Dapper Frank’s Hollywood Digs by Nyla Arslanian
I
n Hollywood the hills and surrounding neighborhoods are filled with the stories of those who came to Los Angeles following the footsteps of Lasky and DeMille in the dawn of the entertainment industry. Not so much the “wild west,” Los Angeles was beginning to grow into the metropolis it would become. Still, the new industry was expanding at a phenomenal rate and it needed actors and workers. It wasn’t long before unknowns were household names as movies became the most popular form of entertainment throughout the country. This is the story of one of the giants who created Hollywood, acting in 63 silent films, directing 135 from the teens until 1955, writing 42, and producing 31. That’s what you call a “body of work.” Born in Glasgow, Scotland, in the early 1900s, Frank Lloyd started out as a stage actor and singer in London. He emigrated to Canada as a carpenter. He joined a traveling theatrical troupe, met and married his first wife, 20 DISCOVER HOLLYWOOD / SUMMER 2022
This spectacular property was once owned by Frank Lloyd, one of the founders of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and The Directors Guild, its claim to fame. Situated on the upward sloping hillside, although reimagined for today’s discriminate buyer, it’s not difficult to image this property was once the home of one of Hollywood’s most prominent directors whose career spanned 40 years from the Silent Era to the Golden Age. Alma, an actress, and headed to Hollywood garnering a Universal contract in 1913. He acted in 63 films, but the silent film genre wasn’t kind to Lloyd and following poor critical notices, he turned his skills to writing and directing. A fortuitous decision which led to his place in filmdom history. Frank Lloyd’s star was rising and between 1917-1919, he directed 15 films for Fox—the majority were Zane Grey westerns and adaptations of classic literature (A Tale of Two The most striking thing about this home is the abundance of light in every room. Perfectly situated, not only does it offer spectacular views of the city, each room’s windows bring the outdoors in.
