Gillespie House, Los Angeles Historic Cultural Monument #1094
Built: 1925 Declared: 08/05/2015
Built in 1925 in the Hollywood Hills, the Gillespie House is a two-story single-family residence in the French Normandy style. Character-defining features of the style include the round tower topped by a conical roof, the arched entryway, and the door made of horizontal slats. Architect Frederick A. Hanson designed the home for his uncle Anthony D. Hanson, adjacent to a similar residence Frederick Hanson built for himself (HCM #1031). The property is also associated with Dorothy Gillespie, the mother of special effects pioneer Albert “Buddie” Gillespie who worked for MGM from 1924-1965. Between 1960 and 1972 the building was home to Oscar-winning sound engineer Charles Grenzbach, who lived at the home when he completed some of his most famous work including “The Godfather” and “Chinatown.”