1940: Kay Marvis

Her name was Kay Marvis.  For a few years, she was married to actor Leo Gorcey, star of the Bowery Boys movies.   Later, she married Groucho Marx. In the 1940’s, she lived in Sherman Oaks, just two blocks from where I live now.  Through a series of chance encounters, I was able to interview people who actually knew her, and obtain a number of rare photographs of her.  Like any good editor, I was compelled to tell her story.  I hope you enjoy it.  -  Jeff

1940: Fulton & Moorpark

A few months ago, while walking my dogs, I ran into a neighbor who introduced me to Jean Morrison, a woman who grew up in Monterey Village during the 1940's.  Jean told me some fascinating stories of that time, and I've posted my interview with her below.  Here's some highlights:

• Jean's parents bought the lot at 4420 Fulton Avenue and built a 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom house.  Total cost:  $5,000.  Jean lived there from elementary to high school.
• The neighborhood was safe.  There was very little traffic on Fulton.  The kids played "kick the Can" and "hit the bat" right in the middle of the street.
• Penny Singleton, the actress who portrayed "Blondie" in the movies, lived across the street from Jean.
• Next door to Penny Singleton's house was a large walnut orchard with a large barn on the property.  Many years later a woman gave Jean a picture of that barn.  That picture appears below.
• Two doors down from Jean's house, lived an executive from ASCAP, the music rights organization.  Radio stars Phil Harris and Alice Faye visited occasionally and Jean caught glimpses of them.
• Jean took singing lessons from Kay Marvis.  At the time, Kay was married to actor Leo Gorcey, star of the "Dead End Kids" films.  She appeared in four films with Gorcey.  In the clip below, Marvis and Gorcey compete in a swing dance competition.  Kay divorced Gorcey in 1944 and moved away from the neighborhood.  The next year she married Groucho Marx, becoming his second wife.  They were divorced in 1951.
• Jean occasionally went to Sunday school and services at the Little Brown Church with her friends.  She watched several full immersion baptisms with great fascination...though she never participated.
• Jean was married in 1951 and moved away from the neighborhood.  Her parents later moved to Encino and rented the Fulton Avenue house.  Jean inherited the house and, around 1981, sold it.  Condominiums were built on the property.  But, because Jean's house was so well-built, the buyers moved it off the lot to another location.  

See you around the neighborhood! -  Jeff

From 1940: Fulton & Moorpark

The barn pictured above was located near the corner of Fulton and Riverside, just south of the 101 Freeway.