The Movie Colony (also known as "Old Movie Colony"[1]) is one of the recognized neighborhoods in Palm Springs, California, developed primarily during the 1930s and 1940s.[2] The community includes 170 homes,[3] bound by Tachevah Road on the North, Alejo Road on the South, Avenida Caballeros on the East and Indian Canyon on the West.[4]:133
The Movie Colony is one of the 52 legally recognized neighborhoods in Palm Springs by the City of Palm Springs Office of Neighborhoods[5] and is part of the Organized Neighborhoods of Palm Springs (ONE-PS).[6][7]
History
The neighborhood name appears above street signs in The Movie Colony as part of the city's "Blade" sign program.
The Movie Colony developed in proximity to the El Mirador Hotel, which opened in 1928 and was a destination for visitors from the entertainment industry.[9] During the 1930s, entertainers and studio executives purchased properties in the neighborhood.[4]:133 The neighborhood got its name because of the Hollywood celebrities who resided there.[10][11] Celebrity residents included Cary Grant, Jack Benny, and Dinah Shore.[3]
The Movie Colony Neighborhood Organization (MCNO) is the legal entity that represents the neighborhood as part of ONE-PS,[7] and advocates for the neighborhood’s preservation.[11]
Architecture
The neighborhood contains examples of Spanish Colonial Revival houses, many built in the 1920s and 1930s, characterized by stucco walls, clay tile roofs, and enclosed courtyards.[12][13]
Later development introduced mid-century modern residences designed by architects such as Albert Frey, William Cody, and E. Stewart Williams.[2][14] Frey’s 1935 Movie Colony Hotel is located within the neighborhood and has been described as one of Palm Springs’ early modernist landmarks.[15]
Historic properties
There are several homes located in The Movie Colony that have been designated Class 1 Historic Sites[16] by the City of Palm Springs.
Rachel de Brabant Residence
The Rachel de Brabant Residence is located at 982 North Avenida Palmas. Built in the 1920s, it is an early example of Spanish Colonial Revival design. In 2010, the City of Palm Springs designated the property as a Class 1 Historic Site.[12][17]
Cary Grant House
Cary Grant's house
Cary Grant House (also known as Las Palomas) is a Spanish Colonial Revival residence located at 928 North Avenida Palmas.[4]:168 The home was commissioned in 1927 for Dr. Jacob John Kocher, a pharmacist.[18]:26 The property sits on approximately 1.5 acres and incorporates typical features of the style, including stucco exteriors, a red tile roof, and landscaped courtyards.[13][18]:132 Cary Grant and his wife, actor Betsy Drake, owned the home from 1954 to 1972.[18]:132 In 2011, the City of Palm Springs designated the property as a Class 1 Historic Site.[13][19]
Kramer Residence
The Kramer Residence
The Kramer Residence, located at 800 East Granvia Valmonte, was commissioned by Allan and Mildred Kramer, completed in 1963.[20] According to the Palm Springs Preservation Foundation, the house was designed by architect James McNaughton and exhibits characteristics of New Formalism architecture, including a symmetrical plan, vertical emphasis, and formal expression uncommon in residential design.[21] The home received attention in Architectural Digest in 2017 when it was featured as the venue for the DeÇaSo design dinner, described as a “modernist Kramer House.”[22] In 2019, the City of Palm Springs designated the property a Class 1 Historic Site.[20]
James Logan Abernathy Residence
The James Logan Abernathy Residence is located at 611 North Phillips Road, and was built in 1962 for businessman James Logan Abernathy.[14] Designed by architect William Cody, the home is arranged in a series of pavilions connected by pergolas and features post-and-beam construction, deep roof overhangs, and floor-to-ceiling glass walls.[23] The design reflects mid-20th-century modernist principles, including open plans and integration of indoor and outdoor spaces.[24] In 2013, the City of Palm Springs designated the home a Class 1 Historic Site.[14] In 2024, The Wall Street Journal reported on the restoration and sale of the residence, noting its status as a designated historic landmark.[25]
Additional Class 1 Historic Sites, The Movie Colony
Additionally, five other properties have been designated Class 1 Historic Sites by the City of Palm Springs:[26]
The David Margolius Residence / Ambassador Hotel / Spanish Inn
640 North Indian Canyon Drive
Invernada Residence (George Heigho)
657 North Via Miraleste
William Schwartz Residence
200 East Tamarisk Road
Steven Cushman Residence
840 North Indian Canyon
Frank Conklin Residence / Palm Springs Club
265 East Via Altamira
Notable residents
Individuals who owned or resided in Movie Colony include:
641 N Camino Real. Former home of Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh
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