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Friday, June 14, 2013

Hollywood Home Tour - Hattie McDaniel's Estate

" Just around the corner, less than two miles from Eddie Anderson's palatial mansion, we come to Hattie McDaniel's estate. Hattie McDaniel was one of the most popular African-American actresses in Hollywood from the early 1930s-1950. Her house is coming up on the left here....I'll stop the bus in front if anyone wants to take photographs. "

2203 South Harvard Boulevard, Los Angeles 


" Wow, that's beautiful! " ( bus passenger )

 " Yes sir, it sure is. Ms. McDaniel purchased this home in 1941, but not after a fight. Some of her neighbors complained that there was a 'restricted covenant' in West Adams Heights, dating back to 1902 that prevented the house being sold to non-Caucasians and so she had to fight that lawsuit in court...and she won. Louise Beavers and Ethel Waters were able to save their homes in West Adams because of this action as well.  


 " There are 17 rooms in all, a large living room, dining room, drawing room, den, butler's pantry,  kitchen, service porch, library, and four bedrooms. It was decorated in a Chinese theme. Every year she would hold a big party and many of the legends of Hollywood attended - including Rhett Butler... Clark Gable. 

 " Hattie McDaniel died several years ago, in 1952, of breast cancer not far from here - at the Motion Picture House. She was 57 years old. " 

 Up-to-date Note : Today the house is used by a non-profit organization, Families for Families. 

 This post is apart of the Silver Scenes Hollywood Home Tour, hosted by Al the bus driver.
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4 comments:

  1. estate homes pittsburghAugust 14, 2013 at 10:09 PM

    wow!.i love the house, it looks very elegant and exterior is pretty great

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  2. KatsummersOctober 20, 2013 at 10:57 AM

    I am glad that Hattie fought that fight in court and WON. She paved the way for so many others and that's just part of her great legacy. I hope she enjoyed living in this beautiful home and had lots of servants waiting on her hand and foot. Bless her forever !

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    Replies
    1. The Metzinger SistersOctober 20, 2013 at 11:51 AM

      I'm sure she must have enjoyed living there! As she said herself, she didn't mind playing maids on film at all.....if she were a maid in real life she would only get one 10th of the pay she was getting Hollywood so she thought it was great. But alot of African-Americans thought she was doing more harm than good for their image. Maybe she didn't have ANY servants for that reason.

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  3. Gemini104December 30, 2017 at 2:32 AM

    The irony I see as a result of that so-called non caucasian covenant, a number of those so-called caucasian covenant homes met the justice of the wrecking crew that were torn down and land used to built new homes and apartments without the so-called defunct non caucasian covenant mob rule to stop any of it. As such, since that time McDaniels' efforts in court was the beginning of the end of the brutal nature of segregation in that area, and to which the 1964 civil rights Act solidified that. As such, this area remains a highly prized area to reside in Los Angeles.

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