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ABOUT TOLUCA LAKE
 Early
in 1923, the present Toluca Lake area was a flourishing ranch,
famous for its lush crops of peaches, apples and walnuts and known
as the Forman Toluca Ranch.
Its
productive groves have long given way to beautiful streets of
fine homes and estates.
Toluca Lake, a community within two communities, North Hollywood
and Burbank, had its inception 76 years ago through efforts of
a syndicate of Hollywood financiers and developers who named the
development Toluca Lake Park. Due to other promotional undertakings,
the original subdividers vacated their Toluca Lake Park tract
office. M.A. “Andy” Vargo (“Mr. Toluca Lake”), who had been a
salesman with the company, opened his own real estate office,
and it was Vargo who was largely responsible for the later development
of the community.
The
area also is the setting for two picturesque lakes — the original
one on the North Hollywood side the other in Burbank. Water originally
came from springs from the outcropping of the Valley’s water table.
Today, water is supplied from wells at the lake’s edges to maintain
the lake level. The entire lake bottom was surfaced with four
inches of asphalt concrete to stop water seepage.
The
original boundaries of Toluca Lake were Cahuenga Boulevard, Clybourn
Avenue, Camarillo Street and the Los Angeles River. Old timers
zealously stick to these boundaries, and, in 1939, they were so
included in the incorporation papers of the Toluca Lake Civic
Association. Since then, other adjacent streets and areas have
been included and are now associated with the Toluca Lake area.
The Lake is owned by
home site owners surrounding its shores. To
help maintain and keep it clean, the Toluca Lake Property Owners
Association, a mutual non-profit corporation, was organized in
1934 at the instigation of Park French, a resident of Toluca Lake.
A
residence on Toluca Lake is undoubtedly one of the most tranquil
and picturesque home sites in the entire greater Los Angeles area.
Well stocked with fish for angling enthusiasts, the lake is also
used for private recreational boating and swimming. Hidden from
public view by shore lined homes and the sprawling Lakeside Golf
Club, the lake covers six acres, varying in width from 150 to
300 feet and in depth from 18 inches to 10 feet.
While
the major portion of the lake spans the rolling green lawns of
private residences, about one-third of the southeast shore forms
part of
the
boundary of the Lakeside Golf Club.
The first home was built on Valley Spring Lane near the Lakeside
Clubhouse and was later to become the home of Amelia Erhart, the
famous aviatrix.
Among
film stars who first came to make their homes in Toluca Lake were
Richard Arlen, W.C. Fields, Bob Hope, Ann Blyth, Bing Crosby,
Frank Sinatra, and Mary Astor. The next generation were Zazu Pitts,
Ruby Keeler, Wayne Morris, Frank McHugh and Rudy Valle. Then came
Gene Autry, Jimmy Brown, Keeley Smith, Dana Andrews, William Holden,
Jack Carson, Dorothy Lamour, Doris Day, Red Foxx, Tennessee Ernie
Ford, Ozzie, Harriet, David and Ricky Nelson, Wendell Niles, Sr.,
Audie Murphy, Jim Nabors, Sandra Dee, Bobby Darin, David Janssen
and Tex Ritter. Then John Ritter, Joe Campanella, Frankie Avalon,
Fabian, Andy Griffith, Jonathan Winters, Mala Powers, Ken Berry,
Jackie Joseph, Goldie Hawn, Denver Pyle, Garry Marshall, Paul
Henning, Roger Perry and JoAnn Worley, James Garner, Angela Cartwright,
Clint Howard, Donny and Marie Osmond, Robert Fuller, John Davidson,
Linda Henning, Henry Winkler, Ron Howard, Dudley Moore, Alan Thicke,
Swoosie Kurtz, Denzel Washington, Andy Garcia and others.
From
the first business building – then a plumbing shop – the business
community has grown into a row of fine shops, restaurants, medical
and business offices, and exclusive specialty shops. This is Toluca
Lake: a colorful community of dignity, charm and hospitality.
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