The Greystone Estate

[lavenderdiva]

The Greystone Estate has been featured in many films to date: Witches of Eastwick, The Holiday, There Will Be Blood, An Indecent Proposal, the Bodyguard, among others.

The Gate to Greystone Estate:




Greystone Estate exterior:




Great Room in original state:




Great Room as it appeared in 'There Will Be Blood':



Additionally, the home's bowling alley was used for the climactic ending scene in 'There Will Be Blood'.



Greystone Mansion and Park info: http://www.greystonemansion.org/

Veranda Magazine has an interesting article on Greystone here: http://www.veranda.com/designers-ideas/historic-perspective-greystone-estate?click=main_sr

snip:

The storied house in question is Greystone, the largest family estate ever built in Beverly Hills. Situated on a hill above famed Sunset Boulevard, the majestic yet mysterious manor was a gift from real-life oil tycoon Edward L. Doheny to his son and daughter-in-law, Edward "Ned" and Lucy Doheny, during the Roaring Twenties. Built on a 429-acre estate, the mansion became an imposing icon of wealth and power in California's early oil-rich days. "Of all the lavish gifts Edward Doheny gave his beloved son, the fifty-five room baronial castle was, by far, the most extraordinary, considered to be the most luxurious residence south of William Randolph Hearst's spectacular estate at San Simeon, California," says Margaret Leslie Davis in her Doheny biography, Dark Side of Fortune (University of California Press, 1998 and 2001).

As to who would design the mansion, the elder Doheny held a competition between prominent architects Wallace Neff and Gordon Kaufmann, and the latter won the coveted commission. Known for his Art Deco-style work on the Los Angeles Times building and the Hoover Dam, the London-born American architect designed the mansion in the English-Gothic Revival style. While Spanish Colonial Revival architecture was all the rage in Southern California at the time, the Dohenys preferred the Tudor designs of many old-money estates in Philadelphia, Chicago and upstate New York. Construction began in 1927 and ended the following year. Greystone and its gardens cost $3.1 million to build — inflation would set that figure at perhaps $50 million today, although it would be nearly impossible to duplicate the mansion in terms of the land, materials and workmanship. The 46,000-square-foot home with 67 rooms — 55 of them livable — had all the trappings of wealth and every accoutrement that a young couple with five children could possibly want.

snip:

Tragically, the 35-year-old Doheny heir lived in the stately home for only a few months, as his life was cut short in 1929. In one of the City of Angels' most oft-debated murder cases, he and his secretary, Hugh Plunkett, were found dead in a first-floor guest bedroom, the result of a possible murder-suicide — a mystery that remains to this day. In 1932, Lucy married investment banker Leigh M. Battson, and she continued to live with her family in Greystone until 1955.

Even though the home at one time was sold to developers who wanted to eventually subdivide the property, the estate was saved from this doom. It has been intact all this time and the home and gardens are open for tours. It sounds like a home with a VERY interesting history....

[CBHagman]

1. Just my luck!

I've only seen parts of The Witches of Eastwick and The Bodyguard, and for whatever reason I don't remember the house.

But generally I love things like that, so I'll have to find a way to watch one of those movies.

Thanks very much for sharing the pictures, ld! :hi:

[lavenderdiva]

2. I haven't seen those 2 in many, many years now-

but I did see 'There Will Be Blood' when it came out a couple of years ago. The bowling alley scene was particularly memorable. I just thought this house had such a unique history associated with the glamorous Old Hollywood. Can you imagine back in the 1920's a home costing $3.1 million to build??? That was absolutely extraordinary BACK then, much less now!!!

:hi:

[david13]

3. Yes and no. In those days, the rich were richer, and the poor were

poorer. And that is what we may be heading back to at this time.
dc

[lavenderdiva]

4. I'm afraid you may be right, david13

Unfortunately--

[david13]

5. PS Thanks for the tip. I'm headed over there at some time soon.

And I will watch their calendar for events. Looks like my type of events and then I suppose I can see the house, too.
dc

[david13]

6. I still did not get over there. I just have not been in the neighborhood lately,

but I must make a special trip.
Next Sunday is the Concours D'elegance. If there is a ticket available (doubtful) I am there.
dc

[david13]

7. I am now booked into the Concours D'Elegance this Sunday at

Greystone Estate. Includes food, and a tour of the house. I will be looking for the blood stains, from the murder of the owner, in the house.
dc

[lavenderdiva]

8. oohh! You MUST take pictures and post them back to us here

I'll be very excited to hear all about your stay! it sounds VERY interesting!!! Lucky you-

[david13]

9. I have just returned from Greystone Estate and the Concours

D'Elegance.
It's a nice house, but it's obvious nobody lives there. Not a stick of furniture anywhere.
Many vendors in the house, photos, books, jewelry, and outside cars, motorcycles and car related vendors.
All very upscale.
They say they leave the rooms unfurnished as they have designer showcase every year, and then the designers decorate a room (and pay a fee? probably).
The motorcycle collection was fair but small, and so was the car display, but a very good diversity of types, styles, etc.
Only that they were all in utterly ultra super condition. Nothing there I could work on. I like to work on cars and motorcycles.
In September of 2008 Barack Obama had been there for a fund raiser, $28,500 per plate. He had 2 that day. The good money is always on the winner, even before he wins (I knew he would).
I'll post a photo here, maybe just one that says it all.
I had good conversation with a dozen or more people, food was, well, food. Free drinks, I don't drink.
I found the murder scene. Not everybody knew where it was, or was not concerned. Humans have an interest in the macabre.
dc

[david13]

10. The photos. The first, a 1937 Delahaye owner by Peter Mullin

who is opening Mullin Auto Museum this week in Oxnard, CA.
<a href="" target="_blank"><img src="" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
Then a photo of the entrance and another display area for the Rolls Royce and others.
<a href="" target="_blank"><img src="" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
And, Steve Mullin, Peter's brother, who gave me all the info about the new museum, which is in the building formerly owned by Otis Chandler of the Los Angeles Times.
<a href="" target="_blank"><img src="" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
dc