The Lost Mansions of Golden Age Hollywood (Documentary)

This captivating full-length documentary goes in-depth into the heart of Golden Era “Old Hollywood” mansions by covering the grandeur and eventual demise of some of the most opulent homes that once adorned LA’s streets.
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The Lost Gilded Age Mansions of New York (Documentary): kzbin.info/www/bejne/sH2rlqKam7-EnNU
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The “Old Money” Families Who Built Southern California (Documentary): kzbin.info/www/bejne/bHeQeXyAqL6ApdE
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TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 Introduction
1:33 Pickfair: The Ultimate Golden Era Power Couple Mansion
17:39 The Marion Davies Beach House: LA’s Most Opulent Beach House
31:22 Falcon Lair: Rudolph Valentino and Doris Duke’s Luxurious Hollywood Oasis
52:15 Garden of Allah: The Legendary Hollywood Golden Era Hangout
1:13:09 The Ambassador Hotel LA: The Most Iconic LA Hotel
1:34:14 5 Houses From Old Hollywood Demolished With Their Stars
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Although many people interpret Hollywood in an almost permanent state of glamour, opulence, and sumptuous displays of newfound wealth, in truth, the peak of Tinseltown's direct influence on the American populace was in the so-called "Golden Era", where as much as sixty percent of Americans flocked to theaters every single week.
Furthermore, this “Golden Era” saw the rise of monumentally famous stars-figures who didn’t merely act but became icons, emulating the lavish lifestyle that movies of the time portrayed.
Indeed, these “A-listers” were institutions in their own right, molding their fame into physical manifestations through grand mansions and seemingly endless estates that dotted Los Angeles.
Soon, these homes became symbols of ultimate success and opulence, with sprawling gardens, private pools, and architecture that drew from the furthest reaches of glamour.
However, the fairy tale didn’t last.
As the studio system crumbled and new entertainment mediums like television emerged, the financial underpinnings that supported such grandiose mansions faltered.
Consequently - over time - many of these magnificent homes were demolished or repurposed - giving way to modern developments and commercial enterprises, echoing the transient nature of fame and the evolving tastes of a changing America.
Today, we feature a poignant look at the lost mansions of Golden Era Hollywood - reminding us of the shifting sands upon which The City of Angels was built.
Pickfair, Marion Davies Beach House, Falcon Lair, Garden of Allah, and The Ambassador Hotel are landmarks that encapsulate the grandeur of Old Hollywood.
Each of these locations not only reflects the lavish lifestyles of the era's biggest stars but also tells a story of glamour, opulence, and the eventual passage of time which led to their demise.
The Marion Davies Beach House stood as LA’s most opulent beach house, reflecting the extravagant lifestyle of actress Marion Davies and her partner, newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst.
Known for its lavish parties and stunning ocean views, the beach house was a sparkling jewel along the coast, a perfect retreat for the social elite of the Golden Era.
Falcon Lair served as the luxurious Hollywood oasis for Rudolph Valentino and later, Doris Duke.
This estate was not only a testament to Valentino's success but also a sanctuary where he could escape the pressures of fame.
After his passing, Doris Duke cherished the home, making significant additions, until it too, like many historic sites, met its end.
The Garden of Allah Hotel was more than just a hotel; it was the legendary Hollywood hangout during the Golden Era.
It was a place where artists, writers, and actors mingled, sharing ideas and forging friendships.
The stories of late-night parties and day-long script sessions are legendary, with the hotel often at the center of Hollywood’s social scene.
Lastly, The Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles was perhaps the most iconic of all.
Hosting the famous and the powerful, from movie stars to presidents, the hotel was a fixture in LA’s social and cultural life.
Its Cocoanut Grove nightclub was the site of many Oscar ceremonies and hosted performances by greats like Frank Sinatra and Barbra Streisand.

[@ReneMaxwell-w7n]

You briefly mentioned iconic Hollywood buildings that still survive. I would love to watch a documentary on that topic.

