A Walk in Whitley Heights: Secrets of Hollywood’s Golden Era Revealed!

Come explore the history and architecture of the Golden Age of Hollywood with Walking Ambassador JJ Hoffman. Whitley Heights was designed by the Grandfather of Hollywood Hobart Whitley specifically for Hollywood’s most glamorous residents. Stars like Rudolph Valentino, Barbara LaMarr, Maurice Chevalier, and Betty Davis lived there. The homes are all in a Spanish style, yet no two floor plans are exactly alike. The gardens are also unique. Whitley was meticulous and gave each home its own view and made fantastic use of the space.

The main road in this neighborhood is a spiral like a wedding cake. Additionally, the neighborhood is filled with staircases leading to most dwellings. In one area there is still a car park for residents to leave their cars below then take stairs and an old (but still working) elevator up to their home. It is rumored that many homes have secret tunnels and passageways so that the rich and famous could indulge in whatever proclivity they enjoyed in secret. It is also rumored, that there is a passageway under the hill that leads to the Grauman's Chinese theatre.

We will be climbing stairs, so the walk is not accessible for strollers and wheelchairs.

This walk will start and end at Hollywood and Highland. Meet at the entrance to the Red Line station on Hollywood Boulevard.

There is a Red Line Metro stop there, car parking, and of course bike parking for your convenience. There are restrooms and refreshments galore at the Hollywood and Highland shopping center so you can avail yourself of those before we walk.

Advance purchase tickets for this walk are $8 and support the pedestrian advocacy work of Los Angeles Walks. Tickets the day of the event will be $12.