The Original Hollywood Priest: Father Daniel W. Murphy (1876-1913)

FATHER DANIEL WEBSTER MURPHY.
The interests of the Catholic Church in Hollywood are zealously guarded by Rev. Father Murphy, who has had charge of the parish at this place since January 12, 1904.

A native of County Cork, Ireland, born January 12, 1876, he was brought to the United States when but a child of four years and was reared and trained in Cambridge, Mass. His initial school training received in the east was continued in Redlands, Cal., whither he came at the age of fourteen years. All of his schooling and training thus far had been with the object of preparing himself for the priesthood, and for the purpose of receiving his credentials he went to Baltimore, Md., in 1894. Cardinal James Gibbons conferred solemn rites of priesthood upon him in 1899. Thereafter he was first appointed assistant to the Cathedral at Los Angeles, Cal., where he served almost four years. Hollywood at that time was attended from the Old Mission of Los Angeles.

The arrival of Rev. Thomas J. Conaty in the southern diocese, as Bishop of Monterey and Los Angeles, resulted in transferring Father Murphy to the parish at Hollywood, which has been his sole charge since January, 1904. Mass was first celebrated in this parish May 3, 1769, by the founder of all the California Missions, Father Junipero Serra, and upon this date also was erected the Holy Wood of the Cross, hence the name of Holywood, or Hollywood, the name which was afterward given to the place by the wife of John L. Beveridge of this place. When Father Murphy took charge of the parish it numbered only fourteen adult parishioners, and in about three years the membership has increased to seven hundred, including among the number many of the leading citizens in the surrounding country. The neighboring towns of Colgrove, Sherman and Prospect Park are included in the Hollywood parish. During 1905-06 Father Murphy built the church at St. Victor, at a cost of $10,000, this being the gift of Victor Ponet, the Belgian consul at Los Angeles. He also erected the present church edifice soon after his removal to this parish, purchasing one and a half acres of ground upon which the church was later erected at a cost of $29,200.

Closely associated with the parish at Hollywood is the Immaculate Heart College, which was founded by the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart, under the auspices of Rt. Rev. Thomas J. Conaty. The site of the college is one of the most beautiful spots to be found in this part of the state, in the midst of undulating foothills. The building is a brick and concrete structure of the late mission type, erected at a cost of $160,000, surrounded by fourteen acres of land. The college is in charge of Mother Superior Mary Magdalene, and sixty-five sisters. Instruction in the college is divided into three main departments, high school, college, and department of music, art and dramatic art. Besides giving instruction to both resident and day pupils, ladies are here trained for the sisterhood.

Not only has Father Murphy been an important factor in the religious life of Hollywood, but his influence has also been felt with equal force in the secular affairs of the town and surrounding country. As a member of the board of trade he has taken a special interest in the work of street improvement, his efforts along this line being productive of much good. The cause of temperance is another matter which lies close to his heart, and his influence among the young of the parish and elsewhere in this direction is widespread and deep. Father Murphy is one of the charter members of the Hollywood Club and is chaplain of the Knights of Columbus in Los Angeles, the largest body of laymen in that city. During their general convention in June, 1905, they presented the church with a beautiful stained glass window representing the landing of Columbus and the first Catholic service in America, October 12, 1492. Father Murphy’s parents, John S. and Nora (Mahoney) Murphy, also natives of County Cork, are still living, making their home in Redlands, Cal. An uncle of John S. Murphy, Daniel Murphy, of Hobarttown, New Zealand, is the oldest archbishop of the Catholic church in the world.

James Guinn Miller, A History of California and an Extended History of its Southern Coast Counties, Also Containing Biographies of Well-Known Citizens of the Past and Present (Three Volumes) (1907), Volume II.

NOTE
Father Daniel Murphy (1876-1913) founded Blessed Sacrament, the first Catholic church in Hollywood. Since 1914, the Jesuits have administered the parish. Bing Crosby was married there, as were John Wayne’s daughters. Singer Mario Lanza and director John Ford were both buried from the parish. In 1906, Father Murphy founded St. Victor’s Church, the oldest institution in West Hollywood. In 1941, the funeral Mass for Ronald Reagan’s father was held there. Parishioners have included Vincent Price, Cesar Romero, and Ricardo Montalban. Immaculate Heart College, referred to above, was run by the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (not to be confused with a similarly titled community in the East) from 1906 to1980. (It formally achieved college status in 1916). Its alumni include actress Angie Dickinson. Its campus is now home to the American Film Institute.