5 Old Hollywood Mansions That Defined Glamour, And 3 More That Still Shine Today
When stars of Hollywood’s Golden Age wanted to show off their success, they built mansions that were as dramatic as their films.
These incredible homes weren’t just places to live, they were personal statements of wealth, taste, and sometimes excess.
From lavish swimming pools to gold-plated fixtures, these architectural treasures tell fascinating stories about the celebrities who called them home.
1. Pickfair Estate: Hollywood’s First Power Couple Palace
Ever wonder where celebrity mansion culture began? Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks created the blueprint when they purchased this hunting lodge in 1919 and transformed it into a 25-room wonderland.
Pickfair became the ultimate symbol of Hollywood royalty, hosting everyone from Albert Einstein to F. Scott Fitzgerald at legendary parties. The swimming pool alone cost $15,000 (about $240,000 today)!
Though sadly demolished in 1990, Pickfair’s legacy lives on as the original celebrity super-mansion that made Beverly Hills the star-studded neighborhood we know today.
2. Greystone Mansion: Tragedy Behind The Glamour
Hidden behind massive gates lies a Tudor masterpiece with a dark past. Built in 1928 for oil tycoon Edward Doheny’s son as a $3 million wedding gift (about $47 million today), Greystone’s 55 rooms sprawl across 16 acres of prime Beverly Hills real estate.
The mansion became infamous when Ned Doheny was found dead inside just months after moving in, under mysterious circumstances that sparked endless Hollywood gossip.
Today, you might recognize Greystone from countless films, including “The Big Lebowski” and “There Will Be Blood”. It’s Hollywood’s favorite mansion for filming!
3. Harold Lloyd Estate (Greenacres): Silent Film Star’s Green Paradise
How many mansions come with their own nine-hole golf course? Silent film comedian Harold Lloyd built this 44-room Italian Renaissance palace on 16 acres of Benedict Canyon in 1929, complete with 900 parking spaces for guests!
Greenacres featured 45 gardeners maintaining elaborate formal gardens and a waterfall that could be turned on via remote control, cutting-edge technology for the time.
Lloyd obsessively photographed his estate, leaving behind thousands of color images documenting Hollywood’s most beautiful gardens. Though partially subdivided today, the main house remains one of the most perfectly preserved examples of 1920s Hollywood grandeur.
4. Château Marmont: Castle Of Secrets And Scandals
Though technically a hotel, this Gothic castle-inspired building has served as home to countless stars since 1929. Modeled after a royal residence in France’s Loire Valley, the Marmont offered privacy and discretion that attracted Hollywood’s elite.
The Château’s bungalows became infamous for wild parties and tragic events, including John Belushi’s overdose in Bungalow 3. Greta Garbo, Howard Hughes, and Jim Morrison all called it home for extended periods.
Unlike many historic properties, the Marmont still operates today, maintaining its reputation as the place where celebrities can truly be themselves…for better or worse!
5. The Beverly House: JFK’s West Coast White House
If walls could talk, this pink terracotta mansion would tell tales of presidential visits and movie history. Built in 1927 for banking executive Milton Getz, The Beverly House later became newspaper magnate Marion Davies’ gift from William Randolph Hearst.
The 18-bedroom, 25-bathroom compound gained fame as the honeymoon location for Jackie and John F. Kennedy and as the filming location for the infamous horse-head scene in “The Godfather.”
It’s recently listed for $119 million. This 50,000-square-foot masterpiece continues to embody Old Hollywood glamour with its 22-foot ceilings, wood-paneled library, and massive swimming pool that could accommodate 400 guests!
6. Frank Sinatra’s Twin Palms Estate: Mid-Century Modern Marvel
When Ol’ Blue Eyes wanted a desert getaway in 1947, he didn’t just buy a house, he created a modernist icon. Sinatra’s first Palm Springs home features a piano-shaped swimming pool and a master bedroom with a circular bed that rotated at the touch of a button.
Twin Palms earned its name from the pair of towering palm trees that still stand guard over the property. The house witnessed Sinatra’s tempestuous marriage to Ava Gardner, including an infamous incident where he allegedly threw champagne bottles at her bathroom door.
Meticulously restored to its mid-century glory, this architectural jewel can now be rented for photoshoots, events, or the ultimate Rat Pack-inspired vacation.
7. Charlton Heston’s Coldwater Canyon Home: Architectural Time Capsule
Nestled in the Santa Monica Mountains sits a modernist masterpiece that looks straight out of a sci-fi film. The “Planet of the Apes” star commissioned architect William S. Beckett to create this concrete and glass treehouse in 1959, and lived there until his death in 2008.
Heston’s 3-acre compound features dramatic exposed beams, a two-story library, and floor-to-ceiling windows that frame spectacular canyon views. The actor’s original screening room remains intact, complete with vintage film equipment.
Recently sold for $12.2 million after staying in the Heston family for over 60 years, this architectural treasure represents mid-century Hollywood at its most sophisticated and forward-thinking.
8. Hearst Castle: Newspaper Mogul’s Mountain Dream
Where else could you find zebras roaming freely outside a Neptune Pool inspired by ancient Rome? William Randolph Hearst’s absurdly opulent 165-room castle sits atop a hill nicknamed “La Cuesta Encantada” (The Enchanted Hill).
Hearst Castle took 28 years to build and features genuine European artifacts, including entire ceilings purchased from old-world palaces. The indoor Roman Pool sparkles with real gold and lapis lazuli tiles.
This over-the-top compound inspired Orson Welles’ “Xanadu” in Citizen Kane, much to Hearst’s fury. Now a museum, it welcomes visitors to gawk at how newspaper money created Hollywood’s most extravagant home.
