About

History:

Deanna Durbin house. On California Historical Society tour, 09/11/86 (Source: D. Kanner)

Residence of Deanna Durbin on Linwood Drive. Article in Architectural Digest, 11:1:411, illus. Photo of Deanna Durbin, parents & dog, 1939. (Source: real estate brochure)

Architect Lloyd Wright papers at UCLA contain signed plans for house and garden.

This was the home of James Durbin, the father and manager of actress and singer Deanna Durbin in the early 1930s. Durbin was a major film star through the 1940s until she retired in 1949 just before she married film producer-director Charles Henri David in 1950. They moved to Paris, France soon after.

1930 census:
5226 Linwood Drive (Value: $66,000): 1) Frank H. Lanet, owner and head of household; 78 year old white married male; married at age 28; born in Massachusetts; parents born in Massachusetts; not working. 2) Clara D. Lanet, wife; 78 year old white married female; married at age 28; born in Massachusetts; parents born in Massachusetts; not working. 3) Roy D. Lanet, son; 47 year old single white male; born in Illinois; not working. 4) Jaivo Erkkila, servant; 22 year old single white male; born in Massachusetts; par-ents born in Finland; a servant in a private family. 5) Anna Anderson, servant; 52 year old single white female; born in Sweden; parents born in Sweden; speaks German; to U.S. in 1914, an alien; a servant in a private family. 6) Matilda Sundstrom, servant; 55 year old single white female; born in Kansas; parents born in Sweden; a servant in a private family.

1940 Census:
5226 Linwood Drive (Value $22,000): 1) James Durbin, head of household; white married male 54 years of age; born in England; manager of his daughter’s interests; earns over $5,000. 2) Ada Durbin, wife; white married female 56 years of age; born in England; not working. 3) Edna Mae (Deanna) Durbin, daughter; white single female 18 years of age; born in Canada; singer/actress in motion pictures and radio; earns more than $5,000. 4) Norman E. Davis, chauffeur; white married male 39 years of age; born in Iowa; chauffeur in a private family; earns $750. 5) Matilda Davis, maid; white married female 37 years of age; born in Nebraska; housekeeper in a private family; earns $750.