[@narvelancoleman3813]

I am 76 years old, having lived in Los Angeles for 72 of those years with my family moving from San Francisco in 1952. I remember my father riding us through Hollywood and the neighboring communities. As African-Americans; we did not stop; just cruised down the iconic boulevards enjoying the opulence. Over the many, many decades, I was able to visit some of those landmarks before they were gone. I have watched the iconic, movie landmarks, slowly disappear. I so enjoyed this documentary featuring those beautiful, historic structures. And...I love watching old movies that feature footage and scenes from Old Los Angeles.

[@HealthJourney0]

Can’t wait to explore a documentary on legendary Hollywood landmarks that are still standing strong! 🌟🏰

[@COLOURVINYLRECORDSIRELAND90210]

I lived in the Hollywood area for 35 years before retiring in Ireland. In the time I witnessed the changes like Ambassador Hotel torn down for an LA Unfied School Building, The Brown Derby, demolished for a strp Cenre, Sunset Sound Studios iconic recording studios for some of the greatest bands, demolished, and on and on.I did enjoyliving there but as the years went by, the Glitz was slowly eclipsed by Giant Corporate America

[@seahagkeylover]

So for us left in this shithole country...tell me how's Ireland do they accept Americans that just want to enjoy life or what?!

[@MaryBethPetra]

I’m amazed they haven’t razed Grauman’s Chinese Theatre!

[@karendrew9779]

How about Schwabs for a 2 story strip-mall @ Sunset & Laurel (CH)?

[@suellendelaney7458]

My husband’s aunt was Marion Davies best friend. That was definitely an opulent time. Great information about these homes!!!!

[@OldMoneyDocumentaries]

So cool!

[@maryhirsch7170]

Haven't been to a movie in ten years, don't miss it AT ALL.

[@RoderickFernandez-ps5ci]

I haven't been either but I do miss it

[@personaking7844]

I go often .....👍🏽

[@oldmisterhoward1913]

The most recent Movie ticket that I bought was in 1983.

[@personaking7844]

My mom and her friends used to climb the Hollywood sign in the 60s.....you cant do that now....😂

[@RoderickFernandez-ps5ci]

I had the great Good Fortune to be a friend with 1930 star Pat O'Brien and his wife Eloise they told me about the parties at San Simeon weekends I spent there and the goings-on at the beach house they said Marion Davies is one of the kindest people I've ever met she would give you the shirt off her back if you needed it. Is this a friendship that I will regard as one of the high points in my life. They were kind to me at a time in my life when I was living in California and things were all going out well. They're both gone now but I remember them so fondly

[@christopherbell1430]

Fascinating! What memories for you!

[@RoderickFernandez-ps5ci]

​@@christopherbell1430when I was there there was a little bit of the garden of Allah behind a parking lot just one small Spanish style building I always want to go closer but I never did you could tell it must have been something in its day. I asked Pat about it and he said that he doesn't think he'd ever been there wasn't his sort of thing. He was really a family man you know

[@christopherbell1430]

@@RoderickFernandez-ps5ci Ahhh. I haven’t been to Cali before. This video was so informative. God only knows what went on when the drinks started flowing.

[@ShadowGhost-n8d]

Hmmmmm. Interesting

[@RoderickFernandez-ps5ci]

It's hard to tell from what is left now​@@christopherbell1430

[@patricialong5767]

I lived above old Hollywood as a small child and visited some of those Hollywood mansions. I went with my father who was a part time actor in his younger years. He was a great friend of Micky Rooney and had even been in bar fights with the man because they were both avid drinkers at the time.

[@mariestreeting4213]

Wow, great memories 🥰

[@edwardyoung8365]

Cool!

[@donnablack8602]

I'd love to hear more of those stories

[@karenokeane6461]

The narratives on ALL your channels are witty, engaging and articulate. Thanks for another great video.

[@badad0166]

It's AI. You can tell when there are too many flowery words.

