3 years ago
322
It was 1932, and Walt Disney’s woman was expecting their archetypal child. Flush with wealth from his instauration of a cartoon quality called Mickey Mouse, Disney decided his household needed a bigger home, truthful he commissioned the operation of a new, larger hilltop location connected Woking Way successful the Los Feliz territory of Los Angeles adjacent Griffith Park.
“The location was built successful 2 months during the Great Depression, and outgo astir $50,000,” said Todd Regan, who’s the curator and lawsuit manager for the property, which is being restored to its erstwhile Hollywood glamour. “He grew up successful a tiny location and Walt wanted much for his family.”
Walt Disney’s Storybook Mansion connected Woking Way successful the Los Feliz vicinity of Los Angeles, CA, connected Wednesday, September 15, 2021. The location is present owned by Russian filmmaker Timur Bekmambetov (Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, Wanted). (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Disney Imagineer and decorator Tania Norris recreates an aged photograph of Walt Disney lasting successful beforehand of his property connected Woking Way successful the Los Feliz vicinity of Los Angeles. The location is present owned by Russian filmmaker Timur Bekmambetov (Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, Wanted). (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The hand-painted ceiling successful the foyer of Walt Disney’s property connected Woking Way successful the Los Feliz vicinity of Los Angeles, CA, connected Wednesday, September 15, 2021. The location is present owned by Russian filmmaker Timur Bekmambetov (Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, Wanted). (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Seven Dwarfs Cottage playhouse inspired by “Snow White,” was built for Walt Disney’s girls arsenic a Christmas present. It sits successful the backmost of his erstwhile property connected Woking Way successful the Los Feliz vicinity of Los Angeles, connected Wednesday, September 15, 2021. The location is present owned by Russian filmmaker Timur Bekmambetov (Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, Wanted). (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Nods to large authors successful stained solid of Walt Disney’s property connected Woking Way successful the Los Feliz vicinity of Los Angeles, CA, connected Wednesday, September 15, 2021. The location is present owned by Russian filmmaker Timur Bekmambetov (Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, Wanted). (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The beforehand doorway of Walt Disney’s property connected Woking Way successful the Los Feliz vicinity of Los Angeles, CA, connected Wednesday, September 15, 2021. The location is present owned by Russian filmmaker Timur Bekmambetov (Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, Wanted). (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The hand-painted ceiling successful the foyer of Walt Disney’s property connected Woking Way successful the Los Feliz vicinity of Los Angeles, CA, connected Wednesday, September 15, 2021. The location is present owned by Russian filmmaker Timur Bekmambetov (Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, Wanted). (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Swimming excavation astatine Walt Disney’s erstwhile location successful Los Feliz. This excavation was added aboriginal aft Disney’s archetypal batch was subdivided. (Jeff Gritchen/SCNG)
The foyer of Walt Disney’s property connected Woking Way successful the Los Feliz vicinity of Los Angeles, CA, connected Wednesday, September 15, 2021. The location is present owned by Russian filmmaker Timur Bekmambetov (Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, Wanted). (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Walt Disney’s property connected Woking Way successful the Los Feliz vicinity of Los Angeles, CA, connected Wednesday, September 15, 2021. The location is present owned by Russian filmmaker Timur Bekmambetov (Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, Wanted). (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Stained solid astatine Walt Disney’s property connected Woking Way successful the Los Feliz vicinity of Los Angeles, CA, connected Wednesday, September 15, 2021. The location is present owned by Russian filmmaker Timur Bekmambetov (Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, Wanted). (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The surviving country of Walt Disney’s erstwhile property connected Woking Way successful the Los Feliz vicinity of Los Angeles, CA, connected Wednesday, September 15, 2021. The location is present owned by Russian filmmaker Timur Bekmambetov (Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, Wanted). (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
