Words: Jonathan Wells
Photography: Scott Everts
“I’m homesick, that’s all”. Frank Sinatra once sang those words on a soon-forgotten record back in 1945. And we’re not surprised he felt that way — especially if all his homes looked like this one.
Set above the oak woodlands of Los Angeles’ Chatsworth Preserve, ‘Farralone’ — also known as ‘The Great Glass Mansion’ or the ‘Sinatra Compound’ — was the American icon’s home for ten of his most swinging, singing, Rat-Packing years. And now, it’s up for sale.
The house was built in 1949 and became a mid-century masterpiece. Constructed at the orders of Chase Manhattan Bank heiress, Dora Hutchinson, the one-story complex is the work of esteemed architects Pereira & Luckman — a firm which also designed the space-age ‘Theme Building’ outside LAX airport, as well as San Francisco’s Transamerica Pyramid.
Hutchinson regularly held exquisite, extravagant parties in her modern home — counting Judy Garland, Lucille Ball and Ava Gardner as guests. Frank Sinatra was even known to pop by. As such, when the heiress returned to her native New York, she decided to lease her home to the world-famous crooner for a full decade.
And we can see why Sinatra signed on the dotted line. Recently completely restored, ‘Farralone’ features seven bedrooms, seven bathrooms and amenities including multiple pools, fireplaces and a sun-soaked pergola lounge area.
There’s even a completely separate guest house — a space Sinatra himself sub-letted to Marilyn Monroe, and where her final photoshoot took place in 1962. This extra house alone features its own pool and portion of rolling lawns and landscaping that come with ‘Farralone’s 13.7 acres.
Since Sinatra moved out, the house has remained in the spotlight. It appeared in episodes of Mad Men, as well as scenes in films including Hugh Jackman’s Swordfish and Transformers. And it retains a sufficiently secretive level of celebrity privacy; encircled by a perimeter wall and tucked at the end of a driveway almost a mile long.
But that’s not to say ‘Farralone’ is secluded and stuffy. Perched atop a promontory hill, the 360-degree views are like few other in Los Angeles. Overlooking the glorious mountains and 1,325-acre Chatsworth Preserve, many of the rooms have walls crafted from glass that make the most of the valley vistas.
The ‘Sinatra Compound’ may have been one of ‘Ol’ Blue Eyes’ most decadent homes during his years of success — but Frank also kept properties in other cities around the world. On the Upper East Side of Manhattan, he owned a four-bedroom penthouse where he lived with Mia Farrow for a while. In Palm Springs, he hosted al fresco parties in his custom piano-shaped pool.
In New Jersey, his five-bedroom beach house sat on 236 feet of oceanfront property. And, in California’s Coachella Valley, the Sinatra-designed Villa Maggio had a helipad to which he would fly his Rat Pack pals whenever they fancied a sing-a-long (or a drink).
But ‘Farralone’ remains our favourite of Frank’s boltholes. And, now back up for sale at Sotheby’s International Realty, the iconic mid-century compound could be yours for 21.5 million homesick-inducing dollars.
Want more celebrity property? Leonardo DiCaprio just bought this Hollywood home. Take a look inside…
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