I live in the Pasadena area of Greater LA and happened to be passing within a few blocks of AE's old house on Valley Spring Lane in Tolucca Lake yesterday, so stopped by to see how it looked (I've stopped by once in a while before, but it's been at least ten years or so). Toluca Lake is a toney, subdued, and kind of quirky enclave in Los Angeles. Lots of stars have lived there over the years, Bob Hope is probably the best known long-time resident, but there were many more old timers who lived there for a time - Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Andy Griffith, Roy Disney – and still many today, including Hillary Duff, Steve Carell, Andy Garcia, Ray Romano, Denzel Washington and more. It's not as gauche and grandiose as the Bel Air, Hollywood Hills, or Beverly Hill, but it's a centrally located place close to the studios for stars and execs who want to avoid all that glitz and glamour and just live pretty normally.
AE's house is pretty normal looking, large by most standards (5265 sq. ft), but just average for the area. Zillow lists it at $4.6 mil, also probably about average for the area. It's at the dead end of Valley Spring Lane, and her back yard abuts the beautiful Lakeside Golf Club (very swanky, I've been there a few times for events, not a member 😐). AE's house looks the same as the first time I saw it about 25 years ago or so, and probably hasn't changed much since she lived there. It's not marked in any way, except the house number, 10042. It's most distinctive feature is a cylindrical front corner that has some intricate glass and iron work (see photo). Do I remember something about George Putnam holding a séance in this front room after AE disappeared? Anyway, I took some photos of AE's house, in case anyone is interested. Then I went up and rang AE's doorbell, but she wasn't in.
Btw, across the street from her is the eponymous, tiny Toluca Lake, which is ringed in by houses that offer virtually no view of the lake from the street or any public viewing area, but the place across the street from AE's has been torn down for new construction, which gave me a chance to actually see the lake, so I took a photo of that too. I spoke briefly to the construction guys, who only spoke Spanish (common in LA), and explained to them about AE – they listened politely and nodded but had no idea of who AE was and didn't seem too interested.
Coincidentally, about 10-15 years I had some brief business interaction with a relatively quiet and discreet multi-billionaire (not Tim) who lives across the street and about two houses down from AE's place. In small talk with him back then, I found out that he was on the National Geographic board and had some moderate interest in AE. Small world.
Thanks for the virtual tour and the photos, Diego.
Very much appreciated!
My pleasure Marty. Nice to hear from you.