April 28, 2020 1.4k votes 290 voters 15.9k views16 items
List RulesVote up the old Hollywood houses you'd most like to live in.
Old Hollywood was the epitome of glamor. The Golden Age stars from the '20s to the '50s captured the world's imagination with their palatial residences, decadent party pads, and secluded ranches. Their way of living seemed unattainable to mere mortals, as befitted entities most often perceived as silver shadows on a movie screen.
In truth, the homes of the stars aren't always out of reach - though it admittedly depends on what your definition of "in reach" is. It's true that star homes are unlikely to be as cheap as some historical figures' houses, but prices in the $1-$3 million range are not uncommon, putting them within the grasp of folks who are merely "well off," not ultra-rich.
As for the rest of us? Well, we'll always have Google Street View - at least, as long as the hedges aren't too high.
Lombard, a fixture of 1930s screwball comedies, married fellow star Clark Gable in 1939 but lost her life in a 1942 plane crash. She moved into this Hollywood Boulevard home in 1934 following her divorce from William Powell, and was known for throwing themed parties for her friends in this "bachelorette pad."
Although James Dean called this place home for a while, it was actually owned by Warner Bros. head Hal Wallis. He let Dean stay downstairs in exchange for doing handyman work. The aspiring actor made connections here that helped vault him to stardom.
A great actor and dancer in her own right, Ginger Rogers took a back seat to nobody (Fred who?). She once lived in this massive, 5,000-square-foot home above the Sunset Strip in Hollywood, which was built in the '20s but has been extensively updated and remodeled.
Gordon Cameron
