What Happened to Marion Davies' Jazz Age Hollywood Mansion?
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- Опубліковано 4 сер 2024
- The Golden Age of Cinema was lead by the world’s first superstar at what was called the Versailles of Hollywood.
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What Happened to Marion Davies' Jazz Age Hollywood Mansion?
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She had a child. Patricia Douras Van Cleve was the daughter of Marion Davies and William Randolph Hearst. Marion passed her off as her "niece" she is buried with her mother in the Douras tomb in Hollywood Cemetery.
Thank you. I started to type that but then figured I’d scroll down and -- sure enough --saw your email. Her “Niece” was given the most luxurious life and they were able to give her everything but the “Hearst” name.
Interesting, there was so much info I had never heard. And also in the comments about her daughter.
You missed adding whom Ms. Davies "niece" married... Arthur Lake who played Dagwood to Penny Singleton's Blondie in the Blondie & Dagwood movies of the '40s & '50s. Personal aside, thought Penny Singleton was one of the most beautiful actresses, ever.
A employee of theirs said they had three children together
Ken, this was a great one as it was about a Hollywood stars home with lots of history! But what made it even better was your inclusion of Marion's bio and that letter to her friend, saying William gave her the feeling she was worth something to him ! I never heard that before, and it puts to bed the idea she was just a gold digger! Please do more like this!
Also that she made a ton of money in her own right and suffered from grief after his death. A gold digger would have already picked out her next mark.
The first real Hollywood superstar was Mary Pickford (1892-1979), born in Toronto, Canada. Marion Davies wasn't in the same league.
I saw an old movie with her and I remember thinking, “Who IS this?” She was incredibly funny and charismatic
Very interesting history! She becqme rich out of it!🌷🍂🧡
Ditto 💯👍
It’s always nice to hear stories of wealthy famous people that were always giving back to the community and charities. ❤
Marion Davies was a Foxy Lady. 23 skidou.
It’s the charities that matters.
I was at Marion's Beachhouse a few years ago, for Marion's Birthday Celebration. As a special guest, they had Marion's very good friend. This woman was so sweet and regaled us with great stories of Marion's parties. What a treat!
My Grandfather, Dr. Kurt Meyer-Radon, a German-trained architect who settled in Southern California in 1923, was hired to travel to Germany and ship back whole rooms of furniture and architectural features. I visited the guest house around 1988 when my wife's company was looking for a beachfront building. It was great inspecting the 1920s infrastructure. They found a better building closer to the Santa Monica pier.
That is really cool, John.👍
The daughter she had looked just like Hearst. No way did she have unknown parents. The resemblance is unmistakable
I really enjoy learning about Marion Davies. My grandfather was her tile mason. My grandmother said that she would call every 6-9 months wanting a new design in her bathroom or somewhere else. 😊
A small part of the house later became the private Sand and Sea Club. I went there often as a child. The swimming pool was lined with marble and had a marble bridge across it. The columns from the façade were recycled for a courtyard in an office building in Beverly Hills designed by Paul Williams.
I LOVE stories about old Hollywood ❤!
If you love stories about old Hollywood you might like to know that the first real superstar was NOT Marion Davies. That honor belongs to Mary Pickford.
Marion once owned The Desert Inn here in Palm Springs. We knew her friend, and health guru. She had some fabulous stories of old Palm Springs, and a few about Marion. One was about Heart's nephew who looked just like his uncle, who Marion was afraid of. The nephew had mental issues, as recalled by our friend.
I see this site daily on my walks in the park. I remember the former structure 35 years ago.
When they talked about her "beach house" ( during the Hearst Castle tour) I never imagined this!
I use to walk down that path way in the beach after work at night many times a week for years, I never new. I love Santa Monica our family has history there. I am glad to find this story. Its a awesome spot. the see breeze the ocean air its perfect and the view of the see and the mountains. I am an LA Native and I thank you.
