When you’re the real estate developer who’s known as the “Father of Hollywood,” I guess you get to live in a gorgeously ornate house. HJ Whitley was the guy who, in the 1890s, took Harvey Wilcox’s subdivision and transformed it into a desirable place for wealthy people to live. He was the one who brought telephone, electric, and gas lines into the new suburb, and also built the Hollywood Hotel on the corner of Hollywood and Highland. In 1911 he convinced Nestor Studios to lease Blondeau Tavern (for $30 a month) and build Hollywood’s first film stage on the northwest corner of Sunset and Gower. Oh, and he also developed Whitley Heights on the south side of the Hollywood Hills looking out across Hollywood. Oddly, though, he didn’t live in the area. The house in this photo was on Flower St in downtown Los Angeles and was taken around 1894.
** UPDATE ** – I’m not convinced that he actually had a hand in Nestor coming to Hollywood, but if you’re interested, I found that information here.
John G on Twitter said: “Getting a “train” line to the Hollywood area was a big part of his success. He bought/lived in the Hurd House, another classic L.A. Queen Anne around Hollywood & Wilcox around 1900 when it was the wilderness of city. Then really was responsible for the start of Hollywood enclave.”
Someone sent me this colorized version: