Whitley Heights 101

2037 Whitley Avenue

2037 Whitley Avenue, built in 1928 by architect Charles Kyson, consists of 3,100 square feet, 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, with a separate library and den. Kyson was supervised the construction of several movie sets for Famous Players Lasky, Thomas H. Ince Productions and J. Parker Read Jr. Productions in 1920. The rumor is that the house was built by producer Howard Hughes for actress Norma Shearer, but he was also rumored to have built the house next door, 2014 Whitley Avenue for actress Jean Harlow. Based on the new construction permit dated October 30, 1928, the owner of the house was listed as J.L. Gilbert, Gilbert Hotel Hollywood. John Loyal Gilbert was born in 1879 in West Virginia and moved his family to Hollywood in the early 1920s from Parkersburg, WV, where he was the mayor. Gilbert got into the hotel business in Hollywood, opening the Burman Hotel in 1925 and the Gilbert Hotel in 1926.

Gilbert’s family consisted of his wife, Clara and children: Edward (born 1904), John Jr. (born 1906) and Louise (born 1916). They were barely settled in their new home in Whitley Heights before Gilbert died in the home on August 23, 1929, at the age of 50. (Note: Actor John Gilbert’s father died two weeks before J.L. Gilbert died so this house was erroneously cited as being the actor’s father’s house). The eldest son, Edward took over managing the hotel while John Jr. worked as a designer for a motion picture studio. Clara and her three children continued living in the home until 1932. John Jr. had somewhat of a freak accident leading to his death in February of 1941. He slipped and fell while walking down Eleanor Street in Hollywood. He had hit his head and ended up drowning in deep water that was on the street. Edward retired from the hotel business and worked for Warner Brothers Studio in 1942 as a set designer. Later he would design sets and costumes on Broadway.

In 1934, Joseph and Mary Sherman rented the house for a year. Joseph Sherman (1892-1944), pictured below, was practicing law in Seattle when he decided to get back into the newspaper business. So moved to Hollywood to work for the Los Angeles Times but then decided to get into show business. He directed three short films in 1936-37 for MGM. He wrote two screenplays; Death on the Diamond (1934) starring Robert Young and Murder in the Fleet (1935) starring Robert Taylor and Jean Parker. He met his wife, actress Mary Doran, on the set of MGM. They surprised many by eloping in San Diego in 1931.

Mary Dorn (pictured below) was born Freda Appelbaum in 1908 in New York and joined the Ned Wayburn Dancing Academy to learn how to tap dance. Her dancing talent lead her to dance in Florenz Ziegfeld’s ‘Betsy’ (1926), which was a flop, but then appeared in the hit ‘Rio Rita’. She was only 17 years old when she starred in “Half a Bride” with Gary Cooper after moving to Hollywood in 1928. Perhaps her greatest known roles were Chester Morris’ mistress in The Divorcee (1930) starring Norma Shearer and a funny role as Margie in Movie Crazy (1932) starring Harold Lloyd. Her movie career lasted only 8 years as she retired to raise a family-just not with Sherman. Doran went to Reno in September of 1937 to seek a divorce citing cruelty. However, it was she who was the cruel one because as soon as her divorce was final, she went to Vegas in October of 1937 to elope with Kurtis Reifenberg. The two lived between New York and Connecticut, having one daughter. They remained married until her death in 1995. Sherman came back to Whitley Heights in 1941 and rented 2022 Whitley Avenue (literally across the street from this house).

In 1935 Ernest and Permelia Pagano rented 2037 Whitley Avenue for a year. Ernest Pagano (1901-1953) was a screenwriter and producer who had 80 script writing credits (mostly short films) between 1927 to 1947. However, after 1935 he began writing full scripts for mostly musicals and romance comedies, many of the films for Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, and Rita Hayworth. In the 1940s his screenplays included: Greenwich Village (1944) starring Carmen Miranda, Lover Come Back (1946) starring George Brent and Lucille Ball and his last film, Slave Girl (1947), starring George Brent. Below, Pagano is pictured on the right, during the filming of 1937s “Shall We Dance” with Ginger Rogers and director Mark Sandrich.

