Whitley Heights 101

2014 Grace Avenue

For Sale Alert: 2014 Grace Avenue just hit the market for $1.925 million. The two-story house was built in 1923 on a 6,800 square foot lot, has 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and tons of outside sitting areas.

Retired banker of First National Bank of Chicago, Charles Walworth, hired architect A. Burnside Sturges to erect the Mediterranean residence. Walworth moved to Hollywood with his wife, Mary and her adult daughter, Josephine, from a previous marriage. Harry Warner, co-founder of Warner Brothers Studios, also hired Sturges to build a home in Hancock Park, which is listed as a historic residence today (see below). Warner sold the house two years later to finance “The Jazz Singer”, one of the first “talkies” that put an end to the silent film era.

Below, 2014 Grace Avenue was built next to the driveway of Frances X. Bushman’s palace, formerly 2020 Grace Avenue. The palm trees that lined Bushman’s driveway, can be seen to the left of this residence. Behind this house, Whitley Avenue used to wind around to Cahuenga Boulevard. Lloyd Lane would eventually be built on the right side of the fire garage on Whitley Avenue.

2014 Grace Avenue has a spacious yard that has a detached art studio and an outside area with many sitting areas.

Mary Walworth’s son, actor Taylor Granville (born Granville Prentice Taylor in Chicago) was a famed vaudeville performer who eventually produced his own shows with his wife, Laura Pierpont.

In 1923, he moved into the home in order to write a new play. Pierpont was still traveling around the United States on the stage. The two married in 1908 after Granville went through a public scandal. In March of 1908, actress Marie McManus took him to court in New York wanting a divorce and asking for a large sum of alimony of $250 per week (approximately $8,800 worth today). McManus claimed the two were married in 1901, lived together and then deserted her in October of 1907. She also named Laura Pierpont as a co-defendant. In a written response, Granville indicated he married Pierpont in December of 1907 and also claimed that he was never married to McManus. He also produced a letter that she wrote to him stating, “Thank god I never married you and am through with you forever”. Granville also produced a witness, theatrical agent, J.J. Packard, who stated that McManus told him they were never married and she wanted to marry someone else to make him “sore”. The judge ultimately denied McManus’ request, siding with Granville.

While Granville was residing at 2014 Grace Avenue, Sid Grauman hired him as a prologue producer for his Egyptian Theater located at 6712 Hollywood Boulevard. Granville wrote the prologue for the film, “The Covered Wagon” starring J. Warren Kerrigan and Lois Wilson which was set to premiere on April 10, 1923. Unfortunately, Granville collapsed in his home a few days before the opening and was sent to the hospital where he was diagnosed with an inoperable stomach ulcer for which he died the morning of April 11, 1923. Below, Grauman’s Egyptian Theater when “The Covered Wagon” was featured.

In 1934, Mary Walworth died in the home, following by her daughter, Josephine in 1939. After Charles Walworth died in 1941, the house was sold to actor Edward Van Sloun (1882-1964) and his wife, Myra, in 1942. Van Sloun was a character actor with 89 credits from 1916 to 1950. Van Sloun had several roles as European doctors or experts in Universal’s horror films: Dracula (1931), Frankenstein (1931), The Mummy (1932), and Dracula’s Daughter (1936). The Van Sloun’s sold the property two years later. Below, with Bela Lugosi in Dracula in 1931.

Upon entry to the house, there is a living room, kitchen and dining room on the ground floor.

There are three bedrooms and two bathrooms on the second floor.

There is even a bonus room in the attic.

In 1959, chef Joseph Broulard purchased the home and lived here until his death in 1995. French born, Broulard was a famous chef and was credited as being the man who brought French fine cuisine to Los Angeles. He ran the most famous and glamorous restaurants in the city for many years-Mocambo, Dino’s, and Au Petit Jean. In 1969, Broulard opened La Grange in Westwood, and was co-owner of L’Ermitage before officially retiring in 1974. He and his son, Gerard, moved to Hollywood from England after a divorce. In 1968, Gerard was selected to appear on “The Dating Game” and won and shortly after, began appearing in X-rated films. Gerard retired from porn to manage the French restaurant, Le Quai after marrying fellow porn star, Kathie Hilton.