The Castle on the Curve

How the Ira Morgan and Nathan Coleman English style home was transformed into a Hollywood Fairytale

In the heart of the Hollywood Dell, where the winding pavement of Ivar Avenue meets the quiet stretch of Longview Avenue, stands a testament to the golden age of cinematic collaboration.

It wasn't a movie studio that rose here in the early 1920s, but a vision of stone and storybook charm. Famed cinematographer Ira Morgan—the man behind the lens for classics like Modern Times—didn't just want a home; he wanted a landmark. Teaming up with architect Nathan Coleman and master contractor Bruce McCaskill, Morgan transformed a prime hillside lot into a dual-property masterpiece.

A Cinematic Duo

The project birthed two distinct yet complementary residences that anchor this historic intersection:

2063 Ivar Avenue: This crown jewel with its turreted silhouette and fortress-like presence, did not start out this way.  It was originally built as a two-story, six room Spanish style house (1st photo below).  Years later, owners transformed the house into the fortress which is now known as "Ivar Castle".

6357 Longview Avenue: Built simultaneously as the neighbor to the castle, this home shares the same meticulous craftsmanship and Mediterranean influence, completing Morgan’s ambitious vision for the hillside corner.

Together, these homes helped define the "Hollywood Dell" aesthetic—a mix of high drama and secluded luxury. Today, "The Castle on the Curve" remains one of the neighborhood's most photographed and storied landmarks, a permanent set piece in the history of Los Angeles.  Visit the website: castleivarhollywood.com to rent the Castle Ivar or the Modern Vintage House.

Below: Photographer Herman Schultheis lived across the street on Longview Avenue and photographed the intersection of Ivar and Longview Avenues during the 1930s.  The first photo is the original house built at 2063 Ivar Avenue.  Photos 2 and 3 partially show 6352 Longview Avenue.

The Mound Street Legacy

Morgan’s connection to this specific corner of the Dell didn’t end there. In the 1940s, he expanded his footprint by building a third home right behind the first two, located at 2095 Mound Street. This became his final residence, where he lived and continued his prolific career—which included work on the original Batman and Robin (1949) and Superman (1948) serials—until his death in 1959.

Ira Morgan began his film career as an actor at Essanay Films in 1914, where he met his future wife, actress Rena Carlton.  The Morgans moved to Hollywood in 1916 and Ira worked as an assistant cameraman in the Charlie Chaplin film "The Immigrant".  A year later, Morgan was hired by MGM as lead cameraman, working with director King Vidor for six Marion Davies films.  He also worked alongside MGM director's Robert Vignola and Monta Bell during the 1920s.  Morgan would team up again with Charlie Chaplin in his masterpiece "Modern Times" in 1936.  Morgan spent his later years in television on both the "Dick Tracy" and "Rin Tin Tin", working right up to his death in 1958.  His wife, Rena died, a few years earlier in 1953.  

Together, these three homes helped define the "Hollywood Dell" aesthetic—a mix of high drama and secluded luxury. Today, "The Castle on the Curve" and its sister properties remain as permanent set pieces in the history of Los Angeles, honoring a couple who lived their lives both behind and in front of the lens.