About

History:

1721 1/2 was the home of J. William Bletcher, an important early screen actor, at the time of the 1920 census.

J. William “Billy” Bletcher was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania on September24, 1894. He was a comic actor and had a long career that began in 1913 at the Vitagraph Studios in Brooklyn, New York. He married actress Arlyn (Arline) Roberts and they moved to Hollywood in 1917.

Bletcher began his work in California working for Mack Sennett, and his career took off in the early 1920s. He was featured as Spanky’s father in the “Our Gang” series, provided voices for many Disney cartoon characters, and was a Munchkin in “The Wizard of Oz”. By his retirement from film in 1971, he had amazingly appeared in well over 300 film productions. He passed away on January 1, 1979 in Los Angeles, California. Frank Rasche (1727, 1930 census below) went on to become a major property developer in Los Feliz and Los Angeles.

Sold on November 5, 2001.

1920 Census:
1721 N. Winona Boulevard: 1) Edward Cunntag?, renter and head of household; white married male 50 years of age; born in Pennsylvania; parents born in Pennsylvania; corset merchant; Annie O. Cunntag, wife; white married female 54 years of age; born in Pennsylvania; father born in Ireland, mother in Maryland; corset merchant. 3) Mary I. Cunntag, daughter; white single female 20 years of age; born in Pennsylvania; not working.

1721 ½ N. Winona Boulevard: 1) Harry A. Bletcher, renter and head of household; white married male 49 years of age; born in Pennsylvania; parents born in Pennsylvania; printer. 2) Dora Bletcher, wife; white married female 57 years of age; born in Pennsylvania; parents born in Pennsylvania; not working. 3) J. William Bletcher, son; white married male 27 years of age; born in Pennsylvania; actor. 4) Arline Bletcher, daughter-in-law; white married female 26 years of age; born in New York; father born in England, mother in New York; actress.

1723 N. Winona Boulevard: 1) Walter O. Schell, renter and head of household; white married male 27 years of age; born in Maine; parents born in Maine; an attorney. 2) Vivian Schell, wife; white married fe male 24 years of age; born in Kentucky; parents born in Kentucky; not working.

1723 ½ N. Winona Boulevard: 1) John Cumming, renter and head of household; white married male 51 years of age; born in Ohio; parents born in Ohio; credit? ???. 2) Alice Cumming, wife; white married fe- male 49 years of age; born in Indiana; father born in Indiana, mother in Ohio; not working. 3) Mary Cumming, daughter; white single female 19 years of age; born in Indiana; not working.

1725 N. Winona Boulevard: 1) Harry A. Schnelbach, renter and head of household; white married male 56 years of age; born in Pennsylvania; father born in Alsace, mother in Pennsylvania; retired. 2) Jesse Schnelbach, wife; white married female 52 years of age; born in Ohio; parents born in Ohio; not working.

1727 N. Winona Boulevard: 1) Frank Rasche, renter and head of household; white married male 30 years of age; born in California; father born in California, mother in Nevada; builder. 2) Mary Rasche, wife; white married female 24 years of age; born in California; parents born in Missouri; not working. 3) Frank Rasche, Jr., son; white male 2 months of age; born in California. 4) Jesse D. Conser, mother-in-law; white female widow 48 years of age; born in Missouri; father born in Nevada, mother in Tennessee; not working.

1930 Census:
1721 ½ N. Winona Boulevard (rents for $25 per month): 1) Edmond Sarolea, renter and head of household; white married male 54 years of age; married at age 28; born in Belgium, parents born in Belgium; to US in 1913, a resident alien; theatre janitor. 2) Mary F. Sarolea, wife; white married female 55 years of age; married at age 29; born in Belgium, parents born in Belgium; to US in 1913, a resident alien; not working.

1723 N. Winona Boulevard (rents for $50 per month): John R. Hewitt, renter and head of household; white married male 39 years of age; married at age 28; born in Michigan; parents born in New York; meat cutter in a meat market. 2) William R. Hewitt, son; white male 11 years of age; in school; born in Wisconsin; father born in Michigan, mother in Iowa. 3) Harriet I. Hewitt, daughter; white female 9 years of age; in school; born in California; father born in Michigan, mother in Iowa. Full address: 1721-1723-1725-1727 N. Winona Boulevard 90027