Sheats-Goldstein Residence – Los Angeles
This notable home has been in many movies: “Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle”, “Bandits”, “The Big Lebowski”, “Playing God” and “Unleashed.” The home was designed and built by John Lautner between 1961-63 and is an example of his organic architectural style. It was built for Helen and Dr. Paul Sheats. He also designed an apartment building […]
Los Angeles Plays Itself – A film by Prof. Tom Andersen – 2003 (Video)
To see film clips of many of the notable homes I have featured in this column, please check out Cal Arts Professor Tom Anderson’s film, Los Angeles Plays Itself which chronicles the depiction of LA from silent films to the contemporary era. Above image: The Bradbury building in Blade Runner
The Malin House (The Chemosphere) – Studio City
This notable house or a replica has been featured in the movies “Charlie’s Angels”, “Body Double” and the televison show “The Simpsons”…as the home of actor Troy McClure. The home was designed by John Lautner as a solution for building on a lot with a 45 degree downslope. The home rests on a 20 ft […]
The Kirkeby Estate – Bel Air
This notable home is best known as the Beverly Hills residence of television’s “Beverly Hillbillies.” It was also featured prominently in the Jerry Lewis film “Cinderfella” and in the Fatboys’ comedy “The Disorderlies.” I took a tour of the house in 1986 or 1987, and most remember the tunnel under the southfacing lawn, the cube […]
Jacobsen House – Hollywood Hills
This notable home was featured in the James Garner film “Twilight.” Jacobsen house was designed by John Lautner. Its a hexagonal framed home with stunning canyon views. The heavily wooded surrounds and the use of natural materials in the interior blur the distinction between the inside and out. This is a common theme in Lautner’s […]
The Garcia House (Rainbow) – Hollywood Hills West
This notable home has appeared in “Lethal Weapon 2” where it was the headquarters for a South African drug ring. Mel Gibson famously demolishes this landmark house in the climax of the film. This house was designed by John Lautner for Russ Garcia, an arranger for Stan Kenton and built between 1958 – 1962. it […]
Reiner / Burchill House (Silvertop) – Silverlake
This notable home was put on film during the making of the 80’s classic film “Less than Zero,” starring Robert Downey Jr. He would later star in “Iron Man” in which his character Tony Stark lives in a Lautner inspired Malibu home. Sorry, the “Iron Man” home only existed as a stage set piece and […]
The Getty House – Windsor Square
This notable house was made famous by the motion picture “Sunset Blvd,” in which William Holden’s body ends up face down in the swimming pool. The home was originally built for $250,000 by US Mexican Consul William O. Jenkins, in 1924. It had 14 bedrooms and was built to last…having 13 inch concrete walls. The […]
The Elrod House – Palm Springs
This notable house is famous for its appearance in the James Bond classic “Diamonds are Forever.” Bond girls Bambi & Thumper rough 007 up a little before he successfully rescues billionaire Willard Wyler from his arch-villian kindnappers. The 8,901 square foot home was designed by John Lautner for interior designer Arthur Elrod, in 1968. The […]
The Ennis House – Los Angeles
This notable house has been featured in the movies “The House on Haunted Hill”, “The Day of the Locust”, “Blade Runner” and TV show “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” This was the fouth and largest of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Mayan revival style textile block construction homes in Los Angeles. It was built by his son, Lloyd […]
The Lovell Health House – Los Angeles
This notable house was featured in the movie “LA Confidential” as the home of the villianous Pierce Morehouse Patchett. The house was commissioned by Dr. Philip Lovell and designed & built by Richard Neutra between 1927-29. The house is reputed to be the first steel frame home built in the United States. This technolgical innovation […]
The Gamble House – Pasadena
This notable house is famous for it’s appearence in the movie “Back to the Future” where it was depicted as the home of “Doc” Brown. The home is considered to be an excellent example of the American Arts & Crafts movement in architecture. It was designed by Greene & Greene for David and Mary Gamble […]
The Stahl House / Case Study #22 – Hollywood Hills West
This notable house was made famous by a widely published photograph taken by Julius Schulman, depicting two women lounging while suspended over the city lights. Since then, the home has been photographed for many print ads, editorials, commercials and movies. Movies have included: “Nurse Betty”, “Why do Fools Fall in Love”, “Galaxy Quest” and “The […]
Greystone Mansion – Beverly Hills
This notable 46,000 sq ft home is known to most people from numerous ’70s TV shows and decades of motion pictures. Hollywood and Greystone have a lot of history together. The home was featured in “There will be Blood”, “The Witches of Eastwick”, “The Fabulous Baker Boys”, “The Bodyguard”, “The Phantom”, “Batman & Robin”, “Air […]
Hearst-Davies Estate / Beverly House – Beverly Hills
This notable home is most famous for it’s appearance in “The Godfather” in which it’s movie producer owner wakes up soaked in blood from his prized stallion’s severed head. This home was also featured in the motion picture “My Bodyguard.” Located on it’s own hill behind the legendary Beverly Hills Hotel, it was designed by […]