Pagano married his wife Permelia Vernon in 1932 in Arizona. Vernon was born in 1903 in San Bernardino, CA and had a brief acting career under the name of Norma Drew (pictured below). Drew was credited for 10 minor roles between 1930-1936. Her most notable roles were as Stan Laurel’s wife in the short film, “Chickens Come Home” in 1931 and as a teacher in Imitation of Life (1934) starring Claudette Colbert. She was also a mannequin in Joan Crawford’s “Our Blushing Brides” in 1932. The two remained married until Pagano’s death in 1953 while they were living in Beverly Hills.

After the Pagano’s moved out, L.B. Mayer’s secretary at MGM, Ida Koverman moved in for a year in 1936 according to the Los Angeles City Directory. Since a secretary did not make a lot of money, she was able to get short term rentals at a reduced price because of who she was and were she worked. Koverman moved around annually and lived all over Los Angeles including living with her pal, director Robert Vignola in 1946, who lived down the street at 6697 Whitley Terrace, according to the 1946 Los Angeles Voter’s Registration records.

Ida Brockway “Kay” Koverman (1876-1954) was an was best known as the woman who “ran MGM” as Louis B. Mayer’s executive secretary and, later, director of public relations for the studio. She previously lived in Ohio and married Oscar Koverman before divorcing him in 1923. In 1929, Louis B. Mayer hired Koverman as his executive secretary. Koverman had facilitated Louis B. Mayer’s entry into the state party and his relationship with Herbert Hoover. Koverman helped discover, develop, and mentor stars for the studio, including Robert Taylor, Nelson Eddy, Robert Montgomery, Clark Gable, Leatrice Joy, Jean Parker, Jeanette MacDonald, Elizabeth Taylor, and Judy Garland. The rumor was that is was Koverman who suggested MGM run a school for young stars; Elizabeth Taylor, Judy Garland, Lana Turner, Jackie Cooper, Mickey Rooney, Peter Lawford and Donna Reed all attended. She worked as Louis B. Mayer’s executive secretary until 1951, when Nicholas Schenck made her head of public relations for MGM until her death in 1954.

Between 1937 and 1939 singer and actor Igor Gorin (pictured below) resided at 2037 Whitley Avenue. Gorin (1904-1982) was a Ukrainian Jewish baritone and music teacher. He also used the name Charles Igor Gorin in several movie credits. Gorin came to the United States in 1933 and began a radio career, singing in such programs as Hollywood Hotel. In 1939, Gorin married Mary Smith in May and became a naturalized U.S. citizen in July. His American debut came in 1939 at the Hollywood Bowl, and he also sang on films and radio. He also performed at the Hollywood Hotel. Gorin appeared in two movies; played barber Nicki Papaloukas in Broadway Melody of 1938 (1937) and Mr Ford in Die Lustigen Weiber von Windsor (1965). He also appeared on NBC Television Opera Theater in 1958. Gorin died in 1982 and was a music professor at University of Arizona and was still married to Mary Smith Gorin.

Interestingly the house last sold in 1974 for only $4,500. Since the 1990s, the house has been used as a rental property. Between 1999-2000 photographer and producer Richard Reens rented the home. Reens started his career in the photography business and has photographed well known models such as Brigitte Hall, Chandra North, Angie Harmon, and Shannon Elizabeth. Reen’s photographs have been featured in international publications including Allure, Amica, Glamour and Marie Claire. He also directed several episodes of The OC. Reens has also directed commercials for Mercedes Benz, Hummer, Sony, 7UP and seasonal spots for the television show, The OC.

Between 2009-2011 actor Justin Cuomo rented the house. Cuomo has 16 minor television credits including; Parenthood (2012), NCIS (2014) and SWAT (2022).

After Cuomo moved out, British actress Selina MacDonald moved in until 2014. She has had several minor television roles including; Samantha Atkinson on Young & the Restless 1 episode in 2011, a pole dancer in CSI: NY in 2011, Criminal Minds (2010), True Blood (2010), and Summer Job (2007). MacDonald has also appeared in two television movies and a Ed Sheeran video.

After MacDonald, actress and singer Noreen Juliano rented out the home in 2014. Juliano had minor roles in the films: Zombie Prom (2016) and Bring it On: All or Nothing (2016). She also made several appearances in Keeping up with the Kardashians in 2010. Interestingly, she is a member of the girl group BG5 with Brooke Adams, Dominique Domingo, Laura New, and Mandy Jiroux. The group is co-managed by Kris Jenner and Kenneth Crear. Crear also produced the short-lived reality show “House of Carters” in 2006.

One interesting anecdote about the house in 1947: