Homes and Haunts of Basil Rathbone
Page Three

In 1935 Basil and Ouida moved to California, and for the first three years they lived at 5254 Los Feliz Blvd. in Hollywood. Basil describes the period as three of the happiest years of his life. "The house was small but extremely comfortable. It had a large and lovely garden and a kidney-shaped swimming pool. Over the four-car garage there was a spacious studio. This studio was occupied by dear Jack Miltern, who had come to live with us." (In and Out of Character, p. 157)

Due to the addition of baby Cynthia to the family in the spring of 1939, the Rathbones moved to a larger house "with a room and a bath and a kitchenette for the baby and a larger garden to care for." (In and Out of Character, pp. 165-166) The new house was located at 10728 Bellagio Road, in Bel Air.

The following are pictures of these two homes:

Basil and his dogs in front of their home on Los Feliz Blvd.	Basil and dogs on garden steps at 10728 Bellagio Road, Bel Air
Basil and Ouida in the garden of their Bel Air home	Basil and Ouida in the garden of their Bel Air home.
I believe that these two photos of Basil and Ouida in their garden were taken from in front of the house seen above at the right (Basil and dogs on garden steps...). Notice the same potted plants at the top and bottom steps.
Basil outside the Bel Air home	Basil and Moritza outside the Bel Air home
Basil and Ouida in their Bel Air home	Basil and Ouida in the library of their Bel Air home
Basil, Ouida and Rodion. This might be the interior of the Los Feliz house. Date of photo is uncertain.	Basil in front of fireplace in Bel Air home

Below is a map of Hollywood, showing the locations of these two homes and the major film studios where Basil worked.

Click on image to see it larger, and much more.

Continue to Page Four.

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All original content is © Marcia Jessen, 2007