Palm Springs Life Magazine’s Kent Black shares a unique view of celebrity homes in the Palm Springs area with a tour that includes:
Bob Hope’s 3,000 sq ft second Palm Springs home on E. El Alameda, occupied by Hope and wife, Delores, from 1946 to 1979. When you think of Bob Hope and Palm Springs, you automatically think of his John Lautner designed “Mushroom” home on Southridge. According to Kent, when Bob Hope first saw Lautner’s plans for this house, Hope reportedly remarked, “Well, if the Martians ever land here, at least they’ll know where to go.” | Location: 1188 E. El Alameda, Palm Springs
Steve McQueen’s 1,850 sq ft Racquet Club Estates bungalow, that he occupied with first wife, Neile Adams, from 1961 to 1964, before moving into his Hugh Kaptur–designed home in Southridge. Kent notes that back in 1963, Life magazine photographer John Dominis spent three weeks documenting the couple’s life here, including following them out to the desert to shoot pistols, hanging out with them in the evenings while they played and danced to jazz records on their portable phonograph, and lounging around their pool. | Location: 811 E. Grace Circle, Palm Springs
The 6,307 sq ft, 3 bedroom, 6 bathroom A. Quincy Jones designed Las Palmas home of Edward G. Robinson, that he occupied from 1959 to 1973. Kent writes that because Robinson hated exercise and could not swim, he had the pool at his Beverly Hills home filled in and covered with an art gallery. Kent writes that perhaps because of the Palm Springs climate and the realities of resale value, Robinson allowed a pool to be built on this desert property. | Location: 999 N. Patencio Road, Palm Springs
Dean Martin’s 2,145 sq ft Vista Las Palmas property, occupied by Martin and second wife, Jeanne, from 1965 to 1973. This home was the last one built by the father-and-son team of George and Robert Alexander before they and other family members died in a plane crash in 1965. Because of the home’s visibility from the street, it was a favorite on celebrity tours after the Martins moved in; so much so that the Martin grandkids took advantage of the steady stream of visitors and set up a lemonade stand at the end of the driveway. | Location: 1123 N. Via Monte Vista, Palm Springs
Howard Hughes’ 2,400 sq ft home in Araby Cove, near Bob Hope’s and Steve McQueen’s Southridge homes, owned by Hughes from 1957 to 1976. Kent states that it is unclear if the reclusive Howard Hughes spent much time there but others did, including Eva Gabor and producer Robert Evans. | Location: 2195 Rim Road, Palm Springs
The 3,825 sq ft Movie Colony home of Truman Capote, author of Breakfast At Tiffany’s and In Cold Blood, that he occupied from 1968 to 1984. Kent writes that Capote hosted large parties attended by some of the biggest socialites of the day, including Slim Keith, Babe Paley and Walter and Leonore Annenberg. | Location: 853 E. Paseo El Mirador, Palm Springs
Monty Hall’s 1,684 sq ft Canyon View Estates home, that he first occupied in 1963. Kent writes that Hall and his wife supposedly made the decision to buy in the desert because plans to go to Mexico for a vacation had fallen through, and their Malibu house was being used by a recently divorced friend. Hall reportedly told his wife that they should just go down to the desert and buy something. The legendary host of Let’s Make A Deal died last year at the age of 96. | Location: 457 San Jose Road, Palm Springs
And last, but not least, the 2,978 sq ft home occupied by Marilyn Monroe from 1961-1962. Kent writes that conspiracy theorists love to speculate whether it is by coincidence or by design that Monroe’s house sits only a few doors away from that of actor Peter Lawford, onetime brother-in-law of President John F. Kennedy. | Location: 1326 Rose Ave, Palm Springs
To read Kent Black’s original article and view the accompanying photos, courtesy of Palm Springs Life Magazine, please visit: https://www.palmspringslife.com/palm-springs-celebrity-homes/