Theda Bara Home - Los Angeles

Theda Bara's home is located on West Adams Boulevard in Los Angeles, California.  In 1917 the actress moved to Los Angeles from New York and purchased this Tudor mansion, originally built in 1905, on what used to be the corner of Beverly Drive and Park Way.  She lived here as her star rose with massive hits like Cleopatra and Salome. But by 1919 her career had ended and she was released by Fox.  She shortly after moved out and maintained a smaller home in Beverly Hills and an apartment in New York.  On the heels of her departure the home was purchased by comedian Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle, who moved in with his wife Minta Durfee. Arbuckle was one of the screen's leading comedians and had just recently begun a feature film career, after spending several years cranking out shorts. This was his residence during the infamous Labor Day 1921 scandal, and subsequent trials, when he was accused of murdering actress Virginia Rappe in the St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco.  Although ultimately found innocent, the scandal destroyed his career.  Unable to work and faced with huge bills he was forced to leave the home. The house was rented in 1923 to director Raoul Walsh and his wife, actress Miriam Cooper. Walsh coincidentally had directed Theda Bara in a few of her earlier films.  The house was rented again in 1924 to producer Joseph Schenck and his wife, actress Norma Talamadge.  Schenck had produced Arbuckle's series of shorts and was currently producing the films of Buster Keaton, whom Arbuckle had mentored during his early film days. The house eventually passed through several hands before being bequeathed to the Archbishop of Los Angeles and becoming a house for seminarians.

 Submit photo(s) for this home.