Place
Charlotte and Robert Disney House
Iconic animator Walt Disney launched his career in Los Angeles while living in this modest craftsman home.
Saved
Walt Disney’s first Los Angeles home was designated a Historic-Cultural Monument in 2016.
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Disney Residence, July 2016 | Linda Dishman/L.A. Conservancy
Overview
This 1914 Craftsman house in Los Feliz, located at 4406 Kingswell Avenue, is notable for its early association with Walt Disney. The one-story bungalow was owned by Disney’s uncle, and when Walt relocated to Los Angeles in 1923 he lived at this residence, beginning his animation work in the garage.
While several properties in the Los Angeles region are associated with Walt Disney, his first permanent studio location on Hyperion Avenue was demolished in 1966 and the Kingswell Building where he rented studio space between 1923 and 1926 has been altered.
The house remains highly intact and features original windows, a wrap-around front porch, and a shingle-clad exterior with wide, overhanging eaves. The interior retains original woodwork and a fireplace mantel featuring rough-hewn stone.
About This Place
About This Place
This one-story craftsman bungalow is significant as the first home of Walt Disney in Los Angeles and the location of his first local animation work. The house was owned by Disney’s uncle Robert and Aunt Charlotte, and 21-year-old Walt relocated to Los Angeles in 1923 and began his animation work in the garage while boarding with them at this residence.
Walt achieved his first success with local animation work within months of his arrival to Los Angeles and the creation of his pioneering animation studio, which introduced numerous innovations to the industry. With a career spanning more than four decades, Walt Disney left an indelible impact on the entertainment industry and firmly cemented himself as an icon of twentieth century American culture.
The property remained in the Disney family for 30 years. Its association with the Disneys is well documented, including family home movie footage depicting the family in the front yard.
Our Position
In 2016, a notice of a demolition permit requested by the current owners triggered public outcry and prompted the office of Councilmember David Ryu, in whose district the house is located, to coordinate with the Office of Historic Resources and City Planning Department on the city-initiated designation process.
Although the house was identified as National Register-eligible through SurveyLA, no environmental review is required for the replacement project of another single-family home on the same site, making HCM designation the only way to protect the house.
On November 23, 2016, the Los Angeles City Council voted in support of a nomination initiated by the Department of City Planning to list the Charlotte and Robert Disney House as a Historic-Cultural Monument (HCM). To learn more, read the final staff report and recommendation. Thank you to Councilmember David Ryu’s office for supporting the nomination! As a designated HCM, it now benefits from stricter protection from demolition and/or inappropriate alteration.
The house, which was listed for sale by the owners who originally made plans for its demolition, was purchased by a member of the Disney family in March 2017. The new owner has retained a preservation consulting firm and in 2019 work began to renovate interior rooms that have been altered through the years to be more period-appropriate. The front rooms, with original details including beamed ceiling, massive stone fireplace, and built-in breakfront, are highly intact.
