Tag Archives: real estate

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Clara Bow’s 1920s Home for Sale, a Cozy Cottage for Star of Silent Films

Posted on April 23, 2024 by lmharnisch

Clara Bow’s former rental at 7576 Hollywood Blvd. is on the market for $1.3 million. Hollywood homes can show a star’s character just as much as any candid portrait. Ostentatious or understated, hip or homey, residences serve as a snapshot … Continue reading →

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Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Master of Electric Lights Had Hollywoodland Sign Beaming

Posted on March 1, 2023 by lmharnisch

Unknown today, Paul D. Howse was a pioneer in early entertainment and ballyhoo promotional methods. Thanks to his company’s domination of the electrical sign market and his prowess with promotion, Howse would help electrify the Hollywoodland Sign in 1923, helping … Continue reading →

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Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: How Hollywood’s Streets Got Their Names

Posted on June 22, 2021 by lmharnisch

H.H. Wilcox’s 1887 map of Hollywood courtesy of USC digital collections. Street names provide a telling story of an area’s development, growth, and history. Real estate promoters and developers give tract streets aspirational titles, monikers that salute subjects or places, … Continue reading →

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Dec. 29, 1907: The City Grows

Posted on December 29, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. Dec. 29, 1907 Los Angeles The Times real estate pages feature homes under construction around Washington Boulevard west of Hobart Boulevard. “This section is just being built up with a splendid class … Continue reading →

Posted in 1907, Architecture, Real Estate, Streetcars | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Dec. 2, 1907: Glendale Homes Built on Site of Glassell’s Vineyards

Posted on December 2, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. Dec. 2, 1907 Los Angeles The Times real estate section features an apartment building at 2nd Street and Figueroa—no point in even going to look for it. But there’s also a large … Continue reading →

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Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Actor Jack Donovan Designs Bungalow Courts for Hollywood Artistes

Posted on November 26, 2018 by lmharnisch

Jack Donovan on the porch of his home, “Picture-Play Magazine,” April 1923.. From its beginnings, the Hollywood film industry has constructed elaborate sets and facades before demolishing them to build something else, such as David O. Selznick burning down old … Continue reading →

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Nov. 10, 1907: Story of L.A. Real Estate Is Dislocation, Dislocation, Dislocation

Posted on November 10, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. Nov. 10, 1907 South Pasadena What sort of monument do we leave for real estate developers? For John B. Althouse, who built hundreds of homes in the Wilshire district, as well as … Continue reading →

Posted in 1907, 1914, Architecture, Real Estate | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Nov. 3, 1907: A House With Curb Appeal

Posted on November 3, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. Nov. 3, 1907 Los Angeles Mrs. E.N. Eskey is building this 10-room house in Pico Heights, on Van Ness just south of Pico. According to The Times, the two-story house (with basement) … Continue reading →

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July 22, 1907: L.A. Housing Is Expensive

Posted on July 22, 2018 by lmharnisch

This is an encore post from 2006. Note: $90 a month is $1,847.12 USD 2005.

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Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: 6533 Cahuenga Terrace, Designed for a Diva

Posted on May 21, 2018 by lmharnisch

An overhead view of 6533 Cahuenga Terrace, via Google Street View. Hyperbole reigns in the world of real estate listings, inflating a dump into a dream palace or attempting to gild a lily. Nowhere is this more prevalent than around … Continue reading →

Posted in Another Good Story Ruined, Architecture, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Music, Stage | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Hollywoodland Opens

Posted on April 2, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2013. By the early 1920s, real estate development was booming all around Los Angeles. For decades, the city had boldly advertised itself as a mecca in which average citizens could earn their share … Continue reading →

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Los Angeles Has No History

Posted on March 11, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2007. Feb. 24, 1907 Los Angeles Google Earth, 2007

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Black L.A., 1947: Stylish Men in Harlem Wearing Berets

Posted on February 15, 2018 by lmharnisch

At top, the home at 2443 S. St. Andrews Place is for sale at $16,500 cash or $18,000 “terms.” Above, the 2400 block of South St. Andrews Place via Google Street View. Feb. 13, 1947: Columnist Bill Smallwood says “Richard … Continue reading →

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Black L.A. 1947: Black Passenger Sues Greyhound After Driver Has Her Arrested for Not Giving Up Seat

Posted on February 9, 2018 by lmharnisch

  At left, a three-unit property at 3509 5th Ave., listed for sale in 1947 at $17,500. Above, the property sold for $600,000 in 2016, according to Zillow. Feb. 6, 1947: The Sentinel reports on a lawsuit filed by Alpha … Continue reading →

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Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: L.J. Burrud: Hollywoodland Publicity Man and Western Adventurer

Posted on May 4, 2015 by lmharnisch

Jan. 6, 1924: The Times publishes a photo of an Oakland car that was driven up to the Hollywood sign. Southern California and Los Angeles exploded into the public zeitgeist thanks to imaginative advertising and publicity from area supporters and … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights — The Three Lives Of Villa Aurora

Posted on September 2, 2013 by lmharnisch

Cats have nine lives. People often experience second or third acts in their lives or careers. Some homes have multiple lives as well, like Villa Aurora, which has experienced three diverse lives, bringing knowledge and refuge to those who come … Continue reading →

Posted in 1928, Architecture, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Land Bargain in L.A.: 50 Cents an Acre!

Posted on April 2, 2013 by lmharnisch

Read the entire edition online at USC, scanned from a copy at the Huntington Library. March 28, 1863: The city of Los Angeles is selling 2,000 acres “within the eastern boundary of the city” at a minimum price of 50 … Continue reading →

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Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Hollywoodland Opens

Posted on April 1, 2013 by lmharnisch

By the early 1920s, real estate development was booming all around Los Angeles. For decades, the city had boldly advertised itself as a mecca in which average citizens could earn their share of the American dream under glorious sunshine and … Continue reading →

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And commuting was born

Posted on July 22, 2008 by lmharnisch

    Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? Except this was published in The Times on July 1, 1901. Today, we shake our heads when we read about someone who works in Santa Monica or downtown Los Angeles and lives in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Freeways, Real Estate, Transportation | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Architectural rambling

Posted on July 12, 2008 by lmharnisch

t’s difficult to be certain, but I believe the house shown in Google maps’ street view is the one designed by Clara Content Alden. Fortunately, Riverside County has posted its historic maps online, so I was able to find the … Continue reading →

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