I've known for many years that Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball lived on a ranch only about 1.5 miles from where I live now. In Chatsworth, near the corner of Devonshire St and Corbin Ave. They lived there from 1941 to 1954. Cost of the house was about $15,000.

I did more research and it looks like the house still exists. So I drove over there and took some photos.

Zillow.com does list the build date of the house as 1941, which is the same time frame. The other houses surrounding it were built much later, in 1977.

The first three photos show the house as it looks now. The fourth photo is an aerial view. There are photos on the Internet of the house and the ranch itself... no development at all for at least 1/4 mile in each direction back then, which is the way some of the celebrities liked it. Enough room for horses, livestock, etc.

Here is an aerial photo from 1952, when Desi and Lucy still lived at the ranch house. The arrows point to the house. This shows there were only groves of trees surrounding the property.

It looks very plain Jane now. It's a shame the newer owners didn't keep the original mid century and or/Spanish style character that it likely had.

Very cool Tony! Thanks for the photo's!:wave:

It looks like a private school or something. I'm wondering if they moved up in 1954 when their show took off. I've seen estates from that era that are breathtaking.

Thanks for the photos Tony. Very nice!

It looks like a private school or something. I'm wondering if they moved up in 1954 when their show took off. I've seen estates from that era that are breathtaking.
There is a private school, partially visible in the modern photo, at the extreme left.

Desi and Lucy moved to Beverly Hills most likely because of the distance required to drive to the studio (about 25 miles). A portion of the Hollywood freeway was in use, but they had to drive on the valley surface streets to get to it.

Thanks for the photos Tony. Very nice!
Glad you like them.

Very cool Tony! Thanks for the photo's!:wave:
If wonder if the current owner knows the history of the house?

Here are two more photos.

In the first photo, I outlined approximately where the house is. Hard to see it with all the trees.

In the second photo is a street view showing the northern end of the neighborhood. The arrows point to where the house is, behind the wall.

It is incredible how much the landscape can be changed.

One of the best examples would be what once was Iverson Ranch, in the far northwest portion of Chatsworth, which was a movie location ranch. Many, many movies and TV shows were filmed there. At least 40 episodes of the TV show "Bonanza," for example.

Here is an excellent example. Believe it or not, this is the same view before and after the freeway was built. This freeway, the 118, sliced right through northern edge of lower Iverson Ranch (there was an upper, middle and lower).

What a difference!

I love the style of the homes built in the 40s and 50's.

I love the style of the homes built in the 40s and 50's.
Yes, me, too. Many pleasing styles from that era.

Too bad there isn't a pic available of what the house looked like in the 50's so you could have something to compare it with. The owners of her Beverly Hills estate changed dramatically changed the exterior.

Too bad there isn't a pic available of what the house looked like in the 50's so you could have something to compare it with. The owners of her Beverly Hills estate changed dramatically changed the exterior.
I have found quite a few photos of the back yard area, with Lucy and/or Desi posing. There may be a photo of the front of the house. I will post one if I can find it.

Here is another radical change.

The first photo show the undeveloped area and "Smooth Hill." As seen in the second photo, the hill was actually removed and in place are apartments and condos. The "X" is Topanga Canyon Blvd, the check mark is the 118 freeway and the arrow points to where the hill was.

The grounds look nice but the house itself is a little boxy.