An archetypal seat successful the backyard of Walt Disney’s property connected Woking Way successful the Los Feliz vicinity of Los Angeles, CA, connected Wednesday, September 15, 2021. The location is present owned by Russian filmmaker Timur Bekmambetov (Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, Wanted). (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The beforehand doorway of Walt Disney’s erstwhile property connected Woking Way successful the Los Feliz vicinity of Los Angeles, CA, connected Wednesday, September 15, 2021. The location is present owned by Russian filmmaker Timur Bekmambetov (Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, Wanted). (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Stained solid successful a model connected the backmost of his property Woking Way successful the Los Feliz vicinity of Los Angeles, CA, connected Wednesday, September 15, 2021. The location is present owned by Russian filmmaker Timur Bekmambetov (Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, Wanted). (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Stained solid astatine Walt Disney’s erstwhile property connected Woking Way successful the Los Feliz vicinity of Los Angeles, CA, connected Wednesday, September 15, 2021. The location is present owned by Russian filmmaker Timur Bekmambetov (Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, Wanted). (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The backmost broadside of Walt Disney’s property connected Woking Way successful the Los Feliz vicinity of Los Angeles, CA, connected Wednesday, September 15, 2021. The swimming excavation was added later, arsenic the archetypal swimming excavation became portion of a subdivided property. The location is present owned by Russian filmmaker Timur Bekmambetov (Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, Wanted). (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A broadside entranceway that leads straight to Walt Disney’s location viewing country and bureau astatine his property connected Woking Way successful the Los Feliz vicinity of Los Angeles, CA, connected Wednesday, September 15, 2021. The location is present owned by Russian filmmaker Timur Bekmambetov (Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, Wanted). (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Nods to large authors successful stained solid of Walt Disney’s property connected Woking Way successful the Los Feliz vicinity of Los Angeles, CA, connected Wednesday, September 15, 2021. The location is present owned by Russian filmmaker Timur Bekmambetov (Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, Wanted). (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
View of Downtown Los Angeles from Walt Disney’s property connected Woking Way successful the Los Feliz vicinity of Los Angeles, CA, connected Wednesday, September 15, 2021. The location is present owned by Russian filmmaker Timur Bekmambetov (Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, Wanted). (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Walt Disney and his wife, Lillian, with the instauration that made them affluent and spurred operation of their archetypal custom-built home. This photograph was changeable successful 1935, but the location was built successful 1932 with wealth from the occurrence of the animated mouse.
Disney Imagineer and decorator Tania Norris recreates an aged photograph of Walt Disney lasting successful beforehand of his property connected Woking Way successful the Los Feliz vicinity of Los Angeles, CA, connected Wednesday, September 15, 2021. The location is present owned by Russian filmmaker Timur Bekmambetov (Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, Wanted). (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Famed cartoonist Walt Disney poses with 1 of his creations, Mickey Mouse, connected the extortion of Grosvenor House successful London, June. 12, 1935. (AP Photo)
Mickey done the years: His surface debut successful ‘Steamboat Willie,’ 1928. Photo: Copyright Walt Disney Productions mickeymouse.jpg Mickey done the years: His surface debut successful ‘Steamboat Willie,’ 1928. Photo: Copyright Walt Disney Productions
Walt Disney and his family. Pictured (l-r) daughters Sharon and Diane, Walt and woman Lillian. //ADDITIONAL INFO: n.disneydaughter.0717 07/12/11 – Photo by COURTESY, WALT DISNEY FAMILY FOUNDATION
Dubbed “Walt Disney’s Storybook Mansion,” the location connected Woking Way is present owned by famed Russian movie manager Timur Bekmambetov, champion known successful the U.S. for specified films arsenic “Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter” and the 2016 remake of “Ben-Hur.” Bekmambetov loves Walt Disney and wanted to ain his house, according to Regan, who’s amended known arsenic Dusty Sage, blogger for MiceChat.com.
Nowadays, the location is successful usage by its owner, arsenic good arsenic for movie shoots, peculiar events and occasional tours. Yes, radical tin person parties and weddings astatine the hilltop mansion. But it’s not cheap. Prices vary, but don’t expect a bargain.
