Welcome to L.A. Street Names, the origin stories of street names across Los Angeles County, from the shortest cul-de-sacs to the longest boulevards. Mysteries solved, myths debunked, scandals exposed, history revealed. This is an ongoing project with more than 1,700 streets – and growing. See FAQ for more information.
Featured Offbeat Street
Noeline Avenue
Noeline Gless (1896-1928) was the daughter of Simon Gless (1862-1903) and Juanita Amestoy (1865-1929) of the pioneering Encino clan (see Amestoy Avenue). She married auto salesman Frank E. Gandolfo in 1917 and they soon moved to Tucson. By the time she died, the Gandolfos had relocated to Frank’s hometown of Yuma, where he would take over his dad’s movie theater and get into politics. Little else is known about Noeline’s short life or early death, although records imply that she had a baby in San Francisco in 1927. Whether or not Frank Gandolfo was the father is unknown, but the boy was raised by Noeline’s aunt Elizabeth. As for Noeline Avenue, it was named in 1916. TV trivia: Noeline’s grandniece is actress Sharon Gless (Cagney & Lacey, et al).