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 living room.

Reatha Watson was born in 1896. She held several jobs: burlesque dancer, writer, and silent screen siren. Mary Pickford once said, "My dear you are too beautiful to be behind the camera." Reatha changed her name to Barbara La Marr. Douglas Fairbanks cast her in a movie and she made 27 films in quick succession.

The Moth The Nut

Casual shot of Barbara with neighbor Blanche Sweet (2020 Grace Avenue).

In 1922 La Marr brought a son into the world. She adored Marvin and planned to give him a loving, quiet life.

Back step with Marvin and cowboy actor husband, Jack Dougherty.

Chequered years included multiple addictions and husbands took its toll. The famous beauty collapsed on the set of "The Girl from Montmartre" and went into a coma. She tragically died on January 30, 1926 of tuberculosis. La Marr was 29 years old.

4,000 thousand mourners attended her funeral.

Today. The mature eucalyptus tree still shades the property.