Making the move
Before moving to Woking Way, the Disneys lived successful a kit location connected Lyric Avenue adjacent Hollywood’s Marshall High School; Mickey Mouse had been designed successful its garage, according to Becky Cline, manager of the Walt Disney Archives.
Unfortunately, Lillian Disney miscarried the couple’s archetypal pregnancy, but the household soon grew with the summation of daughters Diane successful 1933 and Sharon successful 1936. The Disney household would unrecorded astatine Woking Way until 1950 erstwhile they had a larger location built successful Holmby Hills, which had a ample plot to indulge Lillian’s passionateness for gardening.
The Woking Way location was designed by designer Frank Crowhurst, who besides contributed to the Walt Disney Co. office successful Burbank, Cline said. At 6,400 quadrate feet, it had 5 bedrooms, a projection room, library, excavation pavilion with dressing rooms and a excavation house. Later, the spot was subdivided and the archetypal excavation became portion of the location adjacent door; aboriginal owners of the Storybook Mansion added their ain pool.
“It’s a beauteous house,” Cline said. “It’s French-Norman looking with stained solid successful the surviving country and eating room.” She noted that 1 of Disney’s favourite restaurants was the Tam O’Shanter steakhouse successful Los Feliz, which besides had a French Norman plan and wondered whether Disney mightiness person been inspired by that.
Disney had workplace carpenters travel implicit and physique a “Snow White” themed cottage playhouse for his girls 1 Christmas that inactive remains arsenic portion of the estate, Cline said.
Work and inspiration
Disney besides utilized to instrumentality his daughters to the carousel astatine adjacent Griffith Park, and recalled wishing that determination were much things for families to bash unneurotic – possibly putting the thought of Disneyland into his caput for the archetypal time, Cline said.
There are nary records to beryllium this, but Regan said he’s convinced that Disney would person utilized the home’s screening country to amusement rushes from “Snow White” earlier its groundbreaking 1937 release. His bureau was conscionable down the elevation lone a fewer minutes’ drive.
While the Disneys lived successful the house, his institution released a drawstring of classical animated movies that are inactive fashionable today, including “Pinocchio” 1940, “Fantasia” 1940, “Dumbo” 1941, “Bambi” 1942, and “Cinderella” 1950.
Despite their expanding wealthiness and fame, the Disneys were not your emblematic Hollywood couple. They liked to enactment location with their household alternatively than going retired to glamorous events. They played badminton connected the tract and Disney drove his daughters to schoolhouse each morning, said Regan. The Woking Way location “wasn’t truly moving blistery and acold with celebrities,” added Cline.
Still, they did person immoderate celebrated friends. Walt played polo with humorist Will Rogers, and Spencer Tracy and his woman were peculiar friends. “In those days, Walt had go the feline everyone wanted to meet,” Regan said.
Walt kept engaged successful his location office, too. An AT&T mag advertisement from November 1933 boasted astir the “Six Telephone Outlets In The Home of Mickey Mouse! There are 2 telephone outlets connected the archetypal floor, 3 connected the second, and different beside the swimming pool,” the advertisement gushes successful wonderment.
Regan said he’s grateful that the location was ne'er extensively remodeled, arsenic galore older houses person been. While nary of the archetypal furnishings are inactive successful the house, “everything looks original,” Regan said, adding that costly renovations person brought the location backmost to its archetypal 30s-40s look.
Later, Disney had an adjacent larger location built connected Carolwood Drive successful the Holmby Hills territory of Los Angeles, wherever Lillian had much country to bask her passionateness for gardening. That home, dissimilar the erstwhile two, has since been demolished.
Lillian Disney’s archetypal gardens haven’t survived connected Woking Way to this day, but retired Disney Imagineer Tania Norris is designing caller roseate gardens for the property, including Snow White roses for the Snow White play cottage.
“We privation to works roses that Lillian would person had astatine the house,” Regan said.
Learn more: People tin find retired astir the constricted tours connected the Facebook leafage Facebook.com/Disneymansion. The location is located astatine 4053 Woking Way, Los Angeles.
English (US) ·