About

“Robert & Charlotte Disney House”

Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument #1132 designated in 2016. 

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.

History:

This was the first California home of Walt Disney who came to California early in August 1923, when he stayed with his uncle Robert Disney who owned this home. The first California letter of Walt’s in the Archives uses a letterhead reading: “Walt Disney, Cartoonist” at the Kingswell address. It is dated August 25, 1923. During his spare time, when he wasn’t hunting for jobs, Walt busied himself in Uncle Robert’s garage, constructing a stand for an animation camera which he had just purchased.

Early in October 1923, M. J. Winkler, a New York distributor, agreed to contract for a series of Alice Comedies to be made by Walt. With his brother, Roy, Walt rented some space in the rear of a small office occupied by Hollywood-Vermont Realty at 4651 Kingswell on October 8, 1923, for ten dollars a month. On October 16, the Disneys’ first contract was signed, and they were in business. In January 1924, the Disneys rented, also for ten dollars a month, a vacant lot at 4589 Hollywood Blvd., at Rodney Drive, for outdoor shooting on the Alice films. This lot was about three blocks from the studio. By February, the Disneys had enlarged their staff to seven, and the real estate space was outgrown. So, a lease was negotiated on the adjoining store, at 4649 Kingswell, for thirty-five dollars a month. A separate garage was also rented for seven dollars a month. The sign on the window read “Disney Bros. Studio.” This remained the Disney Studio until mid-February 1926 when they moved their operations to 2719 Hyperion Avenue.

On September 15, 2016 the City of Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Commission voted unanimously to consider designated the house an historic monument.  Historic-Cultural Commissioner Barry Milofsky wondered if the original garage where Walt Disney began his studio might someday be relocated back to the home from the Garden Grove museum it was moved to in the 1980s.

The house is located at 4406 Kingswell Avenue in the Los Feliz Village neighborhood of Los Angeles, California.  The house was designated a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument (No. 1132) in 2016.  (Source: Michael Locke) 

Walt Disney lived in this house. Click here to read the 2011 Los Feliz Ledger story about Disney homes in the neighborhood.  The story is on page 7.

Sold on September 22, 2006.

1920 Census:
4406 W. Kingswell Avenue: 1) Carl A. Mills, owner and head of household; white married male 34 years of age; born in Kansas; father born in Kansas, mother in Michigan; accountant in the electric railroad. 2) Esther L. Mills, wife; white married female 29 years of age; born in Texas; father born in Tennessee, mother in Louisiana; not working. 3) Eleanor Mills, daughter; white female 5 years of age; in school; born in California. 4) Louise Taylor, niece; white single female 18 years of age; born in Texas; parents born in Texas; cashier in the electric railroad company.

1930 Census:
4406 W. Kingswell Avenue (Value $10,000): 1) Robert Disney, Sr., owner and head of household; white married male 60 years of age; married at age 28; born in Canada; father born in Scotland, mother in Ireland; in independent investments. 2) Charlotte A. Disney, wife; white married female 37 years of age; married at age 29; born in Kansas; father born in Maine, mother in England; not working. 3) Robert S. Disney, Jr., son; white male 6 years of age; born in California.

1940 Census:
4406 Kingswell Avenue (Value $3,000): 1) Robert S. Disney, head of household; white married male 78 years of age; born in Canada; not working. 2) Charlotte A. Disney; wife; white married female 47 years of age; born in Kansas; not working. 3) Robert S. Disney, Jr., son; white single male 16 years of age; born in California.