Gaston Marzio, animator and artist in front of a seemingly ‘Witch's House’ in Beverly Hills. The house fascinated him so much he often sketched it. 2001, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, CA
Footnote: Beverly Hills, Witch's House, sometimes referred to as the Spadena House after an early resident in its present location, though it is perhaps better known as ‘The Witch's House’. The building was designed by Oscar nominated art director Harry Oliver in an 'English cottage fantasy' architecture, storybook style in 1921, for Willat Studio, and erected in their lot in Washington Boulevard, Culver City. As an economy measure it was used both as a production office-come actors dressing rooms on the inside and a film set on the outside. It was a background in quite a number of silent films until the end of the studio. In about 1926 it was moved to Walden Drive, Beverly Hills by film producer Ward Lascelle, to become a private residence which it remains today. When he and his wife Lillian divorced, she stayed on and remarried Mr ‘Spadena’ who lends his name to the place. Lillian sold it to the Green family in 1965, who in turn sold it to Michael J. Libow, a real estate agent in 1998. Libow being from the area, had childhood memories of the quirky house, and wished to save it from being demolished in a redevelopment, so since purchasing it he has renovated the cottage. It is still a private residence and he has had the interior redesigned in a sympathetic style to the outside. The Witch's House is a favourite haunt of kids (excuse the pun) at Halloween, tourists and locals alike, it attracts a lot of tour busses all the year around. In 2013 the house was designated a historic landmark by the City of Beverly Hills. North Walden Drive, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California, 2001
Location: Beverly Hills, Los Angeles
Photographer: Richard Keith Wolff
