Learn About Los Feliz, CA
It’s the birthplace of Mickey Mouse and where Frank Lloyd Wright built some of his most famous homes. It’s where many celebrities of today and yesterday have called home and where the homes tell an incredible history of Los Angeles. It even has a bridge named after Shakespeare. It is Los Feliz, one of the trendiest neighborhoods in Los Angeles.
Located next to Griffith Park, Los Feliz was originally called Rancho Los Feliz and was a part of one of the first land grants in California to Corporal Jose Vicente Feliz. Eventually this land was sold to Griffith J. Griffiths who donated over half the property to the city of Los Angeles and upon his death, the rest was bequeathed to the city as well.
The neighborhood is quite diverse with the housing varying from multi million dollar homes, where many celebrities live up in Los Feliz Hills to gorgeous craftsmen and Spanish style homes. In fact, 2 of Frank Lloyd Wrights most famous homes – Ennis House and Hollyhock House are located in Los Feliz.
One of the most interesting facts about Los Feliz is that it was where Walt Disney created Mickey Mouse in the garage of his aunt and uncle’s house. Eventually his first studio was located down the street from this house and is now a photo copy shop with very famous lineage. His second studio was located in neighboring Silverlake.
The house that the mouse built is not the only star of Los Feliz. Prospect studios is also located there (on Prospect Avenue) and is famous for filming such great shows like American Bandstand, Barney Miller, The Dating Game, Family Fued, General Hospital, Grey’s Anatomy, Welcome Back, Kotter and Who’s the Boss? to name a few. Down the street from that, on Sunset, is Monogram Pictures (which is now KCET) where many of Charlie Chan’s movies were filmed.
Los Feliz has also seen its share of famous residents as well including Marilyn Monroe, Jim Parsons, Casey Affleck, Kristen Bell, Liv Tyler, Christina Ricci, January Jones, Katherine Heigl, Ryan Gosling, Eva Mendes, Jon Cryer ,Lauren Graham, John Hamm and many others. The diversity of the neighborhood is a huge draw for many people and its “downtown” area boasts incredible restaurants and fun bars that are within walking distance to many of the residences.
The next time you are in LA and on a tour with us, take a look into piece of LA’s cultural and entertainment history in Los Feliz.
