May 15, 2019

Dear Cultural Heritage Commissioners,

We support the application to designate The Schmidt Residence at 6555 Franklin Ave. as an Historic Cultural Monument.

This is an historic old Hollywood neighborhood, part of the original Whitley Heights Ocean View Tract Development, with a number of early 20th century historic buildings along Franklin Ave. and Whitley Ave.

Whitley Ave. and Franklin Ave. are "HPOZ Adjacent" streets, and the main entry into the historic 1920s Whitley Heights HPOZ.

The Schmidt Residence is a rare example of Beaux Arts architecture in Hollywood.

In 1923 Whitley Heights was host to a colony of screen idols. Barbara La Marr felt joyful pride for her two-story, Spanish tiled roof house shaded by a eucalyptus tree. One journalist noted La Marr's red Paige-Daytona convertible roadster parked near the entrance.

Descending the steps, guests were greeted by an arched entry door complete with a small window decoratively covered in wrought iron. Inside the entryway an elegant vaulted ceiling arched high above the living room. Opposite the fireplace was a domed window, inset with the letter B, and French doors. Through it Barbara could see Eugene O'Brien's house (6691 Whitley Terrace). Further down on Wedgewood lived her dancing partner Valentino who had a passion for fancy cars.

In keeping with unconventional floor plans characteristic of Whitley Heights, three of the four bedrooms were on the ground floor. Barbara's bedroom was at the end of hallway leading from the…

This Mediterranean residence is better known as Valentino Villa. It consisted of four lots totaling approximately one acre. A high wall enclosed a front courtyard. On the grounds were an aviary and concrete fish pond. Two levels and a single garage facing Wedgewood. Eight rooms included a dining room, living room, two master bedrooms with two bathrooms, kitchen, butler’s pantry, servant’s room with bath, and laundry room. The home was completed in 1922.

The large living room with black marble floor was a feature of the house. Four steps up to the dining room. During his relationship with Natacha Rambova, he lost many friends and business associates. The couple shared numerous interests like poetry, spiritualism, and youth. Their marriage didn't endure. The end of the marriage was bitter, with Valentino bequeathing Rambova one dollar in his will. Valentino once told gossip columnist Louella Parsons that: "The women I love don't love me.…

This magnificent Spanish Colonial Revival house was built in 1923. The asymmetrical shape lends itself to indoor/outdoor living. Features include low-pitched roofs of red tile, smooth stucco walls, multi-pane windows, courtyards, wrought-iron fixtures, decorative tile, arched windows and doorways. Home build for Theodore Wright Jr. MD.

Beautifully restored by present owners Stu Marks and James Roncal.

Sunset West September 2018 issue...Tour this Glam Hollywood Garden Makeover and drool.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.sunset.com/home-garden/landscaping/glam-garden/%3famp