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A Jewel of a California Location! "Victoria House" in Los Angeles1156 S Victoria Ave By Fiona McIntyre
In 1927, Daniel Murphy - a railroad, oil and cement tycoon - constructed Victoria House as his retirement home. He and his family resided here until it was sold to Sylvester "Speed" Harrison in the 1950s. Speed Harrison was a black gangster who ran a speak-easy out of the garage and basement of Victoria House throughout the 1950s, 60s and 70s - the most notable of regular visitors was police lieutenant Tom Bradley, who went on to be mayor of Los Angeles for 5 consecutive terms. Speed and his family lived here until the mid 1990s. Finally, in 1998, two years after Speed's death, the house was sold to its third, and current, owner - Frank L'e Sanford. L'e Sanford is an enthusiastic and very knowledgeable location owner. Victoria House is filled with charm and character, on the one hand and, on the other, is a highly functional film location. Composed of white-painted clapboard with black shutters, it sits at the top of a wide, gently sloped front yard. A long, brick, stepped path leads up to the front entrance. The large, elegant front door is flanked by a set of columns. Upon entering, one is immediately struck by the spaciousness of the house. To the right, is an expansive, sunlit living room (deep beige in color), the centerpiece of which is a working fireplace. At the far end of the living room (towards the back of the house), are two built-in bookcases with scalloped tops. Between the bookcases, is a wide doorway into a cozy sunroom (pastel orange in color) that's filled with natural light. In addition to being accessible from the living room, the sunroom has a door that leads out to the garden. To the left of the foyer is a large dining room (deep scarlet in color). The wood paneling here is painted white. On the back wall of the room is a built-in china cabinet with glass doors. Facing the cabinet, on the opposite wall, is a life-sized oil painting of L'e Sanford's mother. This piece of art, as well as any props or furniture in the house, are available for use during production. Victoria House is fully decorated and furnished, complete with pictures, plants and various ornaments. Furniture and props may be moved to any room in the house, as long as they are returned to their original places at the end of the production. The floors in every room (except the upstairs offices) and hallway are original hardwood. The doorless entryways to the living room and dining room are both 6 feet wide. Rising up from the good-sized open foyer, is a four-foot wide staircase complete with a white wood balustrade. At the top, the stairs take a 90-degree turn to the left and open onto a spacious landing area. On the second floor, one finds a good-sized bedroom (light lemon yellow in color), a small bathroom (yellow walls with yellow and black porcelain tile), a powder blue guest bedroom and the master suite. The "Yellow Bedroom" is the largest of the bedrooms, with windows along two of its walls (virtually all of the rooms in the entire house are corner rooms with windows on two walls). The "Yellow Bathroom" is relatively small but is large enough to shoot profile shots of actors standing at the sink. The "Blue Guest Bedroom" is slightly smaller than the Yellow Bedroom and has floor-to-ceiling casement windows along its back wall. In fact, most of the sides and back of the house have floor-to-ceiling casement windows, many of which contain the original 1920s glass. Though more a point of interest than a production detail, there's a "lookout perch" in this bedroom's closet. Historically, the lookout was used when Speed Ha rrison ran the speak-easy out of the basement rooms of the house. Someone would sit in the closet looking out the north-facing window. If at any time he saw the police approaching, he would press a button that would sound an alarm to the party downstairs.
