Whitley Heights is a Hollywood Hills residential neighborhood on the National Register of Historic Places in the Hollywood district. This Hollywood Hills homes neighborhood is roughly bordered on the north and east by Cahuenga Boulevard, on the west by Highland Avenue, and on the south by Franklin Avenue. Named after Hobart Johnston Whitley, the “Father of Hollywood” Whitely Heights became the first celebrity community built in Los Angeles real estate. In 1918 Mr. Whitley commissioned architect A.S. Barnes to design Whitley Heights as a Mediterranean-style village on the steep hillsides of Los Angeles real estate above Hollywood Boulevard. This well preserved “Old Hollywood” neighborhood overlooks the Hollywood district landmarks including the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, Kodak Theatre and the Hollywood Bowl amphitheater. After World War II this Hollywood Hills neighborhood was bisected and some landmark homes were even destroyed when 101 Hollywood Freeway was built. Among Whitley Heights’ many famous residents some include Rudolph Valentino, Barbara Stanwyck, W.C. Fields, Jean Harlow, Carole Lombard, William Powell, Tyrone Power, Ellen Pompeo, Gloria Swanson, Rosalind Russell, Judy Garland, and Marlene Dietrich.
