Fantastic find, e_r. Well, when I saw the Formosa Avenue apartment, I thought not only of this shot from an old post of mine (
here), but I also vaguely remembered a Chaplin reference in that post, and thought
maybe... but no.
I also thought of Harry Oliver, of course, but can find no mention of him in connection with the Formosa apartments, even on his fan page (
klaxo.net).
According to general internet lore about Hollywood, Chaplin frequented the Tam O'Shanter... could he have been inspired by Oliver's design...
if he built Formosa Ave.? Some seem certain that Chaplin
did build the apartments, such as the author of
Storybook Style:
http://storybookers.com/sb--profile-...n%20court.html
Also certain is a tenant who posted on Allan Ellenberger's
site (maybe you saw this):
"My husband and I live in the cottage with the pirate flag, which has been replaced with a more modest pirate windsock, since we earn a substantial part of our living in the courtyard as swordplay experts and fencing instructors. We moved in because Douglas Fairbanks fenced here, and because it was a marvelous place to live.
We have confirmed that the complex was built by Chaplin in 1923 as a sort of dormitory for the actors working at United Artists Studios (now Jim Henson Studios) two blocks away on La Brea. To live here you have to be pretty nuts – the current residents are all zany performers, musicians, producers, and actors of one kind or another. Swashbuckling occurs regularly in the courtyard.
I wonder how this poster confirmed that Chaplin built the complex?
Someone else on Ellenberger's site was apparently checking into city land records, but then there's no follow-up...