Youngwood Court... If Liberace Had Pursued Architecture Instead of Music.

Norbert Youngwood, the owner of this Hancock Park house formerly belonging to Nat King Cole, gets my nod for LA's most ostentatious display of ghetto fabulousness. (Sorry for the crappy photo taken with my camera phone out of a moving car.) Perversely, as much as I think this overuse of statuary is tacky, I love the fact that it's in L.A. Along with the Hollywood sign and the obligatory late night post-alcohol run to a roach coach or El Taurino, I feel that a drive by Youngwood Court is a cultural experience.

What are some of the hidden gems, good or bad, that make your city stand out?

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Comment by PANDA JU on April 17, 2009 at 3:52pm: That's a lotta Hancock! Gotta love L.A.

Comment by Kara on March 3, 2009 at 9:43pm: haha I have driven by this house a million times and was always curious what the story behind it was. Thanks Will!

Comment by Margaret on March 3, 2009 at 12:37pm: ah! it's like modern day Versailles!
Rococo is back baby!

Comment by Charles on March 3, 2009 at 11:58am: I pass by this house often. I no like. Revisit at Christmas. You can imagine how bright it gets

Comment by Charles on March 3, 2009 at 11:57am: I love the Sheats House by John Lautner
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sheats_goldstein_pt4/

Comment by sAm on March 3, 2009 at 11:52am: I don't live there, but the Witch House (Spadena House) in Beverly Hills has always been a favorite. It was built as a movie set in 1921 then later moved to it's current location.
Address:
516 N. Walden Drive,
Beverly Hills, CA

Comment by Will on March 3, 2009 at 11:51am: @Susan: Yeah. Norbert put up 1 statue originally and got complaints from his neighbors. In retaliation, he put up 18 more, thus enshrining himself forever in L.A. lore as the guy that would go to any lengths to piss his neighbors off. I think there have been numerous lawsuits to try to enjoin his use of statuary, but then again... that may just be an urban legend.

Comment by Susan on March 3, 2009 at 10:38am: The statues are replica's of "David" aren't they? I remember hearing that there was some sort of argument between the owner and neighbors over them.