Wow, Marion Davies has a fascinating story & her Santa Monica mansion had quite a story too!!! Thanks Ken for sharing another exciting video!!! 👍👍🙂
To me this house makes it look like she had better taste than Hearst. It also was noted that Hearst hurt her career as she was considered one of the preeminent actresses in light comedy, but he wanted her in big costume roles that didn't suit her (used as Hearst's movie alter-ego Kane forcing his wife into grand opera in Citizen Kane). At one point she did give away a good part of her fortune; she bailed out Hearst when he was going bankrupt and about to lose his publishing empire to the tune of $1 million (she had to sell a lot of assets). Excellent video. I've seen photos of the exterior, but never the interior. Thanks!
Marion and Hearst both had apartments in The Los Altos Apartments a grand 1920's building. on Whilshire Blvd in the Hancock Park neighborhood of Los Angeles. They had separate apartments connected by a hidden staircase. She also had a studio on the roof that she used for "entertaining".
Marion Davies' husband inherited the Beverly Hills mansion they lived in, and received a yearly stipend. The bulk of her 20 million dollar estate went to her niece Pat Lake (reportedly her daughter by Hearst ), her sister Rose, and her nephew screenwriter/director Charles Lederer.
YEP. I heard audio of Pat saying Marion told her that Hearst and her were her parents.
The remaining property was used by film crews for shows like Saved By the Bell, Beverly Hills 90210 and others. The city of Santa Monica utilized spaces for community classes. I had taken two yoga classes, one was in a large room along the sand, the other inside one of the living room areas of a smaller guest space. And one of the summer picnics at a job I had use that large space for the tables of food. I feel very fortunate to have been part of that history. It was back in the '80s and I wish I could just remember more.
This was fun! The mansion is beautiful too. Loved the letter, although it surprised me in its brutal honesty. I would love to see something more detailed on this whole story and of course the inside of that mansion.
She was beautiful. Sad about her last years. She always fascinated me. Thank you for sharring.
That kitchen!!!!
Marion Davies and Hearst used to be flown to Mexico to his ranch in a red Waco biplane, very rare as it had an enclosed cockpit. A old friend of mine owns and flies it out of Albert Whitted field (SPG) in St. Petersburg, FL. I have flown in it with him and it is truly a trip into yesterday’s age.
Albert Whitted Field. The first commercial flights ever were from there, right?
@@lisathuban8969 Yes across Tampa Bay before the bridge was built.
@@UncaDave I used to ride my bike down there. Downtown St.Pete. is beautiful!
@@lisathuban8969 Lisa that whole area is nice. St. Petersburg is a beautiful clean city with sidewalk dining, museums, art and Rays baseball. Next you are there head over to Whitted airport and dine at the Hanger restaurant and watch flights come and go. Also check out Gulfport, FL and artsy pretty little town minutes away.
@@UncaDave I lived in St. Pete for several years. Lived in Rosier Park, the historic neighborhood just south of downtown. Ever been to the Blueberry Patch in Gulfport?
This is one of the most interesting TH episodes I've seen.
Except for the fact that Marion Davies wasn't the first Hollywood or world superstar. That honor rightly belongs to Mary Pickford.
Love it! Thank you for a great synopsis on the house and the grand dame. My mother-in-law co-hosted a party at her house. She said it was the most amazing piece of architecture she's ever seen.
When I was a kid surfing in Santa Monica all the hoity-toity sorts were sat at the Sand & Sea Club, which was what was left of Miss Davies' estate. At the time I had no idea how fancy shmancy that area really was. Only in Hollywood! Or Santa Monica.
Any post containing hoity-toity AND fancy shmancy... count me IN!
Thank you for this video. I have always wanted to see in inside of this house having read multiple books about Hollywood’s golden age. Thank you for fulfilling that wish.
Thanks for sharing. Love old beautiful homes and mansions and old Hollywood of course. 😀
I grew up in Santa Monica, I remember the property, she was next to Louie B. Meyer’s beach house. The foot print is still there, wish I could have walked though the house just once, just to see if the sand from the beach was a problem, getting in the house.
