W.C. Fields Mansion, Laughlin Park, Los Angeles, CA |
LOS ANGELES, LAUGHLIN PARK, CA --- Lived in and loved by some of the most powerful actors and entertainers in the world, the historic W.C. Fields Mansion in celebrity-rich-and-gated Laughlin Park is for sale, priced at $15 million.
Though
he didn’t own the house, not believing in home ownership, Fields rented the
home in 1940 and added a pool table, a ping-pong table and bowling lanes set up
in the living room - but almost no furniture.
Homer Laughlin (photo courtesy Wikipedia) |
One
of L.A.’s first celebrity neighborhoods, Laughlin Park was developed by Homer
Laughlin in 1905, whose intention was to limit it to 40 luxurious mansions.
Lot divisions over the years increased that
number to 60, several of the homes designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.
In addition to its quiet tree-lined streets, the enclave is unusually secure behind five gates, according to TopTenRealEstateDeals.com
The area has always drawn celebrities who
seek security, peace, luxury and privacy. Some of the first residents were Cecil
B. DeMille, whose home was built on the highest point with stunning views,
and Charlie Chaplin.
Frank Lloyd Wright |
Angelina Jolie bought the Cecil B. DeMille Mansion in 2017 for $24.5 million.
The
Fields Mansion rooms are spacious with excellent indoor/outdoor livability
taking full advantage of the mild California climate.
French doors swing wide to the terraces and
gardens from almost every room in the house, including the master bath.
Designed
by William M. Clarke in 1920 and spanning over 8,000 square feet, the
home has been completely updated and features four bedrooms and five bathrooms
with Italianate architecture influenced by the Beaux-Arts movement.
Charlie Chaplin |
A
special room is the elegant copper-and-glass sunroom that is perfect for dining
amongst the estate’s lush landscaping - a great place for an owner’s orchid
collection or to retreat during a rainstorm.
Angelina Jolie |
Though Fields was, by far, the most eccentric resident, the home has attracted many other important residents, including Maurice Chevalier and Lily Tomlin.
Lily Tomlin |
A
few years prior to the house being built, the land was sold in a fierce auction
with William Randolph Hearst losing out to the ultimate buyer.
Emma Roberts |
The
home’s grounds are rumored to have been designed by Lloyd Wright, who put great
stock in creating vanishing thresholds between indoors and out.
Kristen Stewart. |
A
thick growth of trees and shrubs separating property boundaries give privacy to
the lawn and pool area, which is classic Old Hollywood with the pool set into
the lawn.
Maurice Chevalier |
At one time, there was a lily pond on the property, but in 1941 while Fields was out of town, neighbor-actor Anthony Quinn’s two-year-old son drowned in it. Fields was so upset that on his return, he immediately had the pond filled in.
Anthony Quinn |
Currently
owned by Bobby Patton, the Texas oil magnate who co-owns the Los
Angeles Dodgers, today’s celebrity neighbors include Angelina, Casey
Affleck, Emma Roberts and Kristen Stewart. According to the Los Angeles
Times, Patton purchased the property in 2013 for $7 million.
Bobby Patton |
Victoria Massengale |
CONTACT:
Genelle C. Brown
Content Manager, Media Division
TopTenRealEstateDeals.com
Phone: 336-459-3728
Twitter: @toptenrealestat
facebook.com/toptenrealestat
Photos: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ngz4tsw839vo5ez/AAAPt-__kI8vltjl2lluq3B3a?dl=0
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-9FOWTmw6g
Photo Credit: Todd Goodman
YouTube Credit: Sean Evans, @evvo1991 backtothemovies.com/
Sources: TopTenRealEstateDeals.com and
www.compass.com