About

Arthur R. Kelly, architect.

Redimade Bldg. Company, architect. 6310 S. Park Ave.

History:

W. S. Waite, owner has architect Arthur R. Kelly prepare plans for 2-story brick residence, 13-rooms, 3-bath, $30,000. (Source: sw b&c, 03/18/21, p.14, col.2.)

EARLE C. ANTHONY: Lived here before Waverly.

Earle C. Anthony was a pioneer businessman based in Los Angeles, California. He is primarily known for his achievements in two fields: Broadcasting and automobiles. He was also a songwriter, journalist and playwright.

In 1923 he was founder and owner of what eventually became 50,000 watt KFI AM radio, a station he controlled until his death in 1961. From 1929 to 1944, he also owned KECA-AM, now KABC. He was an early president of the National Association of Broadcasters. He also was a founder of one of the earliest television stations in Los Angeles, KFI-TV, channel 9 and KFI-FM, both of which were disposed of in 1951.

From 1915 to 1958 he was the Packard distributor for all of California (one out of every seven Packards ever sold were through the Anthony organization). He was also instrumental in developing the concept of the gasoline service station (the Chevron was the trademark of the National Supply Co., a service station chain Anthony headed and sold to the Standard Oil Company of California in 1913.) He was also a pioneer in inter-urban bus transportation, founding a company later incorporated into Pacific Greyhound lines and had role in the development of car radios.

Anthony was active in many civic activities. He helped save the Hollywood Bowl by assuming leadership of the Symphony Under Stars Foundation in the early 1930s. He had a major supporting role in helping bring major league baseball to Los Angeles, resulting in the Dodger games being carried on KFI and Dodger owner Walter O’Malley becoming a board member of Earle C. Anthony, Inc., according to his biographer, Arthur Landing. Anthony is also credited with having founded the Los Angeles Auto Show, introducing neon lights to Southern California from France, and personally building the first automobile ever constructed in Los Angeles (later rebuilt and now in the possession of the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles).

Anthony’s Waverly Drive house in the Los Feliz area of Los Angeles was designed by Bernard Maybeck and was later bequeathed by a subsequent owner to the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Anthony’s fortune went to a trust primarily benefiting the California Institute of Technology and the University of California (the latter of which was Anthony’s alma mater.

1930 census:
4848 Los Feliz Blvd (rents for $300/mo): 1) Frances W. Fay, head of household and renter; white female widow 45 years of age; married at age 20; born in Vermont; parents born in Vermont; not working. 2) Kenyon T. Fay, son; white male 27 years of age; single; born in California; President of a securities firm; not a veteran. 3) Sheldon P. Fay, son; white male 25 years of age; single; born in California; President in the fruit industry; not a veteran. 4) Esther B. Bjorgaw, servant; white female 32 years of age; single; born in Minnesota; parents born in Norway; a servant in a private family. 5) Carrie Rasmussen, servant; white female 63 years of age; single; born in Norway; parents born in Norway; speaks Norwegian native-ly; came to US in 1892; a naturalized citizen; a servant in a private family.

1940 Census:
4848 Los Feliz Boulevard (Value $15,000): 1) Kenyon T. Fay, head of household; white married male 37 years of age; born in California; real estate dealer, for himself. 2) Edith T. Fay, wife; white married female 34 years of age; born in California; not working. 3) Cynthia K. Fay, daughter; white female 6 years of age; born in California; in school. 4) Michael W. Fay, son; white male 4 years of age; born in California. 5) Frances W. Fay, mother; white widow 60 years of age; born in Vermont, not working. 6) Florence Walker, maid; white divorced female 32 years of age; born in Iowa; second maid; earns $780.