About

History:

“Villa Fez”. Remodeled.

“Film director builds home in Los Feliz Area.” (Source: g&w, 1985, p. 177.)

Rupert Hughes’ biographical profile in Palmer’s History of Hollywood,V.2, Arthur Cawston, Publisher, Hollywood, 1937

Added wall photographed in Los Angeles Times, 12/29/93, Part B, p. 10

This was the home of Rupert and Patterson Hughes:

Rupert Hughes was born in Lancaster, Missouri on January 31, 1872. He spent most of his boyhood on the banks of the Mississippi in the picturesque town of Keokuk, Iowa. His writings and novels are famous throughout the world, and he also gained fame as a motion picture director.

Rupert Hughes received two degrees from Western Reserve University before entering Yale University for postgraduate work. After placing several stories with the Saturday Evening Post, Hughes turned his attention toward longer stories which gave him prominence after 1912. When motion picture producers began looking for eminent authors to provide screen material, Hughes was one of the first of the popular writers to be recruited, and he adapted several of his past successes into screenplays.

In the latter part of 1919 Hughes entered into contract with the Goldwyn organization. His acclaimed 60 year career included an output that totaled more than 60 novels, countless short stories, articles, poems, plays, nonfiction historic books (including a three volume biography of George Washington) and nearly 50 silent and sound motion pictures that carried his name as writer and/or director. In the 1920s, he was known as Hollywood’s highest paid author.

Rupert Hughes was the brother of billionaire Howard Hughes, and his other siblings also gained fame in their arts and music endeavors. Hughes wrote many books about music early in his career (including a two volume music encyclopedia in 1903) and was considered an excellent musician himself. He married Patterson Dial (his third wife) in 1924. She was an actress who had appeared in nearly a dozen films, and was also a writer of short stories for magazines. Through the years, she also assisted her husband in many writing projects. Hughes and Patterson lived in the mansion they built on Los Feliz Boulevard in an “Arabian Nights” style until 1950. He continued writing after he suffered a stroke in 1952, and he died at the age of 84 on September 9, 1956 of a heart attack.

Rupert Hughes was an LFIA Director from 1930 until 1946. (LFIA Minutes)

Cornwell Jackson (a lodger, see below) was writer Erle Stanley Gardner ‘s literary agent. As such, he became producer, along with wife, actress Gail Patrick as executive producer of the Perry Mason (1957) television series. (Internet Movie Database, 2016)

1930 census:
4751 Los Feliz Blvd (Value: $70,000): 1) Rupert Hughes, owner and head of household; 58 year old white married male; married at age 22; born in Missouri; father born in Illinois; mother in Iowa; an author in literature. 2) Patterson D. Hughes, wife; 28 year old white married female; married at age 23; born in Florida; father born in Florida, mother in Virginia; an author in fiction.

Second entry: 4751 Los Feliz Blvd. (Rents for $45 per month): 1) Chauncey T. Eaton, renter and head of household; 46 year old white married male; married at age 27; born in Rhode Island; parents born in Rhode Island; a clerk in a filling station. 2) Edith H. Eaton, wife; 44 year old white married female; married at age 25; born in Pennsylvania; parents born in England; not working. 3) Joseph L. Eaton, son; 17 year old single white male; in school; born in Rhode Island. 4) Chauncey T. Eaton, Jr., son; 11 year old single white male; in school; born in California. 5) Robert H. Eaton, daughter; 8 year old single white female; in school; born in California.

1940 Census:
4751 Los Feliz Blvd., (value: $47,000): 1) Rupert Hughes, head of household; white married male 68 years of age; born in Missouri; an author. 2) Pattison Hughes, wife; white married female 37 years of age; born in Florida; an author. 3) Lossie Riley, servant; Negro married 40 year old female; born in Florida; maid in a private home; earns $840. 4) Mary Long; servant; Negro 36 year old married female; born in Missouri; maid in a private home; earns $500. 5) Cornwell Jackson, lodger; white single 38 year old male; born in Missouri; an agent in radio; earns over $5,000. 6) William Moss, servant; Negro widower 55 years of age; born in Oklahoma; a butler in the private home; earns $1150. 7) Louise Taylor, servant; Negro married female 40 years of age; born in Louisiana; a cook in a private home; earns $850.