The American Homes of Boris Karloff
I am delighted that Rhonda Steerer, 2012 Rondo Award winner for International Fan of the Year has kindly shared with us her personal photographs of some of the various dwellings Boris Karloff inhabited during his many years living in America. I have given a brief background of Karloff circumstances when living in each abode.
All photographs (except where otherwise marked) are the property of Rhonda Steerer and should not be be used without her permission. She can be contacted at her website http://rhonda-steerer.jimdo.com/
1919
Karloff arrived in Los Angeles towards the end of the decade after 8 years of touring Canada and the Western United States with various theatrical companies. He took lodgings in a boarding house at the top of Angel’s Flight in Bunker Hill and, supported by his friend Alfred Aldridge, searched for employment. “He must have had some belief in me,” Karloff said, “for he loaned me sufficient money for food and lodging until I made the rounds of the only possible outlet, the film studios. I appeared before the camera for the first time in a crowd scene being directed by Frank Borzage at Universal City.”
I am delighted that Rhonda Steerer, 2012 Rondo Award winner for International Fan of the Year has kindly shared with us her personal photographs of some of the various dwellings Boris Karloff inhabited during his many years living in America. I have given a brief background of Karloff circumstances when living in each abode.
All photographs (except where otherwise marked) are the property of Rhonda Steerer and should not be be used without her permission. She can be contacted at her website http://rhonda-steerer.jimdo.com/
1919
Karloff arrived in Los Angeles towards the end of the decade after 8 years of touring Canada and the Western United States with various theatrical companies. He took lodgings in a boarding house at the top of Angel’s Flight in Bunker Hill and, supported by his friend Alfred Aldridge, searched for employment. “He must have had some belief in me,” Karloff said, “for he loaned me sufficient money for food and lodging until I made the rounds of the only possible outlet, the film studios. I appeared before the camera for the first time in a crowd scene being directed by Frank Borzage at Universal City.”
Angel's Flight in the 1920s
The 1920s
This decade saw Karloff go from a movie extra to an established character actor, appearing in substantial roles in such pictures as Omar the Tentmaker (1922), The Bells (1926) and The Phantom of the North (1929) and well as appearing in various stage productions. He would change his lodgings numerous times during this period. Some of these homes were:
1920: 327 South Hope Street, Los Angeles, California.
1921: 210 South Flower Street, Los Angeles, California.
1922: 1225 McCadden Place, Hollywood (nr. Yucca St).
1923/24: 1404 North Catalina Street, Hollywood.
1924: 951 Venango Avenue, Los Angeles, California.
1925: 1549 N. Western Avenue, Los Angeles, California.
1926: 1012 Larrabee Street, Hollywood.
1927: 6040 Eleanor Avenue, Hollywood.
1928: 1835 North Wilcox Avenue, Hollywood.
This decade saw Karloff go from a movie extra to an established character actor, appearing in substantial roles in such pictures as Omar the Tentmaker (1922), The Bells (1926) and The Phantom of the North (1929) and well as appearing in various stage productions. He would change his lodgings numerous times during this period. Some of these homes were:
1920: 327 South Hope Street, Los Angeles, California.
1921: 210 South Flower Street, Los Angeles, California.
1922: 1225 McCadden Place, Hollywood (nr. Yucca St).
1923/24: 1404 North Catalina Street, Hollywood.
1924: 951 Venango Avenue, Los Angeles, California.
1925: 1549 N. Western Avenue, Los Angeles, California.
1926: 1012 Larrabee Street, Hollywood.
1927: 6040 Eleanor Avenue, Hollywood.
1928: 1835 North Wilcox Avenue, Hollywood.
1835 North Wilcox Avenue.
ca. Jan.1929 - Jan. 31: "The Shack", Laurel Canyon
(address unknown. Dorothy Karloff later recalled they referred to the home as “The Shack” - "and I do mean shack", she said).
The 1930s
This decade is Karloff’s classic period. In 1931 he found fame with his portrayal of the Monster in Frankenstein and, as such, the studios starred him in such genre pictures as The Old Dark House, The Ghoul, The Black Cat, The Raven and The Walking Dead. He would also play the monster a further two times in the decade: in Bride of Frankenstein (1935) and Son of Frankenstein (1939).
Karloff’s newfound status, and resultant financial security, saw an improvement in his accommodations.
1931: 2008 Las Palmas Avenue, Hollywood. (It took/takes a climb of 92 steps to get there).
1931-34: 9936 Toluca Lake Avenue, North Hollywood (San Fernando Valley).
1934-1945: 2320 Bowmont Drive, Hollywood (Coldwater Canyon)
1940s
1946-1952: 12750 Mulholland Drive, Hollywood
1946-1952: 12750 Mulholland Drive, Hollywood
1950s
K returns to England to live.
K returns to England to live.