In July 1961, somebody named four streets on the Palo de Encino Estates tract after famous conductors: Toscanini Drive, for Italy’s Arturo Toscanini (1867-1957); Van Karajan Drive, a misspelled tribute to Austria’s Herbert von Karajan (1908-1989); Beecham Drive, in memory of England’s recently deceased Sir Thomas Beecham (1879-1961); and Stokowski Drive, for Leopold Stokowski (1882-1977), who was born and raised in London but established his career in the U.S. All except Toscanini conducted at the Hollywood Bowl at various times; Toscanini did conduct the L.A. Phil at a 1945 benefit concert at the Shrine Auditorium. Obviously some classical music fan composed this street quartet, but who it was I don’t know. Although mega-developer Ray A. Watt (1919-2009) was behind Palo de Encino Estates, it’s not a given that it was he who christened the roadways therein.
Find it on the map:
