Talmadge is located on the eastern edge of the City of San Diego just south of Mission Valley. The area takes it's name from the Talmadge sisters--Norma, Constance and Natalie. All of the sisters were notable silent film stars. Norma was married to John Shenick, president of United Artists Corporation. Shenick and his brother-in-laws, working with real estate developers Roy and Guy Lichty, subdivided the Talmadge community in the 1920s. Three streets of the sub-division were named for the famous sisters, and they attended the openings and other events.
The Talmadge Gates set the neighborhood apart. Eight decorative forged-iron gates were installed in 1927. In 1998, Talmadge residents raised over $100,000 to restore the gates to their original glory. Each one was removed in turn, sand-blasted, rewired and returned to its original design erasing years of neglect and vandalism. They stand again proudly setting the tone for the neighborhood.
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