The Movie Colony Neighborhood in Palm Springs is a historic and iconic area known for its glamorous past and stunning midcentury modern architecture. This charming district, once home to Hollywood legends like Frank Sinatra and Bob Hope, boasts tree-lined streets, lush gardens, and beautifully restored homes. A walking tour through the Movie Colony offers a unique glimpse into Palm Springs' rich cultural history, letting visitors step back in time, explore the legacy of old Hollywood, and enjoy the scenic beauty.
Step Into Hollywood History in the Movie Colony Neighborhood
Park at Ruth Hardy Park on Tamarisk Road.
Tour Begins
Walk to the corner of N Via Miraleste and Tamarisk Road. On the corner, behind the hedge, is the Harry Hanbury Residence.
Harry Hanbury Residence – 796 Via Miraleste
This 7 bedroom, 7.5 bath residence has 7,554 square feet and sits on almost 2 acres. It is a Spanish Colonial Revival. The main house has 5 bedrooms and 5.5 baths, and a separate two-story guesthouse with 2 bedrooms and 2 baths.
Harry was a prominent oil operator in Dallas, Texas, and this was a winter escape. He developed this property in 1934, well before the neighborhood became known as The Movie Colony. He and his wife, Helene, were deeply involved in Palm Springs' social scene. She was a founding member of the Palm Springs Women's Club in 1938, on land donated by Peral McManus. Pearl arrived in Palm Springs with her father in 1884.
Barbara Hutton was the heiress to the Woolworth fortune and married Cary Grant in 1942, another Palm Springs resident. During their three-year marriage, the couple often escaped Hollywood by renting this house from Harry. The Desert Sun reported in 1951 that she once owned the property, but it was more likely she leased the property for a season.
Actor Phil Regan owned the home in the 1970s. He performed with Guy Lombardo on the Burns and Allen radio program. He also performed the National Anthem at President Harry Truman's 1949 inauguration.
The Newhall residence is next to the Hanbury Estate on the same side of Tamarisk.
George Almer Newhall, Jr. / LeGrand Simson DeGraff Residence (1928, Architect Unknown) – 535 Tamarisk Road
This Spanish Colonial Revival residence stands on a spacious 1.6-acre lot and boasts 4,700 square feet of beautifully crafted living space. The main house features 5 bedrooms and 5 baths, each showcasing preserved ceramic tile. The expansive public rooms face south, offering picturesque views and easy access to a serene rear courtyard with a charming fountain.
Much of the original architectural detailing remains intact inside the main house, including a wood-beamed ceiling in the living room. A detached guest house includes 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, a kitchen, and a 2-car garage. The property also offers many outdoor amenities, including a swimming pool, tennis courts, a potting shed, and a beautiful rose garden.
George moved into the house in 1928 and died in 1929 after the stock market crash. According to the 1929 Palm Springs City Directory, George (1862–1929) was listed at this address. He was the youngest of five sons born to William Mayo Newhall, a prominent regional figure. The family ran a railroad business, later acquired 143,000 acres of ranch land spanning Monterey County to Los Angeles County, and formed the Newhall Land and Farming Company.
Walk west on Tamrisk to N Avenida Palmas on your right.
Harold Lloyd Estate – 899 N Avenida Palmas
The Harold Lloyd Estate is a historic gem with a rich Hollywood legacy. Built in 1925, this 1-acre estate was the former retreat of the legendary silent film star Harold Lloyd, known for classics like "Safety Last!"
The estate features a main house and two casitas, offering 5 bedrooms and 6 baths. The interiors blend Spanish architecture and Asian accents with hand-painted wood beams, hand-carved wood décor, and original terracotta tile flooring. There's also a 1,000-bottle wine cellar and tasting room, and a curated collection of vintage Hollywood photographs adorns the walls.
The outdoor space includes a saltwater swimming pool, a Jacuzzi, and al fresco dining areas surrounded by lush lawns and century-old Tamarisk and Eucalyptus trees.
Cary Grant Residence – 928 N Avenida Palmas
The Cary Grant Residence, also known as Las Palomas, is a Spanish Andalusian-style home. Built in 1930 by architect John Byers, this 6,000-square-foot home sits on 1.5 acres in the famous Movie Colony neighborhood.