Going back down to the main floor, there's a hallway (running parallel to the staircase) that leads back to the kitchen. Under the staircase is yet another bathroom. Because of its small size, this bathroom is more functional than useable for shooting. Between the kitchen and dining room, there is a long narrow pantry that has been converted into a tool room. Adjacent to the tool room, are stairs that lead down to the basement. Turning left at the bottom of the stairs, one enters the bar and lounge that Speed Harrison created to host his speak-easy. At the far end of the room is a bar that spans the width of the room. The walls are wood paneled and the 8-foot ceiling is open with beams running across it. These beams are ideal for clipping lights above the set. The lounge area has sofas along each wood paneled wall and a small two-way countertop/bar jutting out from the wall that partially separates the lounge from the actual bar area. On the other side o f the staircase is a heavy, polished metal, floor-to-ceiling, sliding fire door that leads to the spacious garage. What was originally a three-car garage has since been converted into a disco area boasting 9.5-foot ceilings. At least one of the garage doors is fully and easily removable - move three sliding bolts and the middle of the three doors is off. There is yet another small bathroom under the staircase here. Again, it's more useful as a cast/crew toilet than for shooting purposes because of its small size. The walls in the garage are aged and un-retouched. In the middle of the garage, there are 3 thick, square, wooden pillars that support the ceiling. The room is lit with fluorescent lights that can easily be replaced with black lights for a nightclub scene. As well, L'e Sanford has two mirror balls complete with motor and 4 different colored spotlights available for use here. The garage leads directly out to the driveway and tennis court. The driveway is long and wide. The lot that this house sits on is a double lot, so there is plenty of room for a significantly sized driveway. The driveway leads right up and onto the tennis court. The tennis court is pretty much in its original state. It was constructed with a 6-inch thick cement surface (very durable for parking numerous heavy production vehicles) that is te rra cotta in color. The tennis court is surrounded by a high, distressed wall that was originally white in color. This wall supports the garden that lies above. The garden is accessible by a cement staircase running perpendicular to the driveway. The garden is quite expansive with three trees and some rosebushes running down the left side. The back wall of the garden is lined with Cyprus trees. In the center of the garden is a 7-foot high, moveable fountain. And, sitting just off the sunroom is a covered patio, known as the "Gazebo". The gazebo covering is portable and can be moved anywhere in the garden. As well, there is a large portable canopy that sits on the driveway/tennis court that can likewise be moved anywhere. Victoria House is a location that must be seen to be believed. This property of incredible character and multiple uses is a prime example of a California location that's willing and able to go that extra mile. Previous Uses of Various Rooms & AreasMain FloorFront of House - Establishing shots - the house can pass for an east or west coast residence. It looks like "Anywhere", USA. Front Yard - Has been used for a scene that involved someone mowing the lawn - if this is the case, requests for the grass to be left long can easily be accommodated. Front Door - Entering and exiting a house.
Front Entrance & Foyer - Entering and exiting a house. The foyer is spacious enough to make shooting the front door relatively easy.
Living Room - This room is used most frequently; it's ideal as a living room and is large enough for the crew to set up in one half while the action takes place in the other.
Sunroom - Most often used as a make-up room or a green room. It's surrounded by windows and is thus filled with natural light. It has also been used as an office. As well, it has outside access to the Gazebo, which is often used as a smoking patio.
Gazebo - Can be used for an outdoor patio dinner or barbecue, with or without the covering. And, as mentioned above, when not in production use, it's an ideal smoking patio. The gazebo covering is also moveable to any part of the garden. Dining Room - Used as a dining room or a boardroom. Kitchen - Used as a kitchen, spacious enough for relatively easy shooting. Because the kitchen is in its original state, it has a period feel and can be used as such. Breakfast Nook - Used for shooting family breakfasts or lunches. Windows surround it, thus the garden is visible in the background. The Breakfast Nook was added by Speed Harrison and has not been altered since. Back Door - Exits off the kitchen. This door has been shot as an entrance to another location. Small Bathroom (under the staircase) - Used as a cast/crew toilet. Tool Room - A long and narrow area that runs between the kitchen and dining room, formerly the pantry. Usually used as an out-of-the-way place to store production equipment that's not in use. Garden - A spacious area with a row of Cyprus trees at the back of garden, three trees and some rose bushes along the left side. The garden overlooks the tennis court. The 7-foot high fountain in the center of the garden can be moved. Modifying the garden before or during production is relatively easy because of the property gardener. The garden has been used for a frat party scene, a Halloween party, chase scenes and a children's birthday party. Second FloorStaircase - The stairs are relatively easy to shoot as both the foyer and upstairs landing are spacious. The staircase was once used in a horror film - a victim of the killer was dragged kicking and screaming down the stairs, leaving behind a multitude of bloody handprints and drag-marks. Upstairs Landing - This area is often used for fights or falls down the stairs. ; Many horror film directors who have used this location have pointed out that Victoria House has a classic horror fil m layout. Yellow Bedroom - Used as a bedroom, living room or dining room. It's a good-sized, versatile room. Blue Guest Bedroom - Used as a little girl's bedroom. Also, one production used the full-length casement windows here for a stunt in which a man jumped through the window (using breakaway glass) and escaped into the garden. Yellow Bathroom - It's small enough that shooting the room in its entirety would be difficult, however profile shots of actors at the sink (e.g. putting on make-up, stockings or brushing teeth) are very viable.
