A forgotten gem and things you don’t know about Cecil DeMille or Los Feliz.
For those of you Angelinos that don’t know about Cecil DeMille and his house, here’s a snapshot gleaned from a former house staff member we recently talked with. He knows more than the average about an interesting time in Hollywood history and especially about a place called Laughlin Park. Bet most of you don’t know about it either, so humor us and read on anyway. You will either want to pony up lots of cash to live here or at least have something to talk to your friends at the bar about.
Believe it or not, Cecil DeMille is more than a snapshot character in SUNSET BOULEVARD. He was one of the most successful filmmakers in Hollywood History. Why do you think they give out the “Cecil B. DeMille Award”at the Oscars? Duh!
Even before the Hollywoodland real estate experiment began just west of Franklin and Western, DeMille owned the top of the hill opposite Griffith Park. The house he purchased, which is now 2000 DeMille Dr, was built somewhere around 1913 (maybe finished then – public records are sketchy) He took occupancy in 1916 for just $27,893 – mere pennies in todays money!
The area called Laughlin Park today is bordered by Los Feliz Boulevard (more on that later) Western Avenue, Franklin and Normandie. This gated coveted community has been a haven to celebrities from its beginning. Even today the likes of Natalie Portman, Ellen Pompeo, Casey Affleck, David Fincher, Dita Von Teese, Kristen Stewart, Will I. AM and a plethora of writers and directors hide behind those white wrought iron gates. They value their privacy and the place is as secure as it is secluded. Try walking through there and you will be on more security film than you can imagine. So smile.
DeMille had a huge piece of the hill and a stable that bordered on Los Feliz Boulevard. That’s why the boulevard you drive on today is so wide – because lots of people rode their horses from Griffith Park down this road. What a fun fact!
At some point in time Cecil DeMille bought the house next door to his own. Reputedly from superstar Charlie Chaplin. Guess that’s why they call it the Chaplin house. Although Cecil DeMille’s house is an Italianate design and Chaplin’s is mock Tudor, DeMille tied the two together with a massive beautiful breezeway designed by a famous female architect. The two houses remained conjoined up until the current owner bought the derelict property for a paltry sum in the late 90’s. Following a major renovation they sold off the Chaplin house to writer John Wells who then turned a few dollars into millions by selling to Mary Parent the Universal Studio honcho.
Today the Cecil DeMille House sits on 2 acres of manicured land and recently had an asking price of…hold on to your chair…$26,250,000 which they adjusted down to $18,950,000 after many a celebrity viewer decided it was ridiculous for what was offered. Name aside, the 100 year old house has none of the mod-cons of a new house, and very few closets to hold a potential Mrs’s shoe collection. There is no screening room, a peculiar layout, and a detached garage you walk many stairs to access. It does have one curiosity – DeMille’s original wine cellar with some musty dusty remaining bottles from Cecil DeMille’s own vineyard located somewhere in the neighborhood in it’s heyday.
The Los Angeles Tax Man or rather Public Records show the mansion measures in at a sizeable 11,000 square feet with 6 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms and the previous listing agent for the digs indicates there are 10 bathrooms. We’re scratching our heads at the discrepancy but our inside guy indicates they may have been counting the bathroom in the pool house and the studio/guest house at the foot of the property in addition to the main house.
Another curious fact is the house – interior and exterior – was used in the Madonna/Rupert Everett film from 2000, “The Next Best Thing”. Don’t know how that location production went but we do know the current owner, a self-published poet, has refused many an offer to film there again.
And so it sits, a piece of Hollywood history on sale for over 15 months with ultimately an expired listing. Maybe it’s haunted?
DeMille as producer of the CBS Radio Theatre
Cecil DeMille in action as Hollywood Land Film Director
The DeMille House is a Italianate design
Looking down from the main house over the pool + pool house
Main entrance foyer
DeMille’s original wine cellar with some dusty remaining bottles from Cecil DeMille’s own vineyard
Los Feliz Significate Real Estate
I’m a local real estate agent with The Shelhamer Real Estate Group, and It would be my pleasure to help you find the perfect property to call home in Downtown Los Angeles, or if you’re thinking about selling a house, condo, or multi-family building in, Los Feliz, Silver Lake, Atwater Village, Glassell Park, Mount Washington, or Downtown Los Angeles, it would be a privilege to help you get top dollar for the sale of your property.
Let’s chat sometime. 310-913-9477 or contact me
