A Hollywood screenwriter and producer, Bruce Marshall Romans, has listed his historic Los Angeles home for $2.1 million. Romans, a co-executive producer and writer for the Amazon Prime Video series "Spider-Noir," purchased the property at 130 N Catalina Street in 2022 for $1.92 million.
The home, known as the Monsignor O’Brien House, was built in 1925 and designated a Los Angeles Historic Cultural Monument in 2007. The property is eligible for a tax reduction for a buyer committed to preserving its historical integrity.
Romans stated that he is selling the home because it is too large for him and his dog, and he plans to move into another residence he owns in Los Angeles. "It’s just too much house for me," he told Gimme Shelter.
The 3,103-square-foot residence features four bedrooms and three bathrooms. Original details include light fixtures, arched French doors and windows, a sunken living room with a woodburning fireplace, crown moldings, high ceilings, and hardwood floors.
"I had been looking for one of those romantic old Hollywood homes that you see in the movies," Romans said. He noted that while many historic homes he viewed had lost their original features, the Catalina Street house retained its charm.
The interior boasts 12-foot-high ceilings, a step-down living room with a fireplace, and 3-inch white tiger oak floors, which Romans described as extremely rare. The butler’s pantry retains original swing doors, and a brass plate on the dining room floor once signaled servants.
The main bedroom includes a walk-in closet and a dressing room. Romans highlighted the craftsmanship of the home's architect, Clarence J. Smale, who designed homes for silent movie stars, and noted that the draftsperson, Edith Northman, was one of the first prominent female architects in the country.
"The home is riddled with history. It’s like living in a piece of art," Romans said.
The property also includes a backyard with a patio, a vine-covered pergola, and a grassy area, which the listing broker described as feeling like a piece of the South of France.