[@latricegoodman9769]

Love the Hollywood Lore. it's another great video

[@isabeldonahue4157]

Ah! The Golden Age of Hollywood. Never new about The Garden of Allah. Theres so much nostalgic to cover. Hope you have a part 2 of old Hollywood. Love it!

[@billolsen4360]

You can see it in the 1950 movie "In A Lonely Place"

[@isabeldonahue4157]

@@billolsen4360 Thank you . I'll look it up.

[@bk4062]

How special & beautiful. How in the world would anyone destroy such a landmark in history! It's such a disappointment to see how people don't value such beauty & history! Progress, Isn't all It's cracked up to be. I feel that way about many things, like building big highways where there should never be. Old towns of years gone by. Old cemeteries with highways right next to them, or turning everything into tourist traps were the beauty of these old towns so built up, to the point of being distorted by people with only making as much money as they can off of history. It's a dirty rotten shame! Yes, people would love to see & experience the past but don't destroy It & make It a circus! I believe that's what our beautiful country is now robbed of. Where do Americans learn from the past? Our children see how our past has played such a big part in our future & how much more we could learn & appreciate & maybe emulate when times of application of how we could live a better life. After all, history does repeat Itself & when It does, people don't know how to cope & work It out instead, they slap up crap only to there It down in two years. Everything is such a waste. No pride in yourself or what you can do. I could go on & on, but what's the point, we now live in a thorough away society, no one is satisfied, and everything has to be bigger & better, at least that's what they think! Well, that's my two or three cents, for what It's worth! We can wish & or dream anyway. 🙏🧑‍🤝‍🧑🗺🥰💘

[@williammyrandomvids2637]

I totally agree ! It’s just Tragic !

[@chandravinning1933]

This is the reason why I truly love history today, because the guanr corporations are killing off the once beautiful historic pieces of our history. Hollywood Boulevard is a joke now. A mere shadow of what it used to be. Thank you for this channel as it gives us a glimpse into the history of tue days of old hollywood. ❤

[@RoderickFernandez-ps5ci]

When I lived in California in the 1960s I used to pass falcons rare on my way 2 and 4 from my home. From the street I had no idea how beautiful it was it was high on a hill and all you could see was the facade I have no idea how wonderful it was. I never went there to get a closer look because I didn't know if it was occupied or not I'm glad to know that it lasted as long as it did. I do love the view of the beautiful hills behind the house those hills in the 1960s were covered by houses you couldn't see a tree. I'm not sure why he showed so many three-lane highways it did not exist in the twenties.

[@CindyJones-t4n]

I have always loved the class and style of the 1930’s I had the privilege of knowing and taking care of Al Capone ball room dancing partner and she was a joy to listen to and her stories will have such a special place in my heart ❤

[@darrelljustice6105]

I think Pickfair was more charming in its original 1920's English Tudor style than it was after the renovations of the early 1930's. In the 1950's Jayne Mansfield said that she hoped her home the Pink Palace was going to be as fabulous as Pickfair. Mary Pickford must have been pleased that Jayne held Pickfair in such high esteem.

[@cw2630]

I am big - it's the mansions that got small !

[@beardoodle9835]

Did anyone else notice that during the Cocoanut Grove segment, when talking about famous Hollywood celebrities who sang there, they showed a pic of Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young instead of BING CROSBY? 😂😂😂

[@briansmith-l1q]

if ya ever need adjectives, just listen to this, and many other similar documentaries . I've lost my breath a few times with this one, lol.

[@OldMoneyDocumentaries]

😂

[@jimkelly4214]

A great documentary.

[@elizarichards1722]

One of the best documentaries ever thanks ❤

[@mikematt6928]

this is the best video i have ever seen on you tube

[@stephanebelizaire5063]

Bravo Very Instructive !

[@gwae48]

GREAT VIDEO, GOOD NARRATOR VOICE !!!!!!!

[@OldMoneyDocumentaries]

Glad you liked it!

[@kemifolalu8558]

Hello, Old Money Luxury Family. I would like a video on the Old Money Family that built Brazil. Thank you.

[@samanthamorris5340]

Falcon Lair? I LOVE a house with a bad ass name!

