About

“DeMille Estate”

Potential National Register of Historic Places Listing.

Potential City of Los Angeles Historic Cultural Monument.

LFIA potential landmarks list.

H. Roy Kelley, architect. (B1289)

History:

Cecil B. DeMille was born on August 12, 1881 in Ashfield, Massachusetts. He was an actor and general manager in his mother’s theatrical troop in the early part of the 20th century.

In 1913, he formed a film-making partnership with Jesse L. Lasky and Samuel Goldfish (later known as Samuel Goldwyn). Their first production was “The Squaw Man”, directed, written and produced by DeMille and Oscar Apfel. This was one of the first successful feature film productions and it launched his career.

A major figure beginning in the silent film era, DeMille’s most renowned films in the early period of movie making were “The Virginian” (1914), “The Ten Commandments” (1923), and “The King of Kings” (1927). DeMille’s successful career continued long into the first decades of the talkies, and he specialized in epic productions. Among the most successful of these were “The Plainsman” (1937), “Northwest Mounted Police” (1940), and in particular his last three films that were the most successful releases of their respective years: “Samson and Delilah” (1950), “The Greatest Show on Earth” (1952), and “The Ten Commandments” (1956).

DeMille died on January 21, 1959 in Hollywood, California at the age of 77. His legacy included 34 films that he produced between 1915 and 1956, 75 films that he directed between 1914 and 1956, and several others that he wrote and even acted in. He received the Academy Award for “The Greatest Show On Earth” (best picture, 1953), and several others were nominated for best picture in their respective years. In 1953, he received the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award, the highest accolade a producer can receive.

One of DeMille’s lesser known achievements but of great importance to Los Feliz is that he personally developed the Laughlin Park district. He purchased a large home built in 1914 at the top of Laughlin Park for himself in 1916 for $27,893 after he had been shut out of Hancock Park due to his “entertainment industry” associations. He subdivided the hill into large parcels and sold them off to buyers who agreed that he could approve all architects’ plans. He lived in the large home until he died, and it was not allowed to be resold until many years after his death. (sources: movies2.nytimes.com, www.afi.com, www.reelclassics.com, silentgents.com)

See: Los Angeles Times, Home of the Week. Real Estate section K, April 6, 2008, p. K3. Property bought in 1996, renovations completed 2001. The home sits on 2.1 acres, and was for sale for $26.25 million in 2008. “The master suite contains one of the home’s four marble fireplaces, a sitting room with an entertainment center, a bathroom with period fixtures, plus a whirlpool tub, a stall shower and a dressing room/closet. There is a 1,000 sq/ft artist’s studio, a 40-foot-long pool, a pool house, and views of the city and the Hollywood sign.The formal dining room is paneled in wood.” DeMille’s adopted daughter, Katherine DeMille developed an acting career of her own. Born on June 29, 1911 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, she first appeared on film in her father’s “Madam Satan” (1930). But Katherine did quite well for herself even without her father’s assistance, usually seen in supporting roles. She was the wife of actor Anthony Quinn for many years, and co-starred with him in “Black Gold” in 1947. Between 1930 and 1949, she appeared in 27 productions. She died on April 27, 1995 in Los Angeles. (Sources: movies2.nytimes.com, www.afi.com)

Cecil B. DeMille bought C. F. Perry’s 2-year old Spanish estate in Laughlin Park in 1916. (Source: Charles Lockwood, DREAM PALACES, p. 54.)

Landscaping ideas and alterations of existing gardens by Florence Yoch in 1930. (Source: Landscaping the American Dream, James Yoch, 1989, p. 183.)

The American Cancer Society held a Design House here in 1989. Westways, 11/01/79

“Estate of Mind.” Los Angeles Times Magazine, 11/03/85

“DeMille’s Lair” Architectural Digest, April, 1990.

See illustration in “Pacific Coast Architect,” May, 1927, p. 65.

Cecil Blount DeMille profile in Palmer’s History of Hollywood, Vol.2, ArthurCawston, Publisher, 1937.

1920 census (listed as #4 Laughlin Park): 1) Cecil DeMille, head of household and owner; white married male, 40 years of age; born in New York; parents born in New York; a director in motion picture industry. 2) Constance DeMille, wife; white married female 42 years of age; born in New Jersey; parents born in England; not working. 3) John DeMille, son; white male 6 years of age; born in California. 4) Obata Yoshihama, servant; Japanese single male, 32 years of age; born in Japan, parents born in Japan; a butler in a private household. 4) Motohichi Matani, servant; Japanese single male 41 years of age; an alien; born in Japan, parents born in Japan; a cook in a private family. 5) Kichino Mitani, servant; Japanese single male 26 years of age; an alien; born in Japan, parents born in Japan; a maid in a private family.

1930 census
2000 De Mille Drive: (Value: $500,000): 1) Cecil B. DeMille, owner and head of household; 48 year old white married male; married at age 21; born in Massachusetts; father born in North Carolina, mother in England; a producer in the motion picture industry. 2) Constance A. DeMille, wife; 52 year old white married female; married at age 25; born in New Jersey; parents born in Massachusetts; not working. 3) Katherine DeMille, daughter; 18 year old single white female; born in English Canada; an actress in the motion picture industry. 4) John B. DeMille, son; 16 year old single white male; in school; born in Wyoming. 5) Richard DeMille, son; 8 year old single white male; in school; born in the United States. 6) Rebecca J. Adams, sister-in-law; 40 year old single white female; born in New Jersey; parents born in Massachusetts; a teacher in Thepropathy?. 7) Hilga Lamroth, secretary; 46 year old white single female; born in Illinois; parents born in Finland; a secretary in a private family. 8) Frederick Adwin?, butler; 42 year old single white male; born in Norway; parents born in Norway; speaks Norwegian; to U.S. in 1910, an alien; a butler in a private family. 9) Napoleon J. Lambert, servant; 26 year old white single male; born in English Canada; father born in English Canada, mother in Germany; to U.S. in 1926, an alien; a servant in a private family. 10) Emilie Pikin, servant; 38 year old white single female; born in Czechoslovakia; parents born in Austria; speaks German; to U.S. in 1916, a naturalized citizen; a servant in a private family. 11) Bertha K. Niele?, nurse; 45 year old white single female; born in Ohio; parents born in Germany; a nurse in a private family. 12) Anna Beckman, servant; 45 year old divorced white female; married at age 21; born in Switzerland; parents born in Switzerland; speaks German; to U.S. in 1908, a naturalized citizen; a servant in a private family.

1940 Census:
2000 De Mille Drive (rents for $500): 1) Cecil B. DeMille, head of household; white married male 68 years of age; born in Massachusetts; director/producer in the motion picture industry; earns more than $5,000. 2) Constantine A. DeMille, wife; white married female 66 years of age; born in New Jersey; executive in motion pictures; earns more than $5,000. 3) Richard DeMille, son; white single male 17 years of age; born in California; in school. 4) Helga Lamroth, secretary; white single female 56 years of age; born in Finland; personal maid/secretary in a private family; earns $1,500. 5) Marie Mimijean, cook; white widow 47 years of age; born in Austria; cook in a private family; earns $1,200. 6) Frederick Sawrian, butler; white single male 42 years of age; born in Norway; butler in a private family; earns $1,500. 7) Napoleon Lambert, houseman; white single male 37 years of age; born in Canada; houseman in a private family; earns $1,200.