oldlongwalker
Member
- Location
- Los Angeles, CA
Tell us a story about something interesting that happened in the neighborhood where you live. Doesn't need to be during the time you have lived there, or even during your life. Just looking for interesting local stories. Here is one from my neighborhood.
I live in Beachwood Canyon. It is most well known for being the location of the Hollywood sign, which is on a hillside at the top of the canyon. In 1931 a 23 year old actress named Peg Entwhistle moved here from New York. She was living in a small house on Beachwood Drive with her uncle. The house is still there today. Although she had several small parts in Broadway productions, the Great Depression was wreaking havoc and closing many shows after a single performance. She decided to move to Los Angeles and pursue a career in the movies. She signed a contract with RKO Studios and was given a part in Thirteen Women. The story was somewhat controversial for the time since it involved a group of sorority sisters who were manipulated into killing themselves and each other. It also had an underlying theme of lesbianism. Unfortunately, much of her performance was cut and she was let go from her contract. She had no money and no prospects.
On September 16, 1932 she told her uncle she was going to a drug store to meet some friends. She walked up to the end of the street and hiked up to the sign. Climbing the letter "H" she jumped to her death. Two days later a hiker found her body on the hillside. Her purse was also found and contained the following note: "I am afraid, I am a coward. I am sorry for everything. If I had done this a long time ago, it would have saved a lot of pain. P.E"
I live in Beachwood Canyon. It is most well known for being the location of the Hollywood sign, which is on a hillside at the top of the canyon. In 1931 a 23 year old actress named Peg Entwhistle moved here from New York. She was living in a small house on Beachwood Drive with her uncle. The house is still there today. Although she had several small parts in Broadway productions, the Great Depression was wreaking havoc and closing many shows after a single performance. She decided to move to Los Angeles and pursue a career in the movies. She signed a contract with RKO Studios and was given a part in Thirteen Women. The story was somewhat controversial for the time since it involved a group of sorority sisters who were manipulated into killing themselves and each other. It also had an underlying theme of lesbianism. Unfortunately, much of her performance was cut and she was let go from her contract. She had no money and no prospects.
On September 16, 1932 she told her uncle she was going to a drug store to meet some friends. She walked up to the end of the street and hiked up to the sign. Climbing the letter "H" she jumped to her death. Two days later a hiker found her body on the hillside. Her purse was also found and contained the following note: "I am afraid, I am a coward. I am sorry for everything. If I had done this a long time ago, it would have saved a lot of pain. P.E"
