Leonie Pray House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Leonie Pray House |
|
|---|---|
Leonie Pray House, October 2009
|
|
| Location | 4252 Country Club Dr., Long Beach, California |
| Built | 1927 |
| Architect | Clarence Aldrich |
| Architectural style(s) | English Tudor Revival |
| Governing body | Private |
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
The Leonie Pray House, also known as the "Dawson-Pray House," is a special historic building in Long Beach, California. It is located in the Los Cerritos neighborhood. This large house is about 6,500 square feet. It was designed by architect Clarence Aldrich in the English Tudor Revival style. The house has been used as a setting for many movies and TV shows, including Donnie Darko, Not Another Teen Movie, Weird Science, and Beverly Hills, 90210.
Contents
The Story of the House
Building a Grand Home
The Leonie Pray House was built in 1927. It was first owned by William E. "Billy" Babb. He became very wealthy when oil was found nearby in Signal Hill.
The Pray Family Moves In
In 1929, Russell Honore Pray bought the house for his wife, Leonie Pray. Russell was a lawyer. He met Leonie in Paris, France, after World War I. They fell in love quickly and got married there.
After they moved to Long Beach, Leonie wanted to learn to speak English without a French accent. She went to a special school for this. As a gift for finishing school, Russell bought her this beautiful English Tudor house.
Parties and Famous Guests
From 1932 through the 1970s, the Prays loved to host big parties. Every New Year's Eve, they would open their home to friends and neighbors. They decorated the house with many flowers. They even had a huge Christmas tree that was two stories tall!
People in Long Beach always talked about Leonie Pray's elegant parties. Newspapers wrote about the amazing decorations. The house was a very important place for social events among the upper class in Long Beach. Leonie herself became known as a wonderful hostess.
Some famous people visited the house. Liberace, who later became a very famous pianist, performed in the Prays' living room when he was young. Opera singer Risë Stevens also sang for special guests at the home.
An Unusual Incident
In 1968, there was a small fire at the house. Russell Pray, who was 76 at the time, heard a noise outside. He saw flames in the alley behind his home. He quickly called the police and fire department. Luckily, he was able to put out the fire himself with a garden hose. Only the back gate was damaged.
New Owners
Russell Pray passed away in 1971. Leonie Pray continued to live in the house for some time. Later, the house was bought by William F. Dawson. This is why it is sometimes called the Dawson-Pray House.
House Design and Special Status
Unique Architecture
The Leonie Pray House is built in the English Tudor Revival style. It was designed by Clarence Aldrich, a well-known architect from Long Beach. The house features red brick, dark wood beams, and stucco. It has a special arched entrance and windows with leaded glass.
Inside, the living room is very grand. It has a high ceiling with wooden beams, like a cathedral. This large, beautiful room was perfect for hosting the Prays' famous parties.
A Historic Landmark
The Leonie Pray House is officially recognized as a Long Beach Historic Landmark. This means it's a very important building because of its history and design. Experts say it's one of the most important and beautiful homes in Long Beach. Its size and detailed design are truly special.
Seen on Screen: Filming Location
The Leonie Pray House and its neighborhood are popular spots for movies and TV shows. The area is even known as the "American Pie" neighborhood because the movie American Pie was filmed there. The house where Ferris Bueller lived in Ferris Bueller's Day Off is also on the same street.
The Pray House has been featured in these films and TV shows:
- In 1983, the house was used in the thriller movie The Star Chamber. It was shown as the secret meeting place for a group of judges.
- In 1985, the house appeared in the movie Weird Science.
- In 2001, the house was the home of the character Jim Cunningham (played by Patrick Swayze) in the movie Donnie Darko.
- Also in 2001, the house was the home of the main character, Jake "the Jock" (played by Chris Evans), in the movie Not Another Teen Movie.
- In the TV series Beverly Hills, 90210, the house was the home of Ty Collins. It was seen in an episode where Adrianna met with Ty's parents.
