About

History:

Sold on December 8, 2004.

4347 was the home of actor Ernest C. Joy at the time of the 1930 US census. Large and swarthy, Joy made a career playing heavies between 1911 and 1920. Cecil B. De Mille used him frequently as a villain in his productions. He was actress Mabel Van Buren’s first husband (see below and page 182). Over his short 9 year career, he was featured in 76 productions.

4351 W. Kingswell Avenue was the home of actor James Gordon and his wife, actress Mabel Van Buren (her second marriage) in the 1930s. Gordon was born in 1871 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His film career lasted between 1911 and 1935 and included 127 productions. His large physique resulted in his “Big Jim” nickname. Mabel Van Buren, also had a successful career in film starting in 1910 at Biograph, and often starring in Cecil B. De Mille films. By the time she retired in the early 1930s, she had appeared in nearly 100 productions. 4351 was also the home of actress Jane Wolfe at the time of the US Census in 1930. Wolfe was born in 1875 in St. Petersburg, Pennsylvania. She began acting on the New York state, but was recruited there into film in 1910 by Kalem Studios. When Kalem moved to Los Angeles in 1911, Wolfe came with them. She was one of the studio’s premier character actresses, appearing in over 100 productions by 1920.

1920 Census:
4347 W. Kingswell Avenue: 1) Earnest C. Joy, owner and head of household; white married male 41 years of age; born in Iowa; parents born in Iowa; actor in motion pictures. 2) Mabel S. Joy, wife; white married female 41 years of age; born in Illinois; father born in Canada; mother in New York; not working. 3) Lester A. Joy, brother; white single male 22 years of age; born in Minnesota; parents born in Iowa; oil company credit clerk.

4351 W. Kingswell Avenue: 1) George Crane, renter and head of household; white married male 24 years of age; born in Wisconsin; parents born in Pennsylvania; a chemist in motion pictures. 2) Florence V. Crane, wife; white married female 21 years of age; born in California; father born in Canada, mother in Colorado; not working. (ED 153; Page 167; Lines 30-31).

1930 Census:
4347 W. Kingswell Avenue (rents for $60 per month): 1) Darcy R. Cooke, renter and head of household; white married male 53 years of age; married at age 25; born in Canada; parents born in Canada; to US in 1923, citizenship pending; a automobile garage operator. 2) Mary F. Cooke, wife; white married female 53 years of age; married at age 25; born in Canada; parents born in Canada; to US in 1923, a resident alien; not working. 3) Randolph K. Cooke, son; white single male 24 years of age; born in Canada; to US in 1923, a resident alien. A garage auto mechanic. 4) Cecil C. Cooke, son; white single male 21 years of age; in school; born in Canada; to US in 1923, citizenship pending; a theatre doorman. 5) Vera R. Gordan?, daughter; white divorced female 26 years of age; married at age 22; born in Canada; to US in 1923, a resident alien; a private insurance secretary. 6) Jane M. Gordan?, granddaughter; white female 2 years 9 months of age; born in California. (ED 19-17; Page 135; Lines 84-89).

4351 W. Kingswell Avenue (rents for $42 per month): 1) Mary K. Wolfe, renter and head of household; white single female 56 years of age; born in Pennsylvania; parents born in Pennsylvania; a trained nurse working in a hospital. 2) Jane Wolfe, sister; white single female 55 years of age; born in Pennsylvania; parents born in Pennsylvania; an actress in the movie studios. 3) Avilla M. Wolfe, mother; white widowed female 83 years of age; married at age 23; born in Pennsylvania; parents born in Pennsylvania; not working. (ED 19-17; Page 135; Lines 90-92).

1940 Census:
4347 Kingswell Avenue (Value $6,000): 1) Meyer Schuchert, head of household; white married male 37 years of age; born in Russia; buyer, wholesale house; earns more than $5,000. 2) Bertha Schuchert, wife; white married female 37 years of age; born in Ohio; not working. 3) Natalie Schuchert, daughter; white female 10 years of age; born in California; in school. 4) Robert Cowan, brother-in-law; white single male 25 years of age; born in Ohio; driver for studio executive; earns $800. (ED 60-1052C; Page 4B; Lines 71- 74).

1940 Census:
4351 Kingswell Avenue (Value $5,000): 1) James Gordon, head of household; white married male 69 years of age; born in Pennsylvania; not working. 2) Mabel Gordon, wife; white married female 61 years of age; born in Illinois; not working. (ED 60-1052C; Page 5A; Lines 1-2).

Includes 4347-4351 W. Kingswell Avenue