About

“Sowden House”

Architect: Lloyd Wright

National Register of Historic Places (Listing, 7/14/71). City of Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument #762, 8/13/2003).

History:

John J. Sowden, original owner. Residence of Dr. and Mrs. Harold Mazur in early 1950s. (Source: Reba Mazur.)

“Lloyd Wright monster face house with too many teeth.” Pictured in Daydream Houses of Los Angeles, Charles Jencks, Rizzoli, 1978, p.77.

Built around an inner court which originally contained an elaborate fountain, the building is entered through a door almost hidden under a huge cave-like window framed in concrete blocks. (Source: g&w, 1977, p.159.)

James Boudwin who lived here in 1940, was a child actor, who appeared in several short Hal Roach comedies. He later graduated with a M.D. in psychiatry from the University of Southern California Medical School, subsequently working in private practice near Tacoma General Hospital and at Allenmore Medical Center in Washington. At the same time, he worked part time for Western State Hospital as the Director of Medical Education and at the University Of Washington School Of Medicine as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry. (Internet Movie Database)

Cover photo and sketch of Sowden House in From LA Deco, Carla Rizzoli, N.Y., 1991. Sketch on p. 32. Popular Mechanics, vol. 48, July, 1927, p. 25. Distinctive Homes, Los Angeles and surrounding communities. Vol. LA 139. Listed at $1,195,000 in September, 2002. Major renovations.

Listed at $4,400,000 in January, 2003. (Source: real estate brochure)

July 1, 2022:  LA Times: Marijuana entrepreneur sells Lloyd Wright’s neo-Mayan masterpiece for $6.16 million

1930 census:
5121 Franklin Avenue (Value: $35,000): 1) David R. Barnett, owner and head of household; 28 year old white married male; married at age 27; born in Ohio; father born in West Virginia, mother in Ohio; not working. 2) Ruth R. Barnett, wife; 29 year old white married female; married at age 19; born in Iowa; parents born in Iowa; not working. 3) Donna Sodden, stepdaughter; 9 year old single white female; born in California; in school. 4) Lula M. Morgan, nurse; 24? year old single white female; born in Louisiana; parents born in Louisiana; a nurse in a private family. 5) Samuel Filia, servant; 21 year old single Filipino male; born in the Philippines, parents born in the Philippines; a servant in a private family.

1940 Census:
5121 Franklin Avenue (rents for $125): 1) Abigail G. Boudwin, head of household; white divorced female 53 years of age; born in Maine; not working. 2) Barbara Boudwin, daughter; white single female 26 years of age; born in Washington; actress/singer, motion pictures and legitimate stage; earns $600. 3) James W. Boudwin, son; white single male 22 years of age; born in Washington; actor/singer, motion pictures and legitimate stage; earns $1,800. 4) Hollis Davenny, partner; white divorced male 50 years of age; born in Pennsylvania; singer on the concert stage; earns more than $5,000. 5) James E. Davenny, father; white married male 75 years of age; born in Pennsylvania; not working. 6) Minnie A. Davenny, mother; white married female 71 years of age; born in Pennsylvania; not working. 7) Viana Baoull, secretary; white single female 24 years of age; born in Colorado; secretary in a private family. 8) Charles W. Yearsley, lodger; white single male 25 years of age; born in Pennsylvania; in school.

About Mayan Revival:  Mayan Revival is a modern style architectural popular in the Americas during the 1920s and 1930s that drew inspiration from the architecture and iconography of pre-Columbian Mesoamerican cultures. (Source: Wikipedia)