Louis B. Mayer's house (and later Peter Lawford's house) was just north of Davies' beach palace. My best friend's parents were members of a small A-frame beach club cottage immediately south of the Davies palace in the mid-1960's. At that time, the Davies property was sliding into disrepair and the pool on the oceanfront side was empty. I think it was trying to make a go as a beach club. I didn't know anything about Hollywood history or Marion Davies at that time (I was 14-16 years old) unfortunately. The place next door was just a decaying old mansion. Now, a couple of the guest cottages remain and the little A-frame is long gone. Exteriors of the A-Frame can be seen in "Bachelor Flat" (1962) with Terry-Thomas and Tuesday Weld. The Kennedy brothers were secretly partying with starlets at the Lawford house at this time, unknown by the public. So many things going on that my teenaged self was unaware of!
Look up Arthur Lake's wife, Patricia Lake, it is suspected that she was Marion Davies and Hurst's (natural) daughter.
I was raised, and raised my family in the LA area. I have driven by this place for years until I and my son planed a day trip to explore exactly what the beach club was all
about. At that time I learned that Ms. Davies once lived there. I became interested in her as a woman of Hollywood past. Thank you for the look into her personal live.
She seemed like a really nice person, it’s a shame she had so many problems after Hearst died.
It would be interesting to know where all those antique paneled rooms went when the large beach house was demolished. I hope they didn’t meet the fate of the wrecking ball. Well done, Ken!
Wall paneling which fitted 18th century rooms would be very unlikely to stretch to the vast proportions of the rooms in this house. What was likely done was to take antique mantlepieces and other carved elements and combine them with new paneling making a bigger space. The valuable parts would (hopefully) have gone to auction - and then, who knows? Antique paneled rooms have been moving from house to house for centuries.
They could make a movie on her life.
Indeed! Citizen Kane only touched on it:)
Wow what a generous wonderful woman she was.
Nothing exceeds like excess! I love seeing these old photos. 💖
FANTASTIC 👏👍👍👍 with your Perfect Narration👍
I have been learning not inly about historical architecture, but also about history from this channel. Thanks for these vignettes that transport us back to an earlier age.
Then you should know that Marion Davies wasn't the first Hollywood or world superstar. That honor rightly belongs to Mary Pickford.
When you stand on the bluffs overlooking Santa Monica beach, you get a good view of what is left of the mansion. Did I hear right, the building left was once a guest house? Thank you for this wonderful video. I love everything about old Hollywood.
Have you thought about doing the Pabst Mansion in Milwaukee? It still sits on what is now Wisconsin Avenue, but used to be called Grand Avenue due to the amount of mansions that once lined the street.
She was simply wonderful!
Maybe she was wonderful, but Marion Davies wasn't the first Hollywood or world superstar. That honor rightly belongs to Mary Pickford.
@@autodidact537 This short was not about MP..it was about MD...and MD was simply wonderful..now, get over your bad self
@@emilys3458 You need to clean out your ears. The narrator of this video claimed that Marion Davies was the 'first' world superstar celebrity. Too bad you're a micro-cephalic. LOL
What about the love child she and Hearst are said to have together? She apparenrly was brought up as the child of Marion's sister, although she spent a lot of time at Hearst Castle.
Very interesting. Great presentation about Ms Davies life as well as her home. Well done ! Thank you !
No surprise that Hearst was not a good lay but he did love her and she loved him. Her beach house was spectacular.
I always wondered about what happened to it, and now I know! One day I will visit now that I know what is left is open to the public. When I would see it in tv shows as a beach club I always wondered if it was her old home. Thanks for doing the research! I also learned a lot from people's comments.
Very good report, Ken. I wonder 100 years from now what people wil say about our contemporary rich and famous and their homes. I have a feeling it will not be nearly as flattering. Even the negatiive a century ago seemed to have an element of style.
I agree. Most leaves me with 'blech'.