Middle Office - Used as a policeman's office, also, it was once used to re-enact the Watergate break-in. Executive Office - This room is not used very often for filming, however it's ideal for a background person to work in, while shooting the Middle Office, because its walls are composed of windows. As well, it's a good spot to place background lighting when shooting in the Middle Office. Additionally, the trees outside in the background are visible when shooting in the Middle Office. Master Bathroom - Large enough to shoot in, used as a bathroom. Basement Basement Staircase - The staircase is fully enclosed, painted deep red and the stairs are full stairs as opposed to slatted steps. Bar Area - This fully functioning bar is used for just that, bar scenes. The vibe of the room is that of an aged and worn bar that could be found anywhere in the United States. Lounge Area - Can be used as a working class or blue-collar apartment. Has been used as an aged and worn, windowless den and also as a Chinese gambling room. < p>Garage - This large space has been used as a disco or nightclub. The floor-to-ceiling polished metal sliding door (part of the original house) provides a good backdrop for industrial type settings. The back corner of the garage (known as "murder corner") with its distressed walls has been used for muggings, murders, rapes, drug deals, spy meetings, hiding from the mafia and a witches' coven. As well, of course, the garage can be used as an old-fashioned three-car garage; there are three wooden garage doors, each with two windows. There is also a "Judas door" (a door within a door) in one of the garage doors that can be used as an entrance into yet another location. If the garage is not used as part of the set, it is an ideal production staging area.Small Bathroom (under the staircase) - Used as a cast/crew toilet. Driveway - Used primarily for parking production vehicles. There is a large portable canopy that can be moved anywhere and is ideal for setting up craft services. Tennis Court - Most often, this area is used to park production vehicles and can comfortably accommodate 3 honeywagons parked side by side. Since it's set well back from the street, the tennis court provides a significant amount of privacy for the actors and the production in general. With its high, worn and distressed walls, the tennis court has also been used a s an alleyway. As well, it was once used for a pyrotechnic effect - a model of the kitchen sink was constructed and set fire to here. Why Victoria House is an Ideal Film Location• Victoria House is a truly "virgin" location. A number of commercials, public service announcements and low budget films have been produced here, but, to date, nothing of note. • Multiplicity of looks in one character-filled house. A location that could be found in "Anywhere", USA. • Very film-friendly location with an owner who bends over backwards for any production. L'e Sanford has owned Victoria House since 1998. He's a very amenable owner who makes himself and his 2 full-time handymen available throughout each production. He lives here alone, no wife or children. He's a professional location owner, rather than one who rents out his home occasionally as a hobby. As an experienced location owner, well versed in film production lingo, he considers himself a member of the crew. • There are virtually no limits to what a production can do here. L'e Sanford is open to any alterations to the property (e.g. changing paint color, moving furniture, removing doors or windows) as long as it's returned to its pre-production state afterwards. His motto is, "Use the house, just don't ab use it". • The house and property are very spacious which greatly facilitates set-up and production. The house is fully decorated and furnished, however, it is by no means cluttered. • There is a Victoria House employee on site 24/7 - During production, L'e Sanford, or at least one of his employees, is on site at all times. As a result, there is always someone present to answer questions about the property or the surrounding area. For instance, if a production runs out of ice, someone on site knows where to find it close-by. • Location scouts are welcome anytime for previewing - this is L'e Sanford's home as well as his workspace, so he can usually be found on site. • It's highly acceptable for a production to pay L'e Sanford to strike, if it determines that this is