Taylor Swift embraced the role of preservationist when she purchased and restored a Beverly Hills mansion originally built for film mogul Samuel Goldwyn. Now, if she’s seeking another project, a century-old Goldwyn estate has just hit the market for $3.495 million.
The 1916 Spanish-style villa was built for the Polish-born producer in the Hollywood foothills of Runyon Canyon, a little-known artist enclave with a rich legacy.
The 1916 Spanish-style villa, constructed for the Polish-born producer, is situated in the Hollywood foothills of Runyon Canyon—a lesser-known artist enclave with a storied past. This villa served as Goldwyn’s starter home before he acquired two additional properties in Los Angeles, forming the so-called Goldwyn trifecta, according to Ingrid Sacerio of The Agency, who listed the home last week.
It was a starter home for Goldwyn, who eventually bought two other properties in Los Angeles as part of the so-called Goldwyn trifecta, according to listing agent Ingrid Sacerio of the Agen
The other two properties include an Italianate mansion built a few blocks away by Los Angeles developer E.F. Fuller, which sold in 2022 for $6.4 million, and the grand Georgian Revival mansion in Beverly Hills. Swift purchased the latter in 2016 for $25 million and successfully campaigned to have it officially designated as a landmark. She still owns this property.
She purchased the house in 2015 with musician Ran Pink. “One of the houses across the street was reputedly owned by one who had parties that lasted for days.”
Should Swift (or anyone else) wish to showcase their conservation skills, the Hollywood property already features original architectural details, including the windows, interior doors, and oak floors throughout. The landscaped grounds are adorned with artifacts and fountains, including a triptych sculpture from the 1928 “Cleopatra” movie set.
Pink said the history of the neighborhood was a significant draw.
According to Sacerio, the property also has a fortunate legacy: shortly after moving in, Goldwyn co-founded MGM and started producing acclaimed films of the 1930s and ’40s, such as “Stella Dallas,” “Wuthering Heights,” and “The Little Foxes,” along with hit musicals like “Guys and Dolls,” starring Marlon Brando and Frank Sinatra, and “Porgy and Bess.”
Sacerio said it also has a lucky legacy: Soon after moving in, Goldwyn co-founded MGM and began producing acclaimed films of the 1930s and ’40s.
“The neighborhood was a magnet for silent movie stars back in the day,” said seller Shel Pink, an artist, author of the self-care book “Slow Beauty,” and founder of the beauty-product brand SpaRitual. She purchased the house in 2015 with musician Ran Pink. “One of the houses across the street was reputedly owned by a silent movie star who hosted parties that lasted for days.”
The Hollywood property already boasts original architectural details, including the windows, interior doors and oak floors throughout.
Pink said the history of the neighborhood was a significant draw. “Everyone knows about the music scene in Laurel Canyon, but not many are aware of this little enclave in Runyon Canyon, which has attracted writers like Joan Didion, who rented here in the 1970s, and other creative types over the decades.”
The neighborhood “was a magnet for silent movie stars back in the day,” said seller Michelle (Shel) Pink, who is an artist, author of “Slow Beauty” and the founder of SpaRitual.
She was also captivated by the house’s Old Hollywood history and its location on the hill. “We are slightly elevated but not so high that we have to navigate steep, winding roads, so it’s super accessible,” Pink said.
The 3,398-square-foot residence sits on a corner lot and features four bedrooms and three bathrooms. A separate studio with its own entrance is adjacent to the two-car garage at the rear of the property.
The 3,398-square-foot residence sits on a corner lot and features four bedrooms and three bathrooms.
Upstairs, the primary bedroom now incorporates what was once a neighboring sunroom with a vaulted ceiling and semi-circle, or half-sun, windows. A previous owner added a ceiling-mounted curtain that Pink says can be drawn to block out the morning sun or keep the sleeping area cool during the day. Two more bedrooms, one of which is en-suite, are on this level.
A triptych sculpture from the 1928 “Cleopatra” movie set and other artifacts and fountains dot the landscaped grounds.
The fourth bedroom, which includes a walk-in closet and is located on the ground floor, is currently used as a den. A designated office overlooks the dining room, which flows into a living room on one side and the kitchen on the other—all enclosed by expansive windows and glass doors that allow natural light to flood the interior, Pink said.
A tall fence surrounds the entire property, providing further security with double gates—a two-door pedestrian gate along the street and another leading to the porch outside the front door, both customized by the previous owner, Pink said.
The garage, situated at the rear of the property, enhances privacy. “No one ever sees anyone coming and going out of the front gate,” remarked Sacerio. Instead, they drive into the garage, traverse a pebbled area, ascend a few steps to a patio with a hot tub, and enter the breakfast nook in the kitchen.
A landscaped brick pathway encircles the property, passing through a patio with an outdoor fireplace and concluding with steps leading down to a long, narrow pool.
“From the moment you enter the gardens and see the ivy-clad walls, there’s a poetry and a wildness here—I like to say that we have our own mini forest that envelops the home, creating a tranquil oasis amidst the urban environment,” Pink shared. “It feels like a secluded retreat. Everyone remarks on the beautiful energy and sense of calm as soon as they step inside.”