About

Altered.

This was the home of Ben Alexander (real name: Nicholas Alexander) in 1930. Ben Alexander was born in 1911, and he was a vaudeville and stage actor as a child, starring in the title role in “Penrod,” the original Booth Tarkington play. He made his film debut at the age of 5 in “Each Pearl a Tear” (1916), and played opposite may prominent silent film stars like Lillian Gish. One of his famous roles was in “All Quiet on the Western Front” (1930). When he left his movie career in 1941 for radio, he had appeared in 60 films. He resumed acting in 1953 when he starred in the wildly successful “Dragnet” as Officer Frank Smith. He returned to television in 1966 in the cop series, “Felony Squad”. He passed away in 1969.

1930 census:
1971 N. Catalina Street: (Value: $14,000): 1) Elizabeth Alexander, owner and head of household; 37 year old married white female, married at age 18, born in Tennessee, parents born in the US, an art studio proprietor. 2) Nicholas B. Alexander, son; 18 year old single white male; born in Nevada; father born in
Tennessee; an actor in the cinema.

1940 Census:
1971 Catalina Street (Value $10,000): 1) Elizabeth Alexander, head of household; white married female 55 years of age; born in Tennessee; interior decorator, own office. 2) Nicolas B. Alexander, son; white ingle male 28 years of age; born in Nevada; radio actor, radio broadcasting; earns $3,500.