Cary Grant purchased the property in 1954 as his desert retreat, and it became a haven for many Hollywood luminaries, including Alfred Hitchcock, Katharine Hepburn, Frank Sinatra, and Grace Kelly. The estate features original elements, including terracotta floor tiles, wood-burning fireplaces, and custom cabinetry. The open floor plan includes spacious common areas with soaring ceilings and French doors that open to the surrounding gardens.
The beautifully manicured outdoor space includes a stone pool and spa terrace, surrounded by majestic 80-year-old eucalyptus trees, palms, agave, and fruit trees blooming year-round. The property has been restored while preserving its original charm.
Marilyn Monroe & Joe DiMaggio – 925 N Avenida Palmas
This 4,285-square-foot Spanish-style home features 4 bedrooms and 4 baths, with a spacious layout and elegant design. The property includes lush landscaping, a palatial pool with a diving board, and a separate guest house. The interior boasts a remodeled kitchen with high-end stainless steel appliances, a formal dining room, and a primary suite with a sitting room and pool access.
Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe are rumored to have honeymooned here, adding to its Hollywood allure. The estate offers a glimpse into the glamorous lifestyle of Hollywood's golden era.
At the end of N Avenida Palmas, turn left. You will see the Jack Benn residence at the end of Via Eytel.
Jack Benny – 987 N Avenida Palos Verdes
Built in 1947, it has a main house and two separate guest houses, all surrounding a west-facing pool with stunning mountain views. It has -bedrooms, 5.5 baths, and spans 3,336 square feet. The main house features travertine floors, a fireplace, wood shutters, glass walls overlooking the pool, and a stunning primary suite. Each poolside guest house has one room and a bath.
Jack Benny, the beloved comedian and radio star, had a special connection to Palm Springs and often featured the city in his popular radio and television shows. Benny and his iconic character, Rochester, frequently joked about their trips to Palm Springs, highlighting the city's appeal as a glamorous getaway for Hollywood stars. In one memorable episode of "The Jack Benny Program," Jack, Rochester, and Polly the parrot head to Palm Springs for a vacation, only for Jack to hilariously end up in bed after jumping into an empty pool. This connection cemented Palm Springs as a symbol of leisure and comedy in Benny's work.
The original Dinah Shore home is on the corner of N Avenida Palos Verdes and E El Alameda.
Dinah Shore and George Montgomery - 877 N Avenida Palos Verdes
Dinah Shore and her husband, actor George Montgomery, built this home in 1952 by John Byers. It has 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, and is 2,594 square feet. It features terrazzo floors, a spacious living area with a pitched-beamed ceiling, and a large entertainer's kitchen with outdoor space. The home is completely walled and gated, offering privacy and a beautiful, private lot with gardens and a pool.
Turn right on E El Alameda toward N Avenida Olivas and turn left. The back of the Darryl Zanuck Estate is on the corner of E El Almeda and N Avenida Olivos and takes up the full block to Tamarisk Road. Head to Tamarisk Road.
Darryl Zanuck Estate – 346 E Tamarisk Road
The Zanuck Estate, built in 1935, has 8 bedrooms, 8 baths, and 7,757 square feet of living space. It sits on 1.45 acres. A grand living room showcases the wood-beamed ceiling and original fireplace, while French doors open to expansive grounds and views. The primary suite occupies the entire second floor, offering a spacious bedroom and two private sitting rooms, all with panoramic views in every direction. An additional guest bedroom is found in the main house.
The legendary "casino," where Zanuck hosted Hollywood's elite, features a spacious game room flanked by four guest suites. The carriage house above the garage includes a living room, kitchen, two bedrooms, and a bath.
Darryl Zanuck was a pioneering American film producer, screenwriter, and studio executive who significantly shaped Hollywood's golden age. As the co-founder of 20th Century Fox, he became one of the most influential figures in the entertainment industry. Known for his creative vision and leadership, Zanuck produced and helped craft numerous iconic films, including All About Eve, The Grapes of Wrath, The King and I, and 42nd Street.
Head east on Tamarisk Road, then turn right onto N Via Miraleste.
