
The W.C. Fields Mansion is located in Laughlin Park, a gated neighborhood of the rich and famous in Los Angeles, California. This historic property is now on the market priced at $15 million.
The 1920 mansion is measured at 8,000 square feet with four bedrooms, five bathrooms, Italianate architecture, antique mahogany paneling, woodwork from a Spanish monastery, and beautiful archways along with four fireplaces. It also has French doors that lead to the terraces and gardens from almost every room in the house, including the master bath. The mansion boasts of a special room, a copper-and-glass sunroom with a view of the estate’s lush landscaping.
Michael Maguire and Victoria Massengale of Compass Real Estate hold the listing for the W.C. Fields Mansion located in Laughlin Park, Los Angeles, California.
This is the main entrance of the mansion with a large arched entryway flanked by large outdoor wall lamps and adorned with creeping vines along with potted plants just inside the arch. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com. This is a close look at the front of the house during nighttime to showcase the warm lighting of the windows and doors that pair well with the outdoor lighting and the lush landscaping. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com. This is a closer look at the front entrance of the mansion with a terrace walkway of terracotta tiles and multiple glass French doors that lead to the interior of the house. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com. Inside one of the large arched French doors is this foyer with a spacious hardwood flooring, a large chandelier and a statuette decoration on a pedestal in between of the two large French doors. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com. The living room of the mansion has a couple of green velvet couches flanking a glass-top dark wood coffee table on a large patterned area rug topped with chandeliers and brightened by the natural lighting. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com. Across from the green sofas and wooden coffee table is the large fireplace with brass details topped with a large wall-mounted mirror that has intricate details on its frame. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com. This is the sunroom that has consistent French glass windows on its walls that extend to the cove arched glass ceiling. These bring in an abundance of natural lighting for the sofa set. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com. The formal dining room has wood-paneled walls and French doors that brighten the long wooden rectangular dining table surrounded by cushioned green chairs topped with a decorative lighting. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com. This is the family area, lounge and breakfast nook of the kitchen with comfortable cushioned sofas and a small dining area on the corner by the entrance of the kitchen. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com. The kitchen has a beige wooden structures and cabinetry that pair well with the green tiles of the walls and the countertops that make the stainless steel appliances stand out. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com. This is the hallway that leads to the dining room. It has wood-paneled walls that match the hardwood flooring and the side table bearing a lamp contrasted by the grand piano. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com. The primary bedroom of the mansion has a large dark wood four-poster bed that matches with the dark wood bedside tables bearing lamps as well as with the desk of the study area. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com. This other view of the bedroom showcases the fireplace across from the bed adorned with a large colorful painting above it and a wooden dresser on the side by the entrance of the bathroom. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com. The bathroom has a beige bathtub that matches the beige walls and the beige tiles of the vanity. These are brightened by the natural lights of the glass doors that lead to the outdoor areas. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com. The game room has dark gray industrial-style tone to its textured walls and beamed ceiling. These make the large pool table stand out along with the colorful racing poster. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com. The wine cellar has large wooden structures along its walls bearing storages for wine bottles. On one side of the room is a couple of cushioned chairs and a small table for a wine tasting area. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com. The library has built-in bookshelves on the walls flanking the large entryway with a lounge area. In the middle of the large and bright room is an L-shaped sofa and a cushioned coffee table. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com. This patio is fitted with an outdoor wrought iron sofa set and matching coffee table in the middle. These are adorned by the shadow of the tall trees and the potted plants. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com. This other smaller patio is fitted with an outdoor dining area that has an outdoor dining set with a dark tone that makes it stand out against the terracotta flooring and surrounding lush landscape. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com. This is a view of the grass lawn and terrace a level higher than the pool area. You can see here the lush landscaping of mature trees, shrubs and grass that complement the beige exterior walls of the house. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com. The swimming pool is surrounded by a walkway of terracotta tiles fitted with wrought-iron lounges and large planters bearing thick shrubs and tropical plants. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com. This is a view of the back of the house during nighttime showcasing the bright exterior walls, lush landscaping and the warm lighting of the windows. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
All photos are used with permission from TopTenRealEstateDeals.com
Lived in and loved by some of the most powerful actors and entertainers in the world, the historic W.C. Fields Mansion in celebrity-rich-and-gated Laughlin Park is for sale, priced at $15 million. Though he didn’t own the house, not believing in home ownership, Fields rented the home in 1940 and added a pool table, a ping-pong table and bowling lanes set up in the living room – but almost no furniture. A legendary party guy, he had three bars in the house, including a portable bar, and lived there until his death in 1946. Since then it has always been known as the W.C. Fields Mansion.
One of L.A.’s first celebrity neighborhoods, Laughlin Park was developed by Homer Laughlin in 1905, whose intention was to limit it to 40 luxurious mansions. Lot divisions over the years increased that number to 60, several of the homes designed by Lloyd Wright. In addition to its quiet tree-lined streets, the enclave is unusually secure behind five gates. The area has always drawn celebrities who seek security, peace, luxury and privacy. Some of the first residents were Cecil B. DeMille, whose home was built on the highest point with stunning views, and Charlie Chaplin. Angelina Jolie bought the Cecil B. DeMille Mansion in 2017 for $24.5 million.
The Fields Mansion rooms are spacious with excellent indoor/outdoor livability taking full advantage of the mild California climate. French doors swing wide to the terraces and gardens from almost every room in the house, including the master bath. Designed by William M. Clarke in 1920 and spanning over 8,000 square feet, the home has been completely updated and features four bedrooms and five bathrooms with Italianate architecture influenced by the Beaux-Arts movement.
Original designs and details are highlighted throughout with antique mahogany paneling, woodwork from a Spanish monastery, and beautiful archways along with four fireplaces. A special room is the elegant copper-and-glass sunroom that is perfect for dining amongst the estate’s lush landscaping – a great place for an owner’s orchid collection or to retreat during a rainstorm. Though Fields was, by far, the most eccentric resident, the home has attracted many other important residents, including Maurice Chevalier and Lily Tomlin. A few years prior to the house being built, the land was sold in a fierce auction with William Randolph Hearst losing out to the ultimate buyer.
The home’s grounds are rumored to have been designed by Lloyd Wright, who put great stock in creating vanishing thresholds between indoors and out. A thick growth of trees and shrubs separating property boundaries give privacy to the lawn and pool area, which is classic Old Hollywood with the pool set into the lawn. At one time, there was a lily pond on the property, but in 1941 while Fields was out of town, neighbor-actor Anthony Quinn’s two-year-old son drowned in it. Fields was so upset that on his return, he immediately had the pond filled in.
Currently owned by Bobby Patton, the Texas oil magnate who co-owns the Los Angeles Dodgers, today’s celebrity neighbors include Angelina, Casey Affleck, Emma Roberts and Kristen Stewart. According to the Los Angeles Times, Patton purchased the property in 2013 for $7 million.
Michael Maguire and Victoria Massengale of Compass hold the listing:
Photo credit: Todd Goodman
Source: www.compass.com