Hollywood Legends and Their Homes

.. let's start with Bing Crosby and Lucille Ball .. 

Bing Crosby's Home

1200 Jackling Drive

Hillsborough, California 

Bing Crosby's primary longtime residence was a 13,635-square-foot French chateau-style mansion.  The home sold for $25 million dollars in June 2025.  Built in 1929, the 5-acre estate was owned by the family for 60 years and featured 11 bedrooms, a pool converted to a lawn and a piano from Bing's movie, High Society with actress, Grace Kelly.

Crosby purchased the home in 1965 to raise his family away from Hollywood.  The property previously belonged to Seabiscuit race horse owner, Charles Howard.

Crosby also had a well-known desert home in the Palm Springs area.  It was situated in the exclusive Thunderbird Heights community.  The 6-bedroom, 5.5 baths with 6,700-square-foot, Moroccan-inspired estate. The property is known for its 1.36 acre lot, a 1,400-square-foot master bedroom, a professional kitchen and extensive panoramic views.  While associated with several homes in the area, the Calico Road home is the most prominent property often linked to him in the Coachella Valley. 

70375 Calico Road

Rancho Mirage

10500 Camarillo 

Toluca Lake, California 

Crosby owned this 20-room home near Hollywood from 1936-1943. Known as the "Bing Crosby Estate" he lived here with his first wife, Dixie Lee and their 4 sons. This property was rebuilt after a fire and has since been owned by several celebrities including the late, Andy Griffith.

Bing Crosby was honored with three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on February 8, 1960.  These stars recognized his massive contributions in three distinct categories:  Recording (6751 Hollywood Blvd.), Motion Pictures (1611 Vine Street) and Radio (6769 Hollywood Blvd.).

Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz Home

1000 North Roxbury Drive

Beverly Hills, California 

This is the home that Lucy and Desi purchased in 1954 for $80,000.  It is still standing today though modified from its 1936 original appearance.  Lucy lived here until her passing in 1989.  Roxbury Drive was the street of stars.  Jack Benny lived next door, Peter Falk lived down the street as did Betty Grable, George and Ira Gershwin and Jimmy Stewart.

Lucy's home decor style can be best described as a blend of elegance, warmth and a dash of fun reflecting her vibrant personality.  The home featured luxurious touches showcasing her love for classic elegance.  Lucy adored her outdoor spaces, particularly her beautifully landscaped garden where she would tend to plants and enjoy the sunshine.  Her home was filled with personal mementos showcasing her artistic passions and family life.  The interior of this home included the living room designed to blend comfort with style, reflecting her larger-than-life Hollywood persona. 

Notable features in her Roxbury Drive address included spacious rooms as the home had six bedrooms, seven bathrooms and spanned approximately 4,126 square feet.  The architectural style was a blend of 1930s elegance and modern design with a Mediterranean Revival style and Spanish-style architecture.  The ornate details featured arched doorways, wrought-iron details and intricate stucco work reflecting the era rich in artistic flair.  

Lucy's homes included a Palm Springs retreat which boasted mid-century modern charm with pops of color.

40241 Club View Drive

Rancho Mirage, California

Coachella Valley

Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz owned this ranch-style home in Palm Springs built near the 17th fairway in the gated Thunderbird Country Club.  It was "desert modern" or "open ranch" style featuring large patios and extensive floor-to-ceiling glass windows to merge indoors with outdoors, natural stone and decorative concrete walls creating an open, airy atmosphere. Designed for entertaining and privacy, the desert home featured a luxurious pool and according to lore, was built on a lot won by Desi in a poker game!  The home was a desert escape during the I Love Lucy years. 

It was designed by the most renowned black architect of the 20th century, Paul Revere Williams (1894-1980). Williams was known as the "Architect to the Stars" and was the first home completed in the country club development. An interesting fact is that Williams taught himself to draw upside down.  He retired in 1973 shaping the architectural look of Southern California from residential projects to commercial and municipal ones. He earned that "architect to the stars" tagline after designing homes during the Golden Age of Hollywood for a raft of A-list celebrities besides Lucille Ball which included Tyrone Power, Cary Grant, Frank Sinatra and silent movie legend, Lon Chaney. 

Architect Paul R. Williams in his Los Angeles office.

Photo: Julius Shulman

Williams' commercial buildings that came off his drawing board were Saks Fifth Avenue's flagship Beverly Hills store, the Los Angeles County Courthouse and landmark additions to LA's Beverly Hills Hotel. When Williams passed, he left behind a prolific portfolio of more than 3,000 buildings that included homes, hotels, banks, churches, hospitals and schools many of which have become Southern Caifornia icons.  

Williams also previously designed Lucy and Desi's home in the Chatsworth area of Los Angeles at 19700 Devonshire Street for $16,000 in 1941.  The property was on five-acres and called Desilu Ranch.  It was a secluded, rustic oasis featuring orange groves, a swimming pool, pool house and game room.  The ranch was known for its many animals including dogs, cats and a cow named the "Duchess of Devonshire". 

