Actor Kirk Douglas and his wife Anne acquired the property from Howard in the late 1950s and used it as the family retreat for decades.  Kirk Douglas was nominated for three Academy Awards and received an Oscar for lifetime achievement in 1996. His film credits include Champion (1949), 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954) and Spartacus (1960).  

Diane Bald and Michael Budman, our gracious hosts, bought the house in 2016 and have meticulously restored and improved it ever since.  The terrazzo floors are new – they were originally poured concrete. The tile wall is restored, requiring the removal of 14 layers of paint!  Plus, you will see a complete kitchen renovation by GE Monogram.

Tucked behind stone walls and gates, the 4,000 sf main house has beamed ceilings, Saltillo tile floors and a foyer lined in flagstone and pecky cypress.  Walls of floor-to-ceiling glass bring the outdoors inside. A formal sitting area, living and dining rooms, a mirrored wet bar, five bedrooms and eight bathrooms lie within a single story. An updated kitchen sports a more contemporary look. Outdoors, landscaped grounds include various patios, a garden atrium, a K·shaped saltwater swimming pool and a tennis court. A pavilion with walls decorated in vintage movie posters sits between the court and pool.  The residence was originally owned by Charles Howard, whose father owned the championship racehorse Seabiscuit, and screen actress Andrea Leeds.  Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy carried on an affair here. Frank Sinatra occasionally cooked meals in the kitchen. The house appeared briefly in the James Bond movie Diamonds are Forever.  Across the tennis court and over the fence is the former Dinah Shore Estate, now owned by Leonardo di Caprio. You can easily see all of the house and grounds in 20 minutes.  Enjoy your visit!

The Fine Print: 

• Ticket are not mailed. Your name will be on a list at registration.  If you're worried about this, feel free to bring the receipt you'll get a few minutes after purchase.
• The tour is self-guided.  You can roam around the house, pool, and grounds.  The tennis court may not be open, but you will be right next to it.
• The event runs rain or shine.  No refunds unless the event is cancelled.
• No photos inside the house; outside is ok.  Please be careful about photos around the pool as we want everyone safe and dry.
• No strollers, food, drink, tobacco products, or vaping in the house or on the grounds.
• Please do not touch the walls or sit on the furniture.
• There is no public bathroom available.
• In some bedrooms and other areas, there will be team members to assure the owner’s items are not disturbed. Their primary duty is the safety of the house, so please come back to registration if you have questions on the house or the architect.

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Morning Tours: Every Half Hour 9:30am to 12 Noon, $72 per person

Afternoon Tours:  Every Half Hour 12:30pm to 330pm, $72 per person

Proceeds benefit USModernist's ongoing nonprofit documentation, preservation, and promotion projects. Questions? Contact george@usmodernist.org.