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State of California — The Resources Agency Ser. No. ______p~) ~ 01 ~PARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HABS____ HAER____ NR S SHL ____ UTM: A II4OOo~~L~O B HISTORIC RESOURCES INVENTORY C D

IDENTIFICATION 1. Common name: — Coleman; Ronald Estate

2. Historic name: Griffith: Corrine Estate

3. Street or rural address: 1030 Benedict Canyon Dr.

City Beverly Hills Zip 90210 County Los Angeles

4. Parcel number: Tract 22353 lot 2

5. Present Owner: ______Address: ______

City ______Zip ______Ownership is: Public ______Private ______

6. Present Use: Residential Original use: Residential

DESCRIPTION 7a, Architectural style: Tudor Revival 7b. Briefly describe the present physical description of the site or structure and describe any major alterations from its original condition: Totally hidden from the street, this parcel a~t. the southeast corner of Benedict Canon and Summit Drives has been subdivided. The house and tennis court, as well as a small citrus grove, remain on the inclined lot now known at 1030 Benedict Canon rather than 1003 Summit. A Tudor Revival design, the 1924 house was substantially altered by its third owner, Ronald Coleman between 1935 and 1944. Original features of the two story house include the hipped and gabled roof of medium high pitch, one of two tall brick chimneys, a brick and partially half—timbered exterior, and a rambling plan that describes an open “V.” Another original element is the east bay of the principal (south) elevation, which is topped by a front gable with a multi— paned oriel set below a half—timbered gable end. The porch below it has been modified and extended to the west and is now supported by wood posts. The west wing originally contained four shuttered windows on an overhanging second story and two clusters of casement windows on the first. Two half—timbered front gables, the larger of which tops a band of diamond—paned leaded glass windows, now appear. (see continuation sheet)

8. Construction date: 1924

Estimated ______Factual X

9. Architect ______Fuller; Lee

10. Builder Fargo; C.R.

11. Approx. property size (in feet) irreg. Frontage 11 Q Depth 91 ( or approx. acreage______

12. Date(s) of enclosed photograph(s) • 1986 13. Condition: Excellent _Good X Fair_...... Deteriorated ____ No longer in existence -

14. Alterations:

15. Surroundings: (Check more than one if necessary) Open land — Scattered buildings — Densely built-up X

Residential X Industrial _____Commercial ______Other: ______

16. Threats to site: None known .JLPrivate development Zoning _____ Vandalism _____

Public Works project _____ Other: ______

17. Is the structure: On its original site? X Moved? ______Unknown? ______

18. Related features:

SIGN I FICANCE 19. Briefly state historical and/or architectural importance (include dates, events, and persons associated with the site.) The residenc.e at 1030 Benedict Canon has had a number of important residents. De signed by local architect Lee Fuller in 1924 in a Tudor Revival design, its first owner was C.B. Brunson, manager o.f the Beveridge real estate interests in , and a developer of subdivisions in that community , Bel—Air, and Santa Monica. Shortly after it was built it was purchased by actress Corinne Griffith and her husband Walter Morosco. Griffith began her career in films in 1916, and her delicate beauty made her one of Hollywood’s most famous leading ladies of the silent era. She invested her profits from the business in real estate, developing several properties in the commercial area,. including the “Four Corners” at the intersection of South Beverly Drive and Charleville. The Moroscos sold the estate to Mrs. Thomas Ince in 1927. At that time the estate was said to comprise a twelve room mansion with three acres of grounds, a swimming pooi and was known “as one of the show places of Beverly Hills” (9—22—27). In the rnid— the estate was purchased by actor Ronald Colman, who made several modifications to the structure. The f~ritish born actor was one of (see continuation• sheet)

Locational sketch map (draw and label site and surrounding streets, roads, and prominent landmarks): 20. Main theme of the historic resource: (If more than one is NORTH checked, number in order of importance.)

Architecture X ~ & Leisure ______

E~nom ic/Industrial — ExplorationdSettlement

Government ______Military ______

Religion Social/Education ______

Sources (List books, documents, surveys, personal interviews and their dates). City of Beverly Hills building permits See continuation sheet Beverly Hills Citizen, various dates Katz, Ephraim. The Film Encyclopedia. 1979 Lockwood; Charles. The Guide to Hollywood & Beverly Hills. 1984. 22. Datefomi prepared November, 1986 By (name) C. McAvov & L. HenmRnn Organization City of Beverly Hills Mdress: 450 N. Crescent Dr._

City - Beverly Hills Zip 90210 Phone: (21’~ ~Sfl—4RR1 CONTINUATION SHEET: 1030 Benedict Canon Drive

7b. Description:

Except for a remodelled kitchea, the house, both interior and exterior, are unchanged since Coleman’s tenancy. Particularly notable is the library, which features an elaborately coffered ceiling.

19. Significance:

Hollywood’s most popular romantic leads and one of the few who made the transition from silent to sound films. An Academy Award winner, he was married to actress Benita Hume. Among his more memorable screen roles are Beau Geste (1926); (1929); Prisoner of Zenda (1937), Lost Horizon (1937) and Kismet (1944).

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\, State of California — The Resources Agency Primary # DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HRI # CONTINUATION SHEET Trinomial NRHP Status Code: 7R

Page 1 of I Resource Name or # Corrine Griffith Estate U Continuation ~ Update

P2. Location: 1030 Benedict Canyon Dr.

BlO Significance: This property could not be properly re-evaluated because the building was not visible from the public right of way during the current survey process.

P5b DescriptionlDate of Photo:

No Photo Available

P8. Recorded by: Jan Ostashay, Peter Moruzzi, PCR Services, One Venture, Suite 150, Irvine, CA 92618

P9. Date Recorded: Tuesday, June 01, 2004

DPR 523L (1/95) PCR Services Corporation