Thanks for the video! Though inconsequential to the comments I am reading, I too have a bit of a personal connection. For the last 7 years we have driven by there to visit our first and now second daughter while they have attended college up the road. Never knew I was driving by this historic site each visit. We will be there in a few weeks. Will see if a tour is available.
I was stunned when I heard that Hearst wanted to knock down several wall of the house to accommodate the location of a rented carousel and that he would pay to have them rebuilt after the carousel is taken away....that is the most excessive use of money!
Wow!!!! Marion Davies was able to do a lot of good in the world and also be extremely successful, in spite of her demons. What an interesting and enigmatic story! Thank you Ken for constantly enlightening us!
I enjoyed this video! ❤️👍🏻
I really enjoyed this glimpse into history! Thank you!
History? Maybe. However Marion Davies wasn't the first Hollywood or world superstar. That honor rightly belongs to Mary Pickford.
@@autodidact537 Mary Pickford was fabulously talented! I feel certain that she would not feel slighted by sharing the spotlight of celebrity with Marion Davies in this instance.
I learn alot about her from this video. From what Already new I knew she loved him and it was never about the sex or money. This lady deserves to have her life story told on the silver screen with no B.S. just the truth.
Interesting story. So sad like all Hollywood stars.
Ken, this was fascinating. I enjoyed the story of the house and Miss Davies. Viewers who would like to know a little more about t he Davies-Hearst story I think will enjoy a section of Louise Brooks' book "Lulu in Hollywood". The section called "Marion Davies' Neice" is mostly about Pepe Lederer but also give some information about the life shared by Marion Davies and William Randolph Hearst at San Simeon. It's been a while since I read it but I think one of the recollections of Miss Brooks takes place in the beach house.
What about the fact that Marion Davies wasn't the first Hollywood or world superstar? That honor rightly belongs to Mary Pickford.
Wonderful video, and I think they should have preserved this house❤
loved this video.......she was A STAR........
Wow! What a breathless narrator! Everything is so -- AWESOME!!!
Your choice of houses and whole streets is always spot on! LOVE all your videos😍 so many great photos with all your research 👏👏
Really news to me. I knew Mz Davis only as a Publisher Hearst employee/friend at San Simeon Hearst conclave.
I also loved Marion Davies ❤ Her acting was very entertaining and above all she was the most gracious hostess in all the mansions to her guests. This review does puts her in the proper light which she deserves.
Marion Davies was NOT the first Hollywood & world superstar. That honor belongs to Mary Pickford.
Knew nothing about her older years, however did watch a few of her movies. Always thought she had a today look for someone who acted in the 20’s and 30’s.
Excellent video. Davies had one hell of a great life. I wonder if she ever entered or read a book in the library.
As usual, well done - thank you
Fantastic video Ken!
A super persentation.I have seen some photos of the beach house but never ones of the interior.The Golden Age of Hollywood was a truly spectacular time to live
I have been to the Annenberg Beach House and swam in the pool. It was fun to consider its past.
I am so glad you added this info and video
Great information about a star who I knew little about. Good jog!
You should also know that Marion Davies wasn't the first Hollywood superstar. That honor belongs to Mary Pickford.
Kudos on getting so many amazing photographs, Ken! I'm not into those really busy ceilings but it's a beautiful house. And what a funny interview!
I love these!! Well done❤
Thank you very much I thought I knew pretty much all there was to know about Miss Davis but you enlighten me on a few facts that I had known. When I lived in California in the 1960s I did visit the house and I believe part of it was still out the up at the time it was right on the beach drive down Sunset Boulevard and at the end there it was. That's how I remember it anyway it was a long time ago so thank you again I am now a subscriber
A great video, well researched. Had to subscribe!
Great Thank you Ken.
Great job I really enjoyed this
I think I’ve seen this particular video before. My dad told me he and a bunch of his college friends jumped a fence and swam in her pool. And that she had cookies sent out. I think one of his friends continued visiting her later on.