more cost-effective than paying the crew to do so. The on-site handymen are available for $200/day and the maid service is available for $150/day. The gardener is likewise available, at a rate to be determined. • Parking is highly available. There is ample parking on the property for a small production. Street parking is also available on the extra wide residential street. As well, there are a number of large crew parking lots close by: & nbsp; 180 spots - .5 mile away on Pico $500 daily; 200 + spots - .9 mile away on Wilshire $10 per car; 205 spots - .9 mile away on Wilshire $10-$15 per car or $3000 daily; 280 spots - .9 mile away on Lucerne Wilshire $10 per car or $2000 daily. Full parking details including contact names and numbers are available through Frank L'e Sanford. • Toilets - There are four bathrooms in the house, with at least one on each floor (two on the second floor). Thus, depending on the size and type of the production, there could be no need for port-a-potty rentals. • Power - Unless the production requires the use of a generator, any production is welcome to use the power available in the house. • Film-friendly colors - The interior of the house is painted in film-friendly colors. However, these can be easily altered by any production that wishes to do so. • Ease of permits - There are 26 residences within 300 feet of Victoria House and, to date, there has never been a problem gathering 75% of the required signatures. • ; Good neighbors - Victoria House has never had any problems with the neighbors regarding complai nts about noise levels. Conversely, neither has it had any problems with the neighbors making too much noise during fi lming. Since the primary source of noise is usually leaf-blowers and L'e Sanford's personal gardener also gardens 8 of the adjacent properties, he can easily ask the gardener to modify his work schedule to work around any productions scheduled at Victoria House. • In-house production office space is available. There are three offices available on the third floor for use as production offices. They come complete with phone lines and fax machines. Victoria House - Summary of Key Details • Location Name & Address: Victoria House - 1156 South Victoria Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90019. • Summary Description: Large two-storey white clapboard, colonial house with black shutters. • Nearest Intersection: Olympic Blvd. & Crenshaw Blvd. Four miles southeast of the center of the "30 mile Studio Zone". • Year of Construction: 1927. • Square Footage: 4400'. • Lot Size: ; 100' wide x 175' deep. • Number of Rooms: 15. • Current Value of Property: $1.5 million. • Percentage of Location Available for Production Use: 100%. • Previous Productions Shot Here: A number of commercials, public service announcements and low budget films but nothing of note. This is a truly "virgin" location. • Parking: On-site parking, extra-wide street parking, several large church parking lots nearby. • Rates: $500 - $5000 per day. Special rates are available for student/low budget productions. • Hours of Operation: 7:00 AM - 10:00 PM - L'e Sanford keeps to these hours as strictly as possible because the house is located in a residential neighborhood. • Contact Information: Frank L'e Sanford - Tel: (323) 964-9696 & Fax: (323) 936-0802. Email: ScoopUSA@aol.com • Website(s) for a Closer Look: http://www.victoria-house.net/ http://www.planitlocations.com/ (under property locator #H1104). • Additional Information of Interest: Owner on site 24/7. Location is available for previewing anytime on short notice. Two full-time handymen on site during production. Maid service available. Gardener available.
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©2005 California Film Industry
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hat a tremendous find! Victoria House sits atop a hill on a wide palm-lined avenue deep in the heart of Los Angeles. This majestic two-storey colonial house is located in a part of Los Angeles known as Country Club Park, just south of Hancock Park. 
Main Office - Used primarily as a doctor's office (because of the X-ray light-box), as a regular office or
even as a girl's bedroom - the functioning fireplace can definitely add to this room's charm. If not used for shooting purposes, this office and the others can be used as production offices with full access to the property's phone lines and fax machines.