

6621 Whitley Terrace

6621 Whitley Terrace was built in 1922 by William P. Vurpillat and consists of 2,656 square feet, two bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a large library/den, numerous patios/balconies, and a batchelder tile fireplace. Vurpillat never moved into the home and sold it in 1923; he listed it as having seven large rooms, oil painted walls, a billiard room with a cork floor, and a maid’s room/shower that are separate from the house. Vurpillat, his business partner, James Ferdon, and two others, were arrested at that time on Federal charges of misrepresenting property on which they proposed to drill oil wells. Vurpillat testified that they would charged half a million dollars per unit and would pocket a large portion of the money. Vurpillat, Ferdon, and one other business associate, were found guilty of the ponzi scheme and had to serve 12 years in prison at Leavenworth; they were paroled after serving 8 months in prison.

Motion picture director, Dimitri Buchowetzki resided in the house for several years starting in 1926. In 1921, the Russian born director moved to the United States and directed 27 films between 1919-1932 including “Men” and “Compromise”, both starring Pola Negri. He also directed Graustark starring Norma Talmadge. In 1925, while he was directing Phantom of the Opera on stage at Universal City, the stage caught on fire burning the theater down. Buchowetzki assisted in getting the audience out safely. He died in 1932 at the age of 47. Below Buchowetzki is pictured with actress Pola Negri.

In the late 1930’s, civil engineer William F. Foster and his wife, Helen, purchased 6621 Whitley Terrace and owned the property until his death in 1965. William Foster was involved in the Whitley Heights community and served as one of the directors of the Whitley Heights Civic Association in 1938.

In 1941, Foster caught a 15 year old burglar in one of the bedrooms of his home. Luckily, Foster had a firearm. The young boy swung at Foster with a lead pipe, but missed and then took a gun out of his pocket and aimed it at Foster. Foster aimed his gun at the boy and told him he would shoot so the boy put down his gun and gave up.

In 1942, the Fosters allowed the movie, Now Voyager, starring Bette Davis, to film some of the mansion scenes inside the home. They continued to reside in the home while the house was being used to film part of the movie. Davis starred as Charlotte Vale, a single woman, who has been controlled by her mother all of her life. The Vales are prominent community members in Boston and have Charlotte committed as they fear she is on the verge of the mental breakdown.

Charlotte learns to be more independent and goes on a cruise, under the advisement of her psychiatrist where she meets a married man played by Paul Henreid. Henreid’s character, Jerry, is unhappily married and has two daughters; the youngest resembling Charlotte. After the cruise, Charlotte and the man part ways but are in love. Jerry, who can’t stop thinking about Charlotte, gets work in Boston and they meet again, this time Charlotte is engaged. Charlotte ends the engagement and her mother dies after they quarrel. Fearing another breakdown, she goes back to the sanitarium and learns that Jerry’s youngest daughter is a patient there. Charlotte takes the daughter home to care for her because it is a way to have contact with Jerry. The movie ends with this arrangement in tact. Below is Bette Davis and Paul Henreid of what looks like the living room of 6621 Whitley Avenue with windows to the left and the fireplace to the right.

Below is a more recent photograph of the living room area of the house. The fireplace can be seen to the right and the window which is on the left side of the house.

In the 1960’s, a widowed, William Foster lived in the back apartment of the house. In October of 1965, he was sleeping when his heating pad caught on fire severely burning him. He was rushed to the hospital and was listed as an “amputee”. He died early in the morning on October 11, 1965. The extent of the fire damage was not known as there were no permits in the 1960’s for any work done on the house. Below is William Foster in his youth.

Since the 1960’s there have been several homeowners completing chimney and foundation repairs. Note the advertisement below in the 1920’s giving directions to the home off Cahuenga Blvd. to Whitley Avenue which could not be driven today due to the construction of the 101 Freeway.

Below, 6621 Whitley Terrace is located just off of Whitley Avenue from Franklin Avenue. H.J. Whitley’s residence was three houses to the left at 2073 Grace Avenue.