[@dannybeun948]

Gréât documentaire gréât voice Txs for sharing 👌

[@southerncross3638]

All the money in the world, life is fleeting.

[@leonaheraty3760]

Love your channel! Keep up the excellent work! 😊 BTW, you mentioned that Pickford and Fairbanks were married in 1949...or did I mishear this? 🤔 They were married in 1920. Also, Pickford's second husband was Fairbanks and Charles "Buddy" Rogers was her third husband. 😊

[@susi-emily]

No you didn't mishear it. They married in 1920 and were divorced in 1936. No idea where they got 1949 from. It's clear from the footage that it's the 1920s.

[@laurapearson8208]

It's very sad that these wealthy people continued their parties and spending tons of money entertaining while people were losing jobs, going hungry, losing homes etc. For what she spent on parties, she could have fed the entire City. Same with other wealthy people during the Great Depression.

[@normadesmond6017]

and things have changed a lot, you think?

[@Vincef1101]

Why should they responsible for feeding poor people?

[@nancyboyer331]

Jesus said you will always have the poor

[@RoderickFernandez-ps5ci]

The same thing is going on right now probably even more

[@normadesmond6017]

@@Vincef1101 yes, why should they...?

[@lorig7077]

It's too bad it didn't become a museum.

[@brynnharris-hamm1321]

It’s crazy how people are ultimately all forgotten most of the time no matter how famous and wealthy they were. If you asked most people today who Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford were, they wouldn’t know. And if they did, they likely couldn’t name a movie they were in or identify them in a photo lineup.

[@susandoughty1132]

Great info. Thank you

[@OldMoneyDocumentaries]

Very welcome

[@patricialong5767]

The Gilded Age houses were much more lavish.

[@rogerfiliault3546]

By far

[@chimichangagal]

According to this documentary, Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks married in 1949. Doug died in 1939.

[@karendrew9779]

Please FIX error of ‘Crosby Stills & Nash’ photo to a proper ‘Bing Crosby’. Bot Misinformation abounds!

[@patricialong5767]

What goes up must come down.

[@brynnharris-hamm1321]

This is a weird thing to say.

[@gloriabray3780]

My midwwestern faher was a signal man on a submarine at Pearl Harbor when the bomb was dropped

[@theoriginaljustcook]

Why the garden of allah? I must have missed the reason for the name

[@BearDidIt]

Bohemian place of peace. Hippy almost

[@ActorObituary1]

It's a waste that these modern homes are left to languish like this.

[@howardgofstein7366]

Famous stars

[@leagueG5]

Where did the golden age Hollywood actor Michael Whalen live?

[@emmajohnson6955]

Did everyone suck it in .lol

[@gillianholmes258]

Amelia Earhart didn't look very comfortable with Mary Pickford.

[@monl3807]

Before income tax arrived... 1:20

[@howardgofstein7366]

Astonished? Really? Saddened? Really?

[@lorig7077]

Ok. Its haunted lets destroy our home. Sounds silly.

[@KMYA4ME]

Just for acting! Oh please!

[@edwardramirez8550]

Prdos

[@qrownv.9689]

another place with human sacrifices, it is the final reason of horriwood

[@thesoulthatburns]

Well said.

[@billolsen4360]

@@thesoulthatburns Especially for the child actors.

[@samanthamorris5340]

Nope, everything is still going strong. Human sacrifices and all. 💋

[@jamesanonymous2343]

SCUSE ME, WHILE I UP-CHUCK MY LUNCH,,,,URGGGGGGGGG, HOLLY FANTASY WOOD

[@samanthamorris5340]

This is about architecture

[@CV-zk6fq]

Despicable greed and corruption Not opulence 🤮🤮🤮

[@personaking7844]

Adulterers....

[@personaking7844]

My mom and her friends used to climb the Hollywood sign in the 60s.....you cant do that now....😂

[@personaking7844]

My mom and her friends used to climb the Hollywood sign in the 60s.....you cant do that now....😂