1414 N. Harper Ave. was the family home of acclaimed Old Hollywood film director Irvin Willat and his 2 boys and 2 girls. 7 Fountains developer Boyd Willat is Irvin's eldest child. Younger son Bret owns and operates SkySailing in Warner Springs, CA. with his wife Karen and sons Boyd and Garret. Irvin's elder daughter Terre lives in New Zealand with her husband Rick and children Edward and Hannah. And younger daughter Dierdre is a photographer and mother living and working in Los Angeles.

1919

Irvin Willat purchases the home at 1414 N. Harper Ave., the site of 7 Fountains.
The property was formerly part of a sheep ranch in the 1800s.

1920

Irvin starts Willat Studios in Culver City. He renovates the home on the property for his then-wife, film star Billie Dove. The Willat home is used as a studio office, and a professional photo developing lab is built on the rear lot. Marlene Dietrich was once photographed at this location by well-known cameraman Henry Cronjager.

1926

Howard Hughes befriends Irvin, then a popular action-adventure director,
and receives his first lessons in film direction.

1976-1981

Irvin passes away in 1976. Boyd Willat, Irvin’s son, returns to the family home and enjoys a seven-year career as a motion picture set designer and art director. His daughters Harper and Amber are delivered and brought up in the house with their older sister Bonnie.

1979-1980

Boyd designs the internationally best-selling personal organizer,
the DayRunner™, and operates the company (originally called Harper House)
from the Willat home for its first three years.

1990

The Sensa Pen Co., also a homegrown business, is launched from the Willat living room.
Sensa™ pen’s patented Plasmium Displacement Grip technology is developed in the garage.

1993

Angels Landing Development Co. is founded and the Isola Bella home/office complex is completed at 1320 N. Harper Ave.

1995

The original design work begins on 7 Fountains, borne from Boyd’s unique vision as a motion picture art director. Boyd is a firm believer in the theory that "form follows feeling," and 7 Fountains is its best example. A family dream to develop a unique village/Spanish courtyard concept for upscale home/office units is realized.

2000

Groundbreaking ceremony for 7 Fountains.



2002

7 Fountains grand opening.

The Neighborhood: West Hollywood and the Sunset Strip

Steeped in history and Hollywood lore, the Sunset Strip never fails to intrigue even the most jaded Angelenos. As the decadent playground of Old Hollywood, the Strip was the place to see and be seen.

Glamour reigned at legendary nightclubs like the Trocadero, the Mocambo and Ciro’s. Ava Gardner, Errol Flynn, Frank Sinatra and Humphrey Bogart were often seen at the nearby Garden of Allah apartment/hotel in the 1930s and 40s. Schwab’s Pharmacy was Tinseltown’s unofficial headquarters where the likes of James Dean and Clark Gable talked shop. The Chateau Marmont was a favorite of John Belushi, Marilyn Monroe and Greta Garbo. John Wayne, Errol Flynn and Bugsy Siegel frequented the art-deco Sunset Towers, now the Argyle Hotel.

The Hyatt West Hollywood on Sunset, formerly the Continental Hyatt House, was dubbed "The Riot House" in the 1960s and 70s. Legendary rock bands including Led Zeppelin, The Doors and The Rolling Stones set a notorious standard for all-night, wild parties and unequaled mayhem that shook the Strip.

The neighborhood is also a familiar sight in many contemporary feature films, including Get Shorty, The Player, Pretty Woman, Annie Hall, LA Confidential, Jerry Maguire and As Good As It Gets.

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