The Talmadge is a historic brick residential building in

Los Angeles, California Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...

and which bears the name of silent film actress

Norma Talmadge Norma Marie Talmadge (May 2, 1894 – December 24, 1957) was an American actress and film producer of the silent film, silent era. A major box-office draw for more than a decade, her career reached a peak in the early 1920s, when she ranked among ...

History

A house owned by

Earle C. Anthony Earle C. Anthony (December 18, 1880—August 6, 1961) was an American businessman and philanthropist based in Los Angeles, California. He worked in broadcasting and automobiles and was also a songwriter, journalist and playwright. Early life ...

, built in 1909, was moved to

Beverly Hills, California Beverly Hills is a city located in Los Angeles County, California. A notable and historic suburb of Greater Los Angeles, it is in a wealthy area immediately southwest of the Hollywood Hills, approximately northwest of downtown Los Angeles. B ...

for the 1923 construction of this building. Upon its completion in 1924, it was owned by movie studio executive Joseph M. Schenck and his wife, silent actress

, who was its namesake. It was designed in the style by

William and Alexander Curlett William F. Curlett (County Down, Ireland, March 3, 1846 – January 21, 1914, San Francisco) and Alexander Edward Curlett (called Aleck) (San Francisco, February 6, 1881 – September 5, 1942) were a father-and-son pair of architects. They w ...

Claud Beelman Claud W. Beelman (1883 – January 30, 1963), sometimes known as ''Claude Beelman'', was an American architect who designed many examples of Beaux-Arts, Art Deco, and Streamline Moderne style buildings. Many of his buildings are listed on the N ...

. Initially, Schenck and Talmadge resided on the 10th floor. The rest of the tenants were socialites and heirs. The Talmadge was used as a filming location for a couple of

Buster Keaton Joseph Frank "Buster" Keaton (October 4, 1895 – February 1, 1966) was an American actor, comedian, and filmmaker. He is best known for his silent film work, in which his trademark was physical comedy accompanied by a stoic, deadpan expression ...

films. Mr. Keaton was married to

Natalie Talmadge Natalie Talmadge (April 29, 1896 – June 19, 1969) was an American silent film actress who was the wife of Buster Keaton, and sister of the movie stars Norma and Constance Talmadge. She retired from acting in 1923. Early life and career Ta ...

, the sister of Ms. Talmadge. Mr. Schenck was, at the time, producing Mr. Keaton's films. In ''Battling Butler'', the entrance stands in for the main character's mansion. In ''

Seven Chances ''Seven Chances'' is a 1925 American silent comedy film directed by and starring Buster Keaton, based on the play of the same name by Roi Cooper Megrue, produced in 1916 by David Belasco. Additional cast members include T. Roy Barnes, Snitz Ed ...

,'' the interior lobby and main entrance of the building were used, briefly, at the beginning. In ''

Who's Got the Action? ''Who's Got the Action?'' is a 1962 American comedy film directed by Daniel Mann from a screenplay by Jack Rose, based on the novel ''Four Horse Players Are Missing'' by Alexander Rose. It stars Dean Martin and Lana Turner, with Eddie Albert, Wa ...

'', exteriors of ''The Talmadge'' were used.

References

Residential buildings completed in 1924 Residential buildings in Los Angeles Wilshire Boulevard Koreatown, Los Angeles Beaux-Arts architecture in California {{LosAngeles-struct-stub