Tillie Lewis Residence – 657 N Via Miraleste
Tillie Lewis was the tomato queen. She opened her first tomato cannery in 1935 in Stockton. Lewis made San Joaquin County one of the nation's top tomato producers, founding Flotill Foods Corporation. In 1951, Tillie received the honor of "Businesswoman of the Year," bestowed upon her by the Associated Press. She later changed the name of her company to Tillie Lewis Foods and, in 1961, began selling shares on the American Stock Exchange. Tillie Lewis Foods eventually merged with Ogden Foods of New York City (now part of Pet, Inc.) in 1966. Tillie was then elected the first woman director of Ogden Foods.
The Invernada Estate (or White House) has 7,900 square feet, 6 bedrooms, and 10.5 baths. George Heigho built it on almost two acres in 1931. The architect is attributed to William Charles Thinner, who also designed the O'Donnell House. It is considered one of the best examples of Spanish Revival architecture in Palm Springs. She purchased the property in 1946. The 1,700-square-foot guest house was built in the 1950s.
It is currently being restored. It is a Class 1 Historic Site.
Turn left onto E Granvia Valmonte.
Marion Huntington Residence -- 735 E Granvia Valmonte
Marion was the spinster daughter of Henry Huntington, a wealthy family in the railroad industry. He started the Pacific Electric Railway Company and several other train companies. At one time, he was the largest landowner in the state of California. She was known for her love of Palm Springs and her philanthropic contributions to the community.
This large estate has 5 bedrooms and 6 baths, totaling 5,115 square feet. It sits on a rare 2.15-acre lot. It was built in 1933. The 1952 Palm Springs telephone directory noted that a chauffeur lived on site. She was listed in the 1959 directory.
The Abernathy House is on the corner of E Granvia Valmonte and N Phillips Road, the first street on your left. The entrance is on N Phillips Road.
James Logan Abernathy Residence – 611 N Phillips Road
This beautiful pavilion-style modernist residence was designed by architect William F. Cody in 1962 for millionaire socialite James Logan Abernathy (1890-1980). It features 5 bedrooms and 6 baths. The L-shaped wings are attached to the central pavilion at the northeast and southeast corners, recalling architect Richard Neutra's "pinwheel" floor plans. Each wing is surmounted by a hipped roof structure finished with shake shingles. The single-story 4,680 square-foot structure features evenly-spaced wooden columns that support a nearly continuous pergola that surrounds most of the house and connects the outer pavilions to the center, thus extending the "roofed" area to almost 10,000 square feet.
Abernathy was from a wealthy family in the mercantile and banking industry. They established the Logan Furniture Co in 1873 and later the First National Bank of Kansas City, Mo. James first worked as an insurance broker in the 1920s but later joined the family business. This is a Class I Historic Site.
Allan and Mildred Kramer Residence - 800 E Granvia Valmonte
Kramer owned the Bel-Air Engineering firm, which produced various patios, carports, and outdoor shelters. By the 1950s, it was the country's largest manufacturer of custom-built fiberglass and redwood patios, with three manufacturing plants. They live in Beverly Hills, and this was their winter retreat.
The home was designed in the New Formalist style by James H. McNaughton in 1963, a noted desert designer of the period, and is an important example of a custom modernist structure that exhibits numerous stylistic features that place it within the historical context of the Palm Springs Modern period (1945-1969). He was formerly the head art director for ABC Television. The Kramer Residence stands out as a particularly distinguished example of the New Formalism, a style primarily employed in more monumental structures. Furthermore, the extensive coverage of the home's architecture in a wide range of publications, from its completion to the present, has helped enhance awareness and appreciation for the quality and diversity of Desert Modernism.
Continue on E Granvia Valmonte to N. Camino Real and turn left.
Tony Curtis & Janet Leigh Residence – 641 N Camino Real
Donald Wexler designed the house in 1960, and Roy Fey developed it. This 5-bedroom, 5-bath home spans 3,204 square feet. It has tongue-and-groove ceilings, travertine floors, and expansive windows that reveal mountain views. There is a detached guesthouse.
Tony starred in "Some Like It Hot" (1959) with Marilyn Monroe and Jack Lemmon. Janet is best known for her role in Alfred Hitchcock's thriller "Psycho" (1960).
From here, head back to Ruth Hardy Park by going east on E. Granvia Valmonte and turning left on N. Avenida Caballeros. The park is one block north.
