Something that former Montalvo Artist-in-Residence Daniel Canogar said when we spoke to him a few weeks ago about his work resonated with us: the idea of the countless people who have passed through the Villa Montalvo during the hundred years of its existence. This inspired us to make a trip to the Montalvo archive to peruse its photographic holdings.
And that is where we stumbled upon the photos above, showing legendary actress Ethel Barrymore visiting Montalvo more than 80 years ago. In these candid shots, she joins Montalvo founder Senator James Duval Phelan (the man with the distinguished beard), the Senator’s nephew Nöel Sullivan, and friends in the garden and swimming pool.
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Senator Phelan was a great fan of movies and movie stars. Other famous Hollywood guests at Montalvo included Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford . Senator Phelan also loved to screen films at Montalvo for his family and visiting friends.
