Whitley Heights 101

2018 Whitley Avenue

2018 Whitley Avenue was built in 1925 by architect Eldo Chrysler for Edward and Rosalind DeWitt. Edward was 52 and Rosalind 48, when they moved in with their 15 year old daughter, Rosalind. Rosalind’s mother, Laura Garfias, also moved in and had been residing with the DeWitt’s for most of their marriage. Little Rosalind was a talented singer who used the stage name “Juanita Garfias” as she was the great-great granddaughter of Don Francisco and Dona Avila, who occupied the historic 18-room Avila House on Olvera Street from 1818-1855. The Avila Adobe was the first permanent residence in Los Angeles. Don Francisco was the first mayor of Los Angeles under Spanish rule. Juanita was popular in song with her Spanish ancestry in the 1930s and 1940s.

Juanita would often participate in local plays and musical presentations that reprised the history of her ancestors and would dress in authentic Spanish costumes. In 1931, Juanita married Jose Manuel Del Solar, but quickly obtained an annulment as he lied to her, pretending to be from a wealthy Peruvian family that had a vast South American estate. Apparently, Del Solar was very authoritative and controlling in their marriage and Juanita wanted out. In 1932, Juanita was part of the Olympics when they took place in Los Angeles as she dressed in costume and helped with the event. In 1935, Juanita had two minor roles in “Storm Over the Andes” and the Spanish language version, “Alas Sobre El Chapo”.

Sometime before 1939, Juanita married Spanish pianist and composer Francisco Avellan and he was 13 years her senior. Avellan was known for playing Latin music and accompanying the Carmen Amaya dancers during their performance in the Philharmonic Auditorium. He was also hired to work on the score of the film, For Whom the Bell Tolls in 1943. Francisco and Juanita had two children-Francisco Jr. and Angela. When Avellan died in 1953, he was remarried prior to 1946. In 1948, Laura died in the home as the DeWitt’s owned the Whitley Heights property until the the 1950s when they moved to Santa Barbara where Rosalind died in 1965. Juanita died in Los Angeles in 1980.

This two-story residence consists of 4,000 square feet with four bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms. As part of a historic district, there still remains authentic features in the home: original tile in bathrooms, magnesite entry and staircase, hand forged iron, vintage lighting and plaster scrollwork. The grand living room has a fireplace with an original iron gate leading into the dining room. A fully updated period kitchen has convenient access to an outdoor terrace with a outdoor drill. A library with built ins is off the entry. The master suite has dual walk-in closets and an upstairs office has a wood paneled ceiling and a quaint lounging alcove. Both guest bedrooms have large walk in closets. A separate gym offers views of the garden. Lush landscaping enhances the exterior complete with an outdoor fireplace and tiled terraces. A private guest apartment with its own kitchen is included on the lower level with a separate entry.

2018 Whitley Avenue was purchased by Thomas Dolby and wife, Kathleen Beller in the 1990s. Thomas Dolby is a musician and is best known by his hit singles including “She Blinded Me with Science” (1982) and “Hyperactive!” (1984). In the 1990s, Dolby founded Beatnik, a Silicon Valley software company whose technology was used to play internet audio and later ringtones, most notably on Nokia phones. He was also the music director for the TED Conference. On the faculty at the Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins University since 2014, Dolby leads Peabody’s Music for New Media program, which enrolled its first students in the fall of 2018.

Dolby was born Thomas Morgan Robertson in London, England in 1958 and adopted his stage name “Dolby” that he picked up in the early 1970s, when he was “always messing around with keyboards and tapes”. Dolby has composed several soundtracks of motion pictures including; Howard the Duck (1986), Toys (1993), and We’re Back! A Dinosaur’s Story (1994). In 1988, Dolby married actress, Kathleen Beller and they have three children.

Beller was born in 1956 and started her acting career at the age of 15 when she was cast in a daytime soap opera, Search for Tomorrow from 1971-1974. At the age of 18, she played a minor role in The Godfather Part II (1974). After that, she would appear in single episodes of tv shows until 1978, when she was cast a more notable role of Besty Hardemon of Harold Robbins, The Betsy, starring Laurence Olivier, Robert Duvall and Katherine Ross. She was then cast the lead role in “Are You in the House Alone?” in 1978 and a supporting role in “Promises in the Dark” in 1979, in which she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in 1979.

Perhaps Beller was best known as the character of Kirby Anders of Dynasty between 1982 and 1984. In 1991, Beller returned for the role in the Dynasty Reunion. Dolby and Beller are still currently married and recently celebrated a marriage of one of their children in London, England.

In the early 2000s, famed director Francis Ford Coppola purchased this property. It is safe to say, that the Coppola family are fond of Whitley Heights. Coppola’s daughter, Sofia, once owned 6747 Milner Road and his son, Roman, lived across the street at 6740 Milner Road. Coppola had another son, Gian-Carlo, who died in 1986 in a water skiing accident, and his fiance, Jacqui De La Fontaine and his daughter, Gia, lived at 2034 Grace Avenue.

Coppola was born in 1939 in Detroit, Michigan to Carmine Coppola, a flutist, who played for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Carmine’s older brother, August, is an author and his younger sister, Talia Shire, is an actress known for her role as Adrian in the Rocky movies. After attending Hofstra University, Coppola enrolled in UCLA film school in 1960. One interesting antidote: while he was at UCLA, he met Jim Morrison of the Doors and later used his song “The End” in his Apocalypse Now film in 1979.

In the early 1960s, Coppola, a struggling artist, made money by writing and producing “skin flicks” as many film school colleagues did to pay the bills. Coppola’s first feature-length film was Dementia 13 in 1963, a black and white horror film. It was on that set that he met his future wife, Eleanor Neil, the assistant art director of the film. Coppola’s talent was quickly noticed and he went on to direct The Godfather (1972), The Godfather Part II (1974), Apocalypse Now (1979), The Outsiders (1983), The Cotton Club (1984), Peggy Sue Got Married (1986), Gardens of Stone (1987), The Godfather Part III (1990), Dracula (1992), Jack (1996), and The Rainmaker (1997).

Coppola also produced other movies including; American Graffiti (1973), Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1994), Sleepy Hollow (1999), Lost in Translation (2003), and most recently Freda (2021). Coppola has also been credited for writing several screenplays including; Patten (1970), The Way We Were (1973), and The Great Gatsby (1974).

Coppola has also ventured in the winemaking industry. Coppola, with his family, expanded his business ventures to include winemaking in California’s Napa Valley, when in 1975, he purchased the former home and adjoining vineyard of Gustave Niebaum in Rutherford, California using proceeds from The Godfather. His winery produced its first vintage in 1977 with the help of his father, wife, and children stomping the grapes barefoot. Every year, the family has a harvest party to continue the tradition.

In 2006, Coppola ran into a bit of controversy, by being a financial backer and supporter of disgraced film director, Victor Salva. Salva was charged with multiple child sexual abuse and pornography offences during the production of Clownhouse. In a 2006 write-up, he said, “You have to remember, while this was a tragedy, that the difference in age between Victor and the boy was very small — Victor was practically a child himself.” In actuality, Salva was 29 while the boy was 12. Coppola has continued to support Salva financially and professionally throughout the years since.

Coppola spends most of his time at his winery in Geyserville, CA in which they offer wine tasting, a restaurant and pool to its members. Coppola names his wines after his family members. Meanwhile, the Whitley house is well-maintained for its occasional visitors.