this old spooky prospect

recently i was approached to 'set design' an historical home for the purpose of a commercial , "haunted house". this old dowager, is in total disrepair but so beautiful.
when i toured the vacant property, now being used as a storage dump, i couldn't help but feel a bit sad for it. the house felt lonely, and forgotten.
to think that at some time, many years ago, each detail and every bit of the footprint was carefully thought out, obsessed over discussed and honed to the architect and owners' idea of perfection.
i'm a sucker for old houses. they tend to have this dignified stoic character. silent keepers of personal family histories. give me an old manse needing to have her old bones revived over a tarty, new mcmansion, made up of thoughtlessly devised space any day (sorry if i've offended).
i'll let you know if i go through with this little project. i love scary, so i may just do it~

Comments

Anonymous said…
What a great job to do! Really Fun. :)
Unknown said…
That's a fabulous house! Why isn't someone refurbishing it and living in it or selling it? Living as I do in the land of the McMansion I know exactly what you mean. I Live in Vegas which is only 102 years old and there are virtually no old homes here only stucco and tile roofs galore. I would live to pick this one up and plop it down on a lot here.
Jackie
Anonymous said…
I'm with Jackie...what's the deal with the house?? Is someone going to live in it? Can I live in it? LOL. Kidding!! No updates on our never ending LA move...John is there now...sigh.
72 and sunny said…
the house is on a compound of 5 or 6 huge homes. all built by the same steel magnate at the turn of the century. they're all empty and all gorgeous. a guy in nyc owns them and mostly leases them out for filming.

they're all so pretty. this one is in the worst condition. when we were touring it, there were animals scratching around in the walls!!!
katiedid said…
OK, that second to last picture with the light flashes through it? Is that a phospherous ghost trail? It looks like one to me. ;0
72 and sunny said…
katie!!!! i thought the same thing. seriously, what is that? maybe just light? i was showing someone else the shots on my digi cam and they were like, 'what the hell is that?"
Unknown said…
Sounds like it could be an interesting project - I think you will need a mega budget.
Alicia said…
Definitely creepy...Somehow I don't think it was "just the light".

I couldn't agree with you more. I wish more people would save the old homes.
Thanks for inspiring me to finally write about the house we tried to save this summer. And, when I get over my heartbreak we will try again.
cotedetexas said…
Is this for a haunted house? For Halloween? Jeez, it looks like a ton of work - done for charity, right? I don't think I'd take it myself!! I'm too lazy. The house though, is gorgeous, is it near a beach, perhaps?????????? It needs a blended family to give it love and attention, not goblins and witches.

Joni
72 and sunny said…
it's for a haunted house, for profit. and as far as the work goes, that's the beauty of this. it's going to be 'as is' i'll have a crew come in a clean it up, fix any hazards. but the whole thing is almost literally done with smoke and mirrors. i'll do the shopping at thrift stores, hadassah bargain center types of places.

lots of effects. there's a bit of a science to it involving the cast and the traffic movement as well as the theatrical set design aspect.

l.a. was developed in-land first. because back then, people didn't swim, so the beach wasn't desirable. not to mention the beaches were not what they look like now. all of our sand was imported in the 40s and earlier from hawaii. prior to that they were scrubby and not at all an attraction. so the older homes are east of l.a.
Anonymous said…
where is this? elysian heights? where? such a pretty house...
72 and sunny said…
the house is in pasadena.

also, to clarify, that last photo was my attempt to illustrate a mcmansion. i think i didn't do a very good job!
Mrs. Blandings said…
no, I totally got the mcmansion part - if someone missed it, it wasn't your mistake. That house makes me want to cry. The project would be fun - the ghost wouldn't scare me, but the critters in the walls? No thanks.
Anonymous said…
What a great opportunity! I would do that in a heartbeat. Having bought an old wonderful house such as this ("as is") myself, I know about naysayers, this isn't the sort of project everyone gets into. I am totally with you on choosing an old charming neglected estate over a McMansion any day. And the thought of doing it in haunted house style, very fun!

I'd love to see what you do with this, if you decide to take it on! Oh I hope you will do it!

Melissa
Anonymous said…
aw, this made me so sad. There are several large Victorian homes in this area that are going into decay also:(

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