It sold in 1956 to actress Jane Withers and her husband, Kenneth Errair before its 1976 demolition for a housing development.  Sadly, it no longer exists as a landmark.

1194 North Via Miraleste

Del Mar, California

Another Palm Springs home associated with Lucy and Desi was located in the Movie Colony neighborhood.  Known as "Casa de Amigos", this Spanish Colonial-style property is often referenced in historical accounts of their time in the area.  Today, it is operated as a luxury rental property.  In July 2009, this "Old Hollywood" celebrity home opened its gates for events.  Property owner, Amber Willat and planning director, Gina Leslie have expanded its use to private and community events.  

After divorcing Lucille Ball in 1960, Desi Arnaz moved into their former summer home located at 1920 Ocean Front Drive in Del Mar, California. Based on reports and discussions involving Desi's daughter, Lucie Arnaz, the original home in Del Mar was torn down and replaced by two new properties.  While he did own a beachfront property there until his passing in 1986, the specific structure no long exists in its original form.

The coastal town served as a sanctuary for him where he frequently attended races at the Del Mar Racetrack, a passion he maintained alongside music.  This home was a significant, quieter alternative to their large, more public estates in Beverly Hills and in Chatsworth. Arnaz's connection to Del Mar began in the 1940s when he first visited the racetrack, a glamourous destination founded by Bing Crosby and frequented by Hollywood's biggest stars though for Desi, it wasn't just a social scene .. it was a true love affair with the sport.  He owned and bred thoroughbreds, frequently attending races and becoming a well-known figure at the Turf Club. Lucille Ball, too, shared in his love for Del Mar, often accompanying him to the races.  Photos from the era capture the couple in their element .. laughing in the grandstands, placing bets and rubbing shoulders with the Hollywood elite.  Their presence added to Del Mar's reputation as a playground for the stars, where the entertainment industry and California's coastal charm blended seamlessly. 

Del Mar Racetrack is where "the turf meets the surf" at 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd.

Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz with a jockey at the track

Photo courtesy of Del Mar Thoroughbred Club

Desi Arnaz's home in Del Mar, a peaceful retreat with stunning beach views, reflected his Cuban heritage and mid-century modern style.  The iconic residence where he spent his final days.  The house featured a Mediterranean Revival design with stucco walls, red-tiled roofs and arched windows blending indoor and outdoor living spaces. His final days in the home were marked by a heartfelt phone call from his ex-wife, Lucille Ball, with whom he shared a deep and enduring connection.

Desi Arnaz's last words to Lucille Ball, spoken during their final phone call on their wedding anniversary in 1986 were "I love you, honey.  Good luck with your show" after she told him she loved him.  Their daughter, Lucie revealed this simple, tender exchange which offered closure and marked a moment of peace before Arnaz passed away from lung cancer two days later.  It was November 30, 1986 when Lucie Arnaz put the phone to her father's ear and Lucille Ball told him "I love you" multiple times. Desi replied with his loving farewell, followed by a wish for her future TV appearance. 

Lucille Ball was widely considered Desi Arnaz' true love, despite their famously tumultuous marriage and divorce with both acknowledging their deep bond and partnership even sharing passionate love letters, though his infidelity and struggles with alcohol led to their separation.  A devastating end to a love that built an empire but was ultimately complex and challenging.  

Lucy's Childhood Home

59 Lucy Lane

Celeron, New York 

 The Lucy House in New York State is located at 59 Lucy Lane (formerly 59 West Eighth Street) in Celoron, New York near Jamestown, NY.  Lucy's childhood home was meticulously restored to its original appearance by fans and owners, Mary and Bill Rapaport since 2005.  The restoration was with input from Lucy's brother, Fred Ball and cousin, Cleo Smith. The home features original elements like the original bathtub and linoleum, as well as lilac bushes in the backyard. Lucille Ball grew up here with her mother, brother and grandparents until 1927.

Lilacs for Lucy

This wall art now on display in Lucy's childhood home was painted by Michael Israel.*

*Michael Israel is a world-renowned artist based in Boca Raton, Florida.  Famous for his high-energy "art concerts" where he creates large-scale, realistic paintings in minutes using a "speed painting" technique often for charity events and celebrities raising millions for various causes.  His portfolio includes portraits of celebrities, musicians and historical figures, as well as cityscapes and patriotic themes.  He has performed for presidents, Olympic events and major corporations.  His work has been featured at prestigious venues like the Grimaldi Forum in Monte Carlo.

Michael has lived his motto:  "When Imagination Exceeds Reality, Dreams are Born!"

www.michaelisrael.com 

Lucille Ball was honored with two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on February 8, 1960.  She received one for her work in Motion Pictures (6436 Hollywood Blvd.) and one for Television (6104 Hollywood Blvd.). Miss Ball was among the inaugural group of entertainers honored when the walk was first installed.  This cemented her legacy for all time.