About

“The Durex Model Home”

Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument #1025 (2/5/2013)

Click here to see the Los Angeles Department of City Planning Recommendation Report, which has additional details on the property’s architectural and historic significance.

Statement of Significance:

This fine quality Spanish Colonial Revival house was designed by the Beverly Hills based architectural firm of Koerner and Gage for the F. P. Fay Company, a major real estate venture in Los Angeles.  Koerner and Gage were to later design the Beverly Hills City Hall.  T

he house was built by Durex Quality Homes and used as the model for the prestigious Los Feliz Hills subdivision. The house was completely furnished by the Broadway Department store and became one of the very first “showcase” homes.  The house was used to market the tract.  It was listed as the Durex Model Home as part if that campaign.  The architects are also important.  They had not yet designed their signature work, the Beverly Hills City Hall.  This early design shows the same quality as the larger building.  This was also the home of William Beaton, President and CEO of KIEV Radio from 1961 – 1984. (Source: Los Angeles Department of City Planning Recommendation Report)

History:

Historic-Cultural monument was designed by Harry Garfield Koerner and William John Gage for the Durex Quality Homes subsidiary of the F.P. Fay Company as a marketing tool for their Los Feliz Hills subdivision. The architects designed a number of homes for the Durex Company in the 1920s and went on to design the Beverly Hills City Hall. The home was sold in 1931 to attorney and real-estate broker James L. Merely. He sold the home to Carl C. Vianelli, a well-known private investigator. Shortly thereafter, Vianelli sold the house to William Beaton. Alterations include the addition of a swimming pool and the installation of the fence and gate. The sign that reads “La Casa Contenta” was installed by the current owners in 1993.

1940 Census:
3410 Amesbury Road (Value $22,500): 1) James L. Meneley, head of household; white married male 51 years of age; born in Illinois; real estate broker. 2) Norma E. Meneley, wife; white married female 48 years of age; born in Illinois; not working. 3) Richard Meneley, son; white single male 21 years of age; born in Illinois; filling station attendant. 4) James L. Meneley, son; white male 11 years of age; born in California; in school. 5) Emma H. Bautz, mother; white widow 74 years of age; born in Wisconsin; not working. (ED 60-78A; Page 8B; Lines 65-67; and Page 12A, lines 22-23).

Photo courtesy of Michael Locke