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At left is the La Rocque - Banky house; postcard probably dates from late 1920s - early 1930s. The top reads "Mr. and Mrs. Rod La Rocque Home (Vilma Banky), 7056 Lanewood [Ave.], Hollywood, California." Other addresses included a house on North Foothill Road in Beverly Hills.

Additionally, Vilma also lived on 316 North Rossmore Avenue in Hollywood, and 2035 West Adams Boulevard in Silverlake around the time of her death. Before they married, Rod lived at 1756 Orchard Road in Los Angeles around September 1924.  By 1937, the La Rocques lived at 1450 Ogden Drive in Hollywood

A smaller image at right of the La Rocques in their living room.
Picture at immediate right is Victor Fleming (director), Vilma, and close friend, Lily Damita, on the set of The Awakening. Picture at far right is again of Vilma and Damita having a private conversation.

Interestingly enough, Damita was chosen to replace Vilma by Goldwyn but she never achieved the same fame as her predecessor. Vilma most likely spoke French with Damita. Vilma's other close Hollywood friends included Norma Talmadge who befriended her immediately on her arrival to America, Leatrice Joy, and Lya de Putti, a fellow Hungarian.

"In the 1920s the Austro-German community was small enough that most of its members stuck together. Lya de Putti was friends with Jannings from their time together in Germany, but soon became close to Vilma Banky, whom she met in Hollywood." - Horak, Jan-Christopher, "Sauerkraut & Sausages with a Little Goulash: Germans in Hollywood, 1927." Film History: An International Journey, 17.2/3, 2005.  241-260
The image at left is Vilma and Rod posing for the camera at Lake Louise.

After their marriage in 1927, Vilma and Rod decided on Lake Louise for their honeymoon, a place that would become one of their favorite getaways.

Lake Louise, in the Canadian Rockies, is located in Banff, Alberta, Canada, and is known for its quiet resort like atmosphere and fabulous skiing.

The Bankys, however, generally went every year to commemorate their anniversary, falling on June 26, and celebrated with tennis, golfing, swimming [Rod only; Vilma could not swim], and fishing.

The image at right shows Rod fishing and Vilma sunbathing at Lake Arrowhead in California
Far left picture is of the La Rocques coming back or going to somewhere. They travelled frequently once Vilma retired.

Immediate left picture is of Vilma, on a ship, headed to some foreign destination.

Also in 1928, Vilma requested leave from the studio to make a trip home. She had not visited her family since she had left in 1925. Rod later sailed to Hungary on February 16, 1928 to join her and meet his in-laws for the first time. Upon their arrival in Budapest, the train station was crowded with their adoring fans. She spent a day in the city signing autographs and making brief appearances.

Bob Birchard told me this: "I can tell you that when she married Rod La Rocque she automatically lost her  Hungarian citizenship, and was not eligible for American citizenship for six  months.  Therefore she could not obtain a passport, and in order to travel home to  Hungary with her new husband she had to get what amounted to a 'letter of transit'  from Germany (stating who she was, where she was born, why she was traveling, where she was going, etc.) in order to be able to enter her homeland. [He has the original letter of transit]
One of Vilma's favorite activities -- golf.

Picture at left is an early image of Vilma playing golf.

Vilma was extremely active right until she became ill in the latter part of the 1980s. She enjoyed keeping in shape by regularly playing golf. Friends encouraged her to play professionally, but she wished to remain out of the spotlight.  She entered a few contests, and always did extremely well.

Vilma could well afford to spend so much time on such leisurely activities; Rod was involved in a successful real estate business which brought in a significant amount of income for the La Rocques.

La Rocque's parents later moved out to California, and Rod undoubtedly helped them along.

Picture at right is of Vilma in the late 1930s - 1940s getting in a good swing for the photographer.
Picture at immediate right is of Vilma, posing by her car.

Picture at far right is again of Vilma, giving us the full view of her new car.

Vilma owned a 1927 Lincoln Sedan L-Series [manufactured from 1920 to 1930], which was a car intended for upscale markets since its inception.  The car served for the longest time as THE vehicle for America's presidents.

The car probably cost about upwards of $5,000, perhaps even to $8,000, and maybe even more, considering its target market.  In 1927, that was an enormous amount!

Does anyone know for sure the sedan's original list price?
Top left image shows Vilma proudly displaying her needlepoint, something that she excelled at and enjoyed doing in her off time.  Vilma had learned the art of needlepoint while in school in Hungary, as well as languages and piano.

Bottom left image shows Vilma taking breakfast, circa 1927.  Goldwyn supposedly put a clause in Vilma's contract because she loved eating so much, and he was worried that she would gain too much weight after coming to America. He required that she lose five pounds initially, and then that she stay at around 120 lbs. [Her favorite was a large hamburger.]

Image at right is a unusual one showing many members of the Hollywood star set. Vilma and Rod, in their wedding gear, are at left-center. July 26, 1927 was an enormous day not only for Rod and Vilma, but nearly everyone in Hollywood for decades to come!
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