Witch’s House, Beverly Hills (1921)
Hidden among the sprawling Beverly Hills landscape, the Spadena House, more commonly known as the Witch’s House, looks like something from a fairy tale. In 1921, the Willat Studios, based in Culver City, needed offices and dressing room space. In 1934, after Willat Studios closed down its operations, the Spadena family moved into the building, converting it into their home. Throughout the building’s history, its owners have maintained its storybook style, a trend in the 1920s and 1930s that brought fantasy buildings to life, with exaggerated roof lines, asymmetrical windows, steep-pitched gable roofs, and exaggerated medieval influences. The building remained a residence until it went on the market in the 1990s. The quirky home found a potential buyer, who wanted to tear it down. The real estate agent, Michael Libow, bought the property himself specifically to preserve the building, saving this unique treasure from a cruel fate.
