There’s no doubt that Brentwood takes its name from developer William Lynton Brent (1869-1955): newspaper articles from 1906, when the neighborhood was born as Brentwood Park, confirmed him as namesake. Brent was born into a prominent family in Port Tobacco, MD, attended Georgetown University, and by 1892 was forging a successful real estate career in Chicago. He moved to Los Angeles in 1903 with his wife Lizzie Josephine (1872-1964) and their three kids. Two years later, he incorporated the Western Pacific Development Co. with four partners (two of them – Parkyns and Bentel – are remembered by Brentwood streets) and they purchased 362 acres that they soon dubbed Brentwood Park. It was indeed a park-like subdivision, with landscaping purportedly overseen by Golden Gate Park superintendent John McLaren. Brentwood Terrace itself was added in 1907. Hollywood footnote: The Brents’ son Lynton (1897-1981) was a prolific if undistinguished screen actor and pulp novelist.
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