An iconic Hollywood estate that’s reportedly once been home to some of the industry’s brightest stars – including Marilyn Monroe and Greta Garbo – has hit the market for $900,000, decades after it hosted the Sirens on screen.
The Chateau Beachwood is a 10 unit French Normandy style complex located near the Two Stone Gates entrance to Beachwood Canyon, originally known as Hollywoodland.
Before owning their own luxury mansions, famous stars like Marilyn and Greta were housed in the 1930s townhouse by the film studios they worked with, who at the time often hired actors and actresses to work only on their projects.
Now one of its $899,000 two-bedroom units has hit the market, much to the delight of those interested in owning a piece of old Hollywood history.
Chateau Beachwood has launched for $899,000 and is perfect for anyone interested in owning a piece of old Hollywood history
Iconic stars like Marilyn Monroe (left) and Greta Garbo (right) have reportedly been housed in a stunning 1930s Hollywood townhouse by the film studios they worked with
Chateau Beachwood is a 10 unit French Normandy style complex and the property where Monroe lived now on the market
In Tinsel Town’s golden age, young movie stars who had signed multi-year deals with the top studios were often given apartments close to where they worked.
For the likes of Monroe, Garbo and Marlene Dietrich, they reportedly found themselves in the idyllic complex while churning out projects for the studios.
With its proximity to the film and television studios, Beachwood Canyon has been the current or former neighborhood for many celebrities over the years, including Humphrey Bogart, Kevin Bacon and Anna Kendrick.
Thanks to its location in one of LA’s older neighborhoods, the homes in the neighborhood retain much of the atmosphere of the glamorous mid-century Hollywood era, with well-manicured lawns, huge pastures, and colorful gardens.
According to the listing agent and TopTenRealEstateDeals.com, Chateau Beachwood – located under the Hollywood sign – is the very residence where Monroe once lived.
In the years that followed, Madonna, Sean Penn, John Cusack and the late Anne Heche are said to have also been residents of Chateau Beachwood.
The two bedroom property is flooded with natural light and both feature relief plasterwork for wedding cakes
The 1,199 square foot unit was designed in 1936 by architect Walter C. King
The town house, which is said to have housed Marlene Dietrich (right), still has a beautiful green magnesite staircase
Elsewhere, the bathroom also features a striking green bathtub with a matching toilet and sink
The 1,199 square foot unit was designed by architect Walter C. King in 1936 and is located just blocks from the Monastery of the Angels, Franklin Village and the Hollywood Sculpture Gardens.
Monroe’s townhouse has been modernized in the years since she has lived there, but still has many features that today’s buyers would love, including the beautiful green magnesite staircase and original Art Deco balustrade.
Both bedrooms have wedding cake relief plasterwork and the colorful bathroom has a walk-in shower and original yellow and purple tiles.
Meanwhile, the bathroom also features a striking green bathtub with a matching toilet and sink.
Flooded with light from the oversized casement windows, the property is currently available from Marlena Maidhof at ACME Real Estate.
Marilyn Monroe is arguably the biggest star in Hollywood history, with her name and looks transcending the film industry to make her a household name before her untimely death in August 1962 at the age of 36.
Monroe started her career on a simple six-month deal with FOX Studios, who didn’t want her signed by rival RKO Pictures. She then briefly signed with Columbia before finally landing a seven-year contract with Fox.
During this time, the actress was extremely frustrated with the quality of work she was given and often questioned the fact that she remained underpaid by the studio compared to other starlets of the era. Sometime in 1954, she fled to New York to break free from the studio and start her own production company.
The colorful bathroom features a walk-in shower and original yellow and purple tiles
Monroe’s townhouse has been modernized over the years since she has lived there, but still retains many features that today’s buyers would love
The chic property benefits from oversized casement windows
The complex is just a few blocks from the Monastery of the Angels, Franklin Village and The Hollywood Sculpture Gardens
In 1955, Fox finally gave her a new contract that included increasing her salary to $100,000 per film. Unfortunately, she died before she could make a film with her company.
Greta Garbo grew up in Sweden and appeared in women’s clothing commercials after college. She landed a few Swedish roles in the 1920s before being spotted by Louis B. Meyer, vice president of media company Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios.
Meyer believed he could make her a big star and had her move to Hollywood, where he did just that. After the overwhelming success of her first films, the actress soon got into a contract dispute with MGM.
In fact, Garbo threatened to return to Sweden and eventually landed a new contract that netted her a record $270,000 per film and gave her unprecedented control over her roles and the films she starred in.
She became one of the most well-known actresses of her time, but after starring in 28 feature films over 16 years, she retired in 1941.
With its proximity to the film and television studios, Beachwood Canyon has been the current or former neighborhood for many celebrities over the years, including Humphrey Bogart, Kevin Bacon and Anna Kendrick
Thanks to its location in one of LA’s older neighborhoods, the homes in the neighborhood retain much of the atmosphere of the glamorous mid-century Hollywood era, with well-manicured lawns, huge pastures, and colorful gardens
Throughout her career, Monroe was known to be frustrated with the quality of work she was receiving from Fox Studio and often struggled with how much she was being paid during her multi-year contract
Garbo once threatened to return to Sweden to land a record deal with MGM, while Dietrich became Paramount’s answer to Garbo, using this to take advantage of their contract terms
Greta – best known for her roles in A Woman of Affairs, Anna Christie, Romance and Camille – died in 1990 at the age of 85 after 50 years of living a private life in her New York apartment.
German-born star Marlene Dietrich was a Hollywood icon and bisexual beauty whose style and intoxicating sex appeal has endured for centuries.
She starred opposite Gary Cooper in her first Hollywood film for Paramount Pictures in 1930, Morocco, and in quick succession she appeared in several films including Blonde Venus, The Scarlet Empress and The Devil Is A Woman.
Dietrich became Paramount’s answer to Greta Garbo and she used this to capitalize on a contract that made her the highest paid actress in the world by the 1930s. She died of kidney failure in Paris at the age of 90.