Jean Harlow’s H.B. tie

It’s no big deal to pass by famed movie star homes while up in Beverly Hills, Benedict Canyon, Bel Air or Holmby Hills.

As any star map will show you, certain neighborhoods are rife with celebrity abodes. Down around our beach cities though, things get a little sparser. Sure, there are Shirley Temple and John Wayne’s old houses in Newport, but beyond that, not much comes to mind. That’s why my interest became so piqued last week while I was out taping some new episodes of “Forgotten O.C.,” a series of vignettes on KOCE-TV that feature Maria Hall Brown and myself exploring the county in search of history. We were going to tape a segment here in Huntington Beach when Maria showed me some information regarding a home with some unusual history. A document from 1976 was headlined, “History of the Mystery House Located at (address withheld).”

Then the following information: “Formerly located on top of a hill on Whitney Terrace [which I believe should be ‘Whitley’ — part of the area known as Whitley Heights], Hollywood, this unusual home was the actress of Jean Harlow. It had to be removed to make room for a freeway through that area, and was purchased from the state by L.W. ‘Blackie’ Dye of H.B. in 1949 and moved to its present location where he resided for about 10 years.

“Due to the unusual height of the stucco building, four feet of the top had to be removed for it to pass under the low utility lines on the route to Huntington Beach.

“At first there was some controversy about locating such an unusual looking residence on a lot in that area but peace was restored after improvements and a paint and stucco job seemed to temper the objections.

“Mr. and Mrs. Dick Dusterhoft and their two children now live in the old Harlow home. Dusterhoft has a responsible position with Knott’s Berry Farm, and the entire family is active in the First Christian Church of Huntington Beach.”

Jean Harlow, if you don’t know, was a movie star and became the sex symbol/blond bombshell whom all others are measured against. From an old bio: “Born in Kansas City, Mo., as Harlean Carpentier. Harlow brought charm and a sexual knowingness to a series of comedies during the 1930s, becoming the model of feminine sexuality in films for the next decade. The original platinum blond, she played the tough working girl whatever her characters’ actual social standing, frequently upsetting the decorum of the well-to-do. Her films include ‘Platinum Blonde’ (1931), ‘Red Dust’ (1932), ‘Bombshell’ (1933), ‘Dinner at Eight’ (1933), ‘Libeled Lady’ (1936), and ‘Saratoga’ (1937). She died of uremic poisoning ... She was only 26. The film had to be finished by long angle shots using a double. Gable said he felt like he was in the arms of a ghost during the final touches of the film. Because of her death, the film was a hit. Record numbers of fans poured into America’s movie theaters to see the film.”

We made our way over to the house to see if we could tape a segment of “Forgotten O.C.” The owners mentioned in the 1976 document, Dick and Sandy Dusterhoft still live there and were very gracious in allowing us to see the home. (Their children live in the area and on this day the Dusterhofts were tending to two grandchildren.)

The home, though rundown 35 years ago when they purchased it, has been restored by the Dusterhofts and today it is beautiful, featuring the classic look of so many other homes still located in Whitley Heights. (Whitley Heights was named for Hobart Johnstone “HJ” Whitley, who developed Whitley Heights, Los Angeles’ first celebrity neighborhood, in the 1920s. It’s located in the hills above the Hollywood Walk of Fame, north of Franklin Avenue, from Cahuenga Boulevard to Highland Avenue.)

Mrs. Dusterhoft takes out a binder bursting with yellowed newspaper clips about the beguiling Ms. Harlow, and there’s even a shot of the star atop this very house. As the legend goes, (and this house is crammed with legend), Harlow moved here in the 1930s after her marriage fell apart. Clark Gable may have tried knocking the door down to reach the ailing Harlow shortly before she died. The ornate dining room furniture actually belonged to Harlow.

The Dusterhofts clearly enjoy the legacy of the house, pointing out details like where it was cut in two in preparation for the move to Huntington Beach in the 1940s. Walking through the house, noticing the smooth plaster, Spanish-style entryways; tin-panel ceilings and courtyard out back, you almost expect the lithe blond sex symbol to appear from around a corner. Instead, one of the grandkids pops out and tosses a beach ball.

Rent “Platinum Blonde,” or “Red Dust” one of these days. Then think about the fact that one of the last places that a famous Hollywood blond called home is right here among us, a “Mystery House” where the myth of Jean Harlow still hangs in the air.

CHRIS EPTING is the author of 14 books, including the new “Huntington Beach Then & Now.” You can write him at [email protected].