Palm Springs home has ties to Sears, Roebuck and Co. fortune and 'The Wizard of Oz' - Los Angeles Times
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Palm Springs home has ties to Sears, Roebuck and Co. fortune and ‘The Wizard of Oz’

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A Midcentury Modern-style residence with several generations of filmmaking ties is on the market in a gated Palm Springs enclave for $893,400.

Called ScreenLands, the low-slung house was built in 1947 for Armand Deutsch, the late MGM producer and heir to the Sears, Roebuck and Co. fortune, and his first wife, actress Benay Venuta.

The home was later owned by “The Wizard of Oz” producer Mervyn LeRoy and his wife, Kitty, who hosted numerous stars for tennis weekends during their decades of ownership. Among their guests was actor Robert Mitchum and actresses Loretta Young and Lana Turner.

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The LeRoys sold the property in 1972 to film actor and producer M.J. Frankovich and his wife, British actress Binnie Barnes. Frankovich is known for independently producing John Wayne’s final film, “The Shootist.”

Tucked behind privacy walls and gates, the 2,914-square-foot home has a cement walkway that leads up to red-hued double doors. Inside, open-plan living spaces feature custom built-ins, French limestone floors and floor-to-ceiling glass.

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A living room with a wall fireplace, a dining room, a center-island kitchen, four bedrooms and three bathrooms are among living spaces. The master suite has a separate sitting room and glass doors that open to the swimming pool.

Two exterior showers, lawns and landscaping complete the quarter-acre setting.

The property last changed hands in 1999 for $225,000, records show.

Sandra Quinn of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties holds the listing.

[email protected]

Twitter: @NJLeitereg

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