The famous Spelling Manor in Los Angeles is one of the biggest houses in the USA. At 56500 square feet, it is much larger than the White House and more than 21 times the size of the standard American home. The most famous owners of this property were Aaron Spelling and his wife, Candy. Aaron produced famous television projects such as Charlie’s Angels, Dynasty, Melrose Place, Beverly Hills, 90210, Charmed, and many others. Aaron died in 2006, at the age of 83, in this very house. Let’s talk about how this French chateau-style mansion came to be and who owns it today.
Essential facts about the history of the residence
The mansion, located at 594 South Mapleton Drive before Aaron Spelling moved in, is commonly referred to as the «Bing Crosby estate» because the American singer and actor, one of the most popular performers in the United States, lived there from 1943 to 1964. In fact, the mansion was built for famous Los Angeles businessman Malcolm McNaghten in 1932, on top of the most prestigious place in Holmby Hills.
In 1932, when the world was trying to cope with the Great Depression, constructing a massive mansion with an area of 15000 square meters might seem like an unnecessary luxury. Still, most people in the area saw it as a sign of economic recovery and the possibility of creating more jobs. McNaghten brought the best designers, craftsmen, and artists to work under the direction of the distinguished architect Gordon B. Kaufman. The house was decorated in a French Norman with a luxurious conical stair tower and a rough stone façade.
The McNaghtens lived in the house until 1943, when the mansion was hastily sold to Bing Crosby and his family after they burned their estate to the ground while dismantling the Christmas tree. The Crosby family lived here for over 20 years, the height of Bing’s career, including an Oscar win, two nominations, and the period of the birth of three children.
In 1964, Crosby sold his luxurious mansion to Patrick J. Frawley, head of the Schick Safety Razor Company, for $350,000. Like Crosby, Frawley lived here for about twenty years before selling it in 1983 to the Spelling family, who decided to demolish the house and build a new one from scratch.
Spelling spent $10.25 million to buy six acres of land and a house and another $12 million to build the estate. When adjusted for inflation, that’s equivalent to $48 million today.
During the construction of the house, a real commotion began among the neighbors, who complained that the house was too flashy and large.
The name The Manor was chosen by daughter Tori. Candy and interior designer Robert Dally spent 8 years buying furnishing from England, Italy, and France, including all of house’s fireplaces, chandeliers, and sconces. The staircase is a single piece of metal, made in Texas.
The two-story, 56,500-square-foot home has 123 rooms (27 bathrooms and 14 bedrooms) on five acres of land. Architects James Langenheim & Associates used imported limestone to create the 51.5-foot-tall facade, basement, and intermediate level for closets between the first and second floors and attic. It was rumored that the Spellings bought the limestone quarry to ensure all the stones looked identical.
The construction work involved more than 150 workers daily and more than 500 tons of steel, and it was only completed in 1991. The renowned interior designer Robert Dally and Candy Spelling spent eight years selecting furniture, fireplaces, and chandeliers in countries including England, France, and Italy.
For more details, please check our video about Aaron Spelling