Extended Movie Colony Self-Guided Walking Tour
If you want to keep walking, extend your walking tour by staying on E. Granvia Valmonte to N. Arquilla Road and turning right. Go two blocks and make a left on Via Colusa. The Frank Sinatra Estate is in the center of the block on your right.
Frank Sinatra Twin Palms Estate – 1145 E Via Colusa
Twin Palms, Frank Sinatra's original desert home, was designed by E. Stewart Williams, AIA. When he first became an international star in the late 1940s, Sinatra's love of the desert led to Williams's first residential commission. Twin Palms, and its popularity as a destination for Sinatra's famous friends, was primarily responsible for the modernism movement that defines Palm Springs today. A new generation can live like Sinatra in one of the world's best-known architectural properties. The fully restored, beautifully furnished residence, with its signature piano-shaped swimming pool, has been featured worldwide and offers luxury living at the edge of the Palm Springs Movie Colony.
The house has 4 bedrooms, 6.5 baths, and 3,617 square feet.
Head east and turn left on N Hermos Drive. Go four blocks to the corner of E El Alameda. Heddy Lamarr's home is on the northeast corner.
Blanche Sewell Residence – 1232 E El Alameda
The home's owner was renowned MGM film editor Blanche Sewell, who purchased the house in 1937. Credits include Grand Hotel and The Wizard of OZ. Sewell's famous houseguests reportedly included Greta Garbo, Clark Gable, Judy Garland, and Gene Kelly, who stayed at Hedy's hideaway on weekends.
Hedday Lamarr leased this 4-bedroom, 4-bath home with 2,400 square feet in 1938.
Across the street is the first Bob Hope house.
Bob Hope Residence – 1188 E El Almeda
This 5-bedroom, 7-bath home has 2,943 square feet.
This was Bob Hope's winter home in Palm Springs from the 1940s through the 1960s. A Desert Sun article mentioned that VP Spiro Agnew was in town in October of 1969 for golfing and visited Hope during his stay. The paper noted that he and Deloris were still at this address in 1972, so they had owned this home for over 25 years.
Head west on E El Alameda two blocks. The home of Dorothy Lamour and Bing Crosby will be on your left.
Bing Crosby – 1011 E El Alameda
Crosby owned this 4-bedroom, 4-bath Spanish Hacienda, which is 3,237 square feet and built in 1934.
He and his wife, Dixie Lee, had been coming to Palm Springs since the 1930s and would perform at the Racquet Club. He was a regular at local golf tournaments. In 1952, he broadcast his weekly program from the Plaza Theatre.
Ruth Hardy Park is across the street.
Tour Ends
Explore More:
- Explore Palm Springs Through the Eyes of an Architectural Historian
- Midcentury Modern Architecture
- Modern Way
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the Movie Colony Self-Walking Tour in Palm Springs?
The Movie Colony Self-Walking Tour is a self-guided route through one of Palm Springs’ most historic neighborhoods, known for its Hollywood connections, distinctive architecture, lush landscaping, and historic residences. The tour highlights homes associated with celebrities and prominent residents from Palm Springs’ past.
Where does the Movie Colony Self-Walking Tour begin?
The tour begins at Ruth Hardy Park on Tamarisk Road. From the park, walk to the corner of N Via Miraleste and Tamarisk Road to begin the route through the Movie Colony neighborhood.
What historic homes can I see on the Movie Colony Self-Walking Tour?
The tour includes historic residences associated with figures such as Cary Grant, Harold Lloyd, Dinah Shore and George Montgomery, Darryl Zanuck, Tillie Lewis, Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh, as well as other notable Palm Springs residents. The homes represent a mix of Spanish Revival, Spanish Colonial Revival, midcentury modern, and other architectural styles.
Is the Movie Colony Self-Walking Tour focused on Hollywood history?
Yes. The Movie Colony became a favorite Palm Springs retreat for Hollywood celebrities and other prominent figures. The tour explores that history through residences connected to stars and entertainment-industry figures, offering a glimpse into Palm Springs’ Golden Age.
Can I extend the Movie Colony Self-Walking Tour?
Yes. An extended route continues beyond the main loop and includes additional historic residences associated with Hollywood figures, including Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, and Bing Crosby. This option allows visitors to explore more of the neighborhood and its celebrity history.