In 1910, leading vintner Secondo Guasti commissioned Hudson & Munsell Architects to design the mansion in the Beaux Arts and Italian styles. Around this time, the home was purchased by Busby Berkeley, who turned the basement wine cellar into a film editing studio. Then in 1944, the Los Angeles Physicians Aid Association acquired the property as a retirement home. Since 1974, this Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument has been owned by the Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness (MSIA) and serves as a facility for seminars, retreats, and classes. Photograph caption dated January 5, 1938 reads, "Famed grilled iron front door flanked by magnificent stone pillars at the Secundo Guasti home, located at 3500 West Adams Blvd., which was closed and its art treasures sold at auction following the death of Mrs. Secundo Guasti." Note the S. G. initials worked into the center piece of the grilled door.
If you're wondering about permissions and what you can do with this item, a good starting point is the "rights information" on this page. See our terms of use for more tips.
Share your story
Has Calisphere helped you advance your research, complete a project, or find something meaningful? We'd love to hear about it; please send us a message.