marilyn monroe former residence 1940-1941

History of our residence

In 1980, the Brown family purchased Marilyn Monroes former residence from Dr. Lynch where folklore said she resided as Norma Jean. Historically, around the 1940’s Van Nuys was considered “pre-hollywood”, where many young actors and moved to get a start in the entertainment business. Over the years, the Browns had lived, and rented the property to at one time a Marilyn Monroe enthusiast. She claimed to have gotten in contact with Grace Goddard, Norma Jean’s Godmother of which she lived in this property and verified indeed this was the house. The Brown’s attempted to convert the property to a historical landmark, but in order to the that the home would have to have been put back to its original state.

In 2007, Mr. Brown’s son Jonathan began the restoration process of the home and started a small recording studio in the second bedroom. After 15 years, the house has been not only restored but updated with modern amenities. The recording studio was moved into the guesthouse on the property which was actually the home’s original chicken coop, just modified and expanded on.

In 2022, The Wallstreet Journal featured the home as one of the top places in the county to record music that is based out of a former residence. During the process, the Brown’s spent much time with the city of Van Nuys, CSUN’s historical records department, a top Marilyn Monroe Expert that manages the estate’s historical documents. After much deliberation, the Brown’s actually challenged common historical folklore with evidence and CSUN confirmed that there is strong evidence that Marilyn Monroes lived here with Grace Goddard, her godmother from 1940-1941, different than the plaque on the home’s current dates listed.

The main source of confirming evidence was CSUN’s documents that proves a change of numbering to the streets in Van Nuys, and how the former celebrities home address was not listed for many years but there is a gap in the street numbers. Evidently, Grace Goddard were not home owners, but renters when they lived here since they do not appear on the title report of the home. In 1941, Norma jean enrolled in Van Nuys High School just down the street.