Marilyn Monroe House Landmarking Stands!
Gentle reader,
We write in haste to share with you the breaking news that following last week’s hearing, Judge James C. Chalfant has issued his ruling on the petition for writ of mandate seeking to undo landmark status for the only home that Marilyn Monroe ever owned.
The petition is DENIED.
That means that Marilyn’s house at 12305 5th Helena Dr. remains a protected Historic Cultural Monument of the City of Los Angeles!
If you’ve been following this wild case, with its fantastical allegations of a landmarking conspiracy hatched between tour operators (that’s us, and we got subpoena’d over it), preservation nonprofits and the City, you know what a big deal it is for the judge to look at the property owners’ complicated procedural arguments and rule that the landmark stands. (We’re eager to read his reasoning for the decision, but the full 31 page ruling is not yet available; we’ll share that as soon as it is.)
In the most recent set of case filings, the remarkable phrase “otherwise interested entities that feed on the offal of Hollywood lore” conjures up an image of tour operators as gore spattered zombies which we won’t soon forget.
But here’s the judge’s take in black and white (with Miss Monroe added because it’s now and forever her house):
To learn more about the case, we have a dedicated newsletter with links here.
We do expect that this decision will be appealed, and this is not the last the world will hear of the claim that Marilyn’s house doesn’t matter and shouldn’t be a landmark. But according to Judge Chalfant, it does and it is.
Whatever comes next, this is our sincere hope: that the house can be better maintained in the future and that it can once again be a home with owners who are happy to call this lovely place their own.
And if nothing else, it’s long past time the City installed a monument sign in the public right of way, so fans can memorialize their visit with a selfie celebrating the preservation of the Marilyn Monroe Residence HCM #1306!
Are you coming on Saturday's true crime, film history, architecture and literature tour of Downtown Los Angeles, honoring the real life inspirations of detective novelist Raymond Chandler? We'll depart from Grand Central Market bound for the timeless remnants of the 1920s oil boom where Ray learned so much about human nature and the dark side of power. Join us, do!
Yours for Los Angeles,
Kim & Richard
Esotouric
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Our work—leading tours and historic preservation and cultural landmark advocacy—is about building a bridge between Los Angeles' past and its future, and not allowing the corrupt, greedy, inept and misguided players who hold present power to destroy the city's soul and body. If you’d like to support our efforts to be the voice of places worth preserving, we have a tip jar, vintage Los Angeles webinars available to stream, in-person tours and a souvenir shop you can browse in. We’ve also got recommended reading bookshelves on Amazon and the Bookshop indie bookstore site. And did you know we offer private versions of our walking tours for groups big or small? Or just share this link with other people who care.
UPCOMING WALKING TOURS
• Raymond Chandler’s Noir Downtown Los Angeles (9/6) • Franklin Village Old Hollywood (9/13) • Film Noir / Real Noir (9/20) • Angelino Heights & Carroll Avenue (9/27) • Charles Bukowski’s Westlake (10/4) • Know Your Downtown LA: Bradbury Building, Basements, Dutch Chocolate Shop (10/11) • The Run: Gay Downtown History (10/18) • Evergreen Cemetery, 1877 (11/1) • Highland Park Arroyo Time Travel Trip (11/8) • Richard’s Birthday: Alvarado Terrace & South Bonnie Brae Tract (11/15) • The Real Black Dahlia (11/22) • Hotel Horrors & Main Street Vice (12/6) • Westlake Park Time Travel Trip (12/13) • Miracle Mile Marvels & Madness (Sunday, 12/21) • Human Sacrifice: The Black Dahlia, Elisa Lam, Heidi Planck & Skid Row Slasher Cases (12/27)
What a relief! Thank you for all your hard work and dedication.
Fantastic news! 👏👏