Great video thanks for posting
If only this house had survived. The kitchens in that house were among the most beautiful I've ever seen. Let alone the location.
I didn’t know that about her! Thanks for the vid😊
Marion was The Great Gatsby! It's hard to imagine such incredible wealth 💎💎💎
What an interesting story! What a fantastic video.
Super interesting. The lives of people from long ago.
Her mansion is incredible ! Granted, this aerial shot is after it was sold, and the City Of Santa Monica added all the extra buildings, for public use.
What an amazing house!
I had no idea!! So interesting.
Amazing story.
Rest in Peace Marion ⚘
Do the Grey Gardens house. 😃
Thanks for this bit of history. When I saw the opulent house, I wondered if it still existed. I had wondered too if things were going to end well for her. As the story progressed, hearing about the choices she made, it became apparent things probably wouldn’t. Sad. Many would think she must have been happy having all those privileges of the rich. It would seem the right way to go for life - but the faith in God she seemed to abandon for this lifestyle ended it seems in sadness and lostness. Her drinking at the end is probably an indication. I hope she turned to the Lord she walked away from in the end. The Bible remains true - our life is a mist, we are here for a little while and then vanish - all of us, rich, poor, powerful, famous. Youth slowly gives way to old age, the good times end, then we each give an account to God our creator. How sad it is when we live life apart from God, thinking this life is the only one we have, and grasp the fleeting desires of what this world offers. It never ends well and we give up true life as in the process. The mansion was beautiful, but the story made me sad because of these things.
Ahh, new information. I got Lara Gabrielle's new book about Marion. This just adds more information. Love the letter!
The problem is that Marion Davies wasn't the first Hollywood superstar. That honor belongs to Mary Pickford.
Although she was a mistress, she had great taste in homes.
This may have been noted here before... But, Marlene Dietrich rented the Guest House at Marion Davies' beach house as a protective place for her family after the Lindbergh baby was kidnapped and subsequently murdered.
Very interesting thank you
Great content very interesting 👍🏾
Many thanks for the beach house pictures esp the interiors.. I was looking for those in 1970's.. yeah I used to have a bio on her.. I think I sold it.. & have a copy of citizen Hearst.. one thing you didn't mention. when hearst was going broke & was in receivership? for all his expenditures over San Simeon.. Marion bailed him out with her own money.. granted it also earlier came from him.. She was shrew about it.. After he lost San Simeon & she off the beach house.. they lived in Beverly Hills.. where Hearst died.. if I am not mistaken.
These relationships were so sad, men controlling women, and the women still loving them. I hear these stories all the time, and not just famous people, it was so unbelievably common. I'm glad she found some comfort and fondness for WRH, but I can't help think what a sad life she had.
Her neighbors were Norma Shearer and her husband. Party hardy through out the day and night! She was the party hardy girl for years, up till Hearst died in 51. When he went broke, she came up with the cash to help his paper stay afloat. She was extremely nice lady, but did have a heavy drinking problem. I once saw that big mansion on Pacific Pa-ladies hwy. When I saw in in 75, it was a parking lot with the front of the house, which I believe was a hotel on the beach. Now it looks nothing like it was before. Just the pool is there. I wonder if Norma Shearers beach house is still standing. You know the one with sound proof rooms, so her husband Irving didn't hear the sound of the waves!
Norma Shearer's husband was Irving Thalberg.
The affair hurt so many people including herself-she lost the opportunity to have her own family. Very sad.
One of her employees said that they actually had three children
I just went to heart castle last month! Saw her private room ❤
Great video
My school bus went passed the remnants every morning on my way to Santa Monica High School 1961-66.
Davies also rescued Hearst from financial difficulties in the Great Depression by selling off some of her personal property to bail him out.
This is astonishing.
LOL, okay so even if you'd have been the lucky person to pickup the beach house for 500K, think of the monthly nut. I'm guessing real estate taxes alone would run well north of a mil a month in today's market. Air conditioning, 200K a month, staff north of 300K a month, and so on.