About

History:

Sold on June 4, 2010 for $530,005.

1423 N. Sanborn Avenue was the home of the early film actress Florence Lawrence at the time of both the 1920 and 1930 census.

Lawrence appeared on the stage from the age of three, and eventually she became the most popular actress working for D.W. Griffith. Before 1910, she was known as the “Biograph Girl.” She achieved further distinction in 1910 when Carl Laemmle actually used her name to promote his films, the first actress to have this distinction.

Also nicknamed ‘The Queen of the Screen,” Lawrence began her own production company in 1912. Sidelined by an accident in 1914, her repeated attempts at comebacks over the next decade were not successful. Her career continued in fits and starts through the mid-1920s, and she moved into newspaper reporting of the entertainment industry.

Depressed by her vanished success, she committed suicide in 1938 at the age of 52.

1920 Census:
1423 N. Sanborn Avenue: 1) Florence B. Lawrence, owner and head of household; white divorced female 38 years of age; born in Pennsylvania; parents born in Pennsylvania; dramatic critic for the newspaper. 2) Alice Lawrence, daughter; white female 14 years of age; in school; born in California. 3) Alice E. Gordon, boarder; white female widow 72 years of age; born in Illinois; parents born in the US.; children’s nurse.

1930 Census:
1423 N. Sanborn Avenue (value $25,000): 1) Florence B. Lawrence, owner and head of household; white
divorced female 47 years of age; married at age 21; born in Pennsylvania; parents born in Pennsylvania;
newspaper reporter. 2) Alice L. Behn, daughter; white married female 24 years of age; married at age 20; born in California; father born in Minnesota, mother in Pennsylvania; public school teacher. 3) Pamela Behn, granddaughter; white female 3 years 8 months of age; born in California. 4) Prescott Behn, grandson; white male 2 years 1 month of age; born in California. 5) Myrtle Clements, maid; white married female 28 years of age; born in Texas; parents born in Texas; servant in a private family.

Full address: 1417-1423 N. Sanborn Avenue