Across this unassuming street stretches a tale of ambition, dreams, and Hollywood’s golden age. This is Leland Way. It’s a name whispered among locals, a quiet reminder of a woman who dared to shape a piece of Los Angeles.
Cora Lower Leland, born in rural New York, wasn’t a Hollywood native. She was the only child of a shoemaker. Her life took an unexpected turn when she married Reverend J. Frank Leland. They eventually found their way to Los Angeles in 1899.
Four years later, Cora embarked on a new venture. Her husband stepped down from his pastorship. She purchased a five-acre orange grove near Sunset and Vine. It was a bold move for a woman of her time.
In 1906, Cora subdivided most of her land. That’s when Leland Way was born. She kept a half-acre plot for herself and her husband. They resided at Sunset and Vine. Cora Leland shaped this area.
The Aloha Apartments, a short walk from here, stand as a testament to the area’s growth. They went up during the 1920s Hollywood housing boom. Los Angeles’ population more than doubled. The land around Leland Way was subdivided around 1906. Cora Lower Leland was the one who did it.
Initially, bungalows dotted the landscape. Over time, they were replaced by duplexes and apartment buildings. The Aloha site once housed a single-family home.
The Aloha was an “apartment hotel”. It offered privacy with hotel amenities. This concept catered to varied lifestyles. There were families, professionals, and transient guests.
Leland Way also has its share of Hollywood connections. Oscar-nominated actress Bonita Granville lived at the Aloha Apartments. Screenwriter Byron Morgan also resided here. Actress Beryl Mercer once called the Aloha home. Stage director Russell Fillmore lived there too. Ethel Grey Terry, known for her role in The Penalty, lived and died at the Aloha.
Most residents were middle-class individuals. Dentists, teachers, artists, and journalists called Leland Way home. The street was a melting pot of professions.
Today, Leland Way is a reminder of Cora Lower Leland’s vision. She transformed an orange grove into a thriving residential area. It stands as a testament to Hollywood’s evolving landscape. The Aloha Apartments remain, a tangible link to the street’s vibrant past. So next time you stroll along Leland Way, remember Cora. She dreamed of a new life in the California sun.