Whitley Heights 101

2120 & 2145 Fairfield Avenue

2145 Fairfield Avenue was built in 1949 by 67 year old retired actor Corbet Morris. The one-story, 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom house has a total of 1,590 square feet with a two-car garage which sits below the house. This property was built by contractor W.E. Chapman and does not contribute to the Whitley Heights Historical District. Interestingly, this house was built just prior to the area being bulldozed for the Hollywood Freeway. Was Morris aware that his front view would soon be an overpass to the freeway and Fairfield Avenue would be reduced to only three homes? He must of been aware since actor Wesley Barry had just purchased and was moving 6796 Whitley Terrace to 6692 Whitley Terrace around the same time this house was being built. Perhaps he was getting this piece of land dirt cheap!

Corbet Morris was born Louis McClanahan Thompson in 1881 in Canon City, Colorado and began his career on the stage as early as 1909 in Long Beach appearing in “The Belle From Richmond” for s stock company. From that point, Morris traveled all over the United States appeared in various theater productions. In 1919, he appeared in his first film, a short western called “The Girl and the Fugitive”. His mother, Nannie Thompson, settled in Long Beach by 1915 where Morris would visit between productions.

Morris would not appear in another film for 25 years and from 1935 until 1942, he would have 24 credits of mostly small roles. His first was Charles Dickens, “Mystery of Edwin Drood” which starred Claude Rains (Now, Voyager). In 1936, he appeared in “The Moon’s Our Home” which co-starred Henry Fonda and “Theodora Goes Wild” starring Irene Dunne and Melvyn Douglas. He appeared in films which starred Chester Morris, Clark Gable, Jeanette MacDonald, and Olivia de Havilland before he got a minor role in “Tarzan’s Revenge” and “Marie Antionette” which starred Norma Shearer where she was nominated for Best Actress in 1938.

Perhaps Morris’ most memorable role was his last film, Bette Davis’ “Now, Voyager” in 1942 where he played her older brother (pictured above) in what would be Davis’ biggest box office hit of her career. Coincidently, the movie also starred Claude Rains, whom Morris worked with when he returned to film five years earlier. The movie was filmed at 6621 Whitley Terrace (below) in Whitley Heights.

2145 Fairfield Avenue was the second home that Corbet Morris had built in Whitley Heights. In 1939, he built a 2-story, 6 room house across the street at 2120 Fairfield Avenue. Below, the red arrow shows the rear of 2120 Fairfield Avenue. The star indicates where the future home of 2145 Fairfield Avenue would be built a decade later.

Below, the area of Whitley Heights in the early 1920s prior to both homes being built. If the freeway had not been built, 2145 Fairfield Avenue would be next to 2139 Fairfield Avenue and 2149 Fairfield Avenue (house with the dome which was demolished). 2139 Fairfield Avenue is one of the three home which still exist on Fairfield Avenue. Bette Davis briefly lived at the house next to the dome which was also demolished and once stood on Alta Loma Terrace.

Morris only lived at 2120 Fairfield Avenue for two years before selling it and moving to the valley. In 1950, 2120 Fairfield Avenue was put up for sale by the state to be moved. There is no record of the house being moved so it most likely was demolished by 1952. Below, a photograph of the freeway construction in 1952 and the approximate area of where 2120 Fairfield Avenue would have been located. Just below the arrow the dome house, 2149 Fairfield Avenue, can still be seen before it was demolished.

Corbet Morris died on May 14, 1951, while he was still living at 2145 Fairfield Avenue, once again, only living in his second Whitley Heights home for two years. Morris was buried at Sunnyside Cemetery in Long Beach with his mother. He never married or had children.

Below is the rear of 2145 Fairfield Avenue. A great place to sit to listen to the music coming from the Hollywood Bowl.