An invitation to Pickfair was a sign of social acceptance into the closed Hollywood community. Advertisement. !Not defending her at all, but to your point about ghosts leaving the house once it’s torn down, the only example I can think of is Clifton Webb, who supposedly haunted his beloved estate on Rexford Drive until it was demolished, whereupon he moved his haunting act to the halls of the Abbey of the Psalms Mausoleum where he is interred.

She should have kept the termites excuse bc at least that was a bit more believable. Pickfair drew a steady stream of international royalty, politicians, scientists, and artists. Pia was very nice, but I was indeed shocked that she razed the entire historic property that was the original Pickfair! While the paranormal interests me, again, I’m no expert, but wouldn’t the ghost just move in to the new house? I hope it has stopped the insanity.Although I have searched all over the next, I couldn’t find anything on Buddy Rogers’ (he died in 1999) reaction to the demolition of Pickfair or claims of haunting there; other then a hearsay report saying he saw Mary’s apparition there? From my research, Pickford herself spoke of hauntings, and I wonder if Zadora knew that this would go some way in explaining her vandalism. You can deal with plumbing issues. At least, according to the books.A laughing ghost?

The estate once owned by actors Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks, and designed by architect Wallace Neff, is for sale in Beverly Hills. They are angry, justifiably so, that history can be so callously disregarded. It was the historic estate bought in 1919 by silent film actor, Pickford kept the house after the divorce and lived there with her third husband, actor Zadora said in the interview that as soon as she and her family moved into the house, a female ghost appeared to her children at night and would frighten them.

Pickfair featured a collection of early 18th-century English and French period furniture, decorative arts and antiques.

After reading your (most excellent) article, all I can think of is why in the hell didn’t these two self absorbed greedy people just MOVE?

Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. After she died in 1979, Rogers reported being visited by a woman in a long, white gown that he believed was his deceased wife. In any case, if you were never inside the home, you don’t know, do you?I have only just come across this story whilst researching Mary Pickford.

WHILE THIS HOUSE, AND THAT IS WHAT IT IS… A HOUSE, IN MANY OF OUR HEARTS MEANT SOMETHING IT WAS NOT OURS TO DICTATE ON ITS FUTURE.
I’m not an expert on Pickfair but I don’t recall anyone dying there (if someone knows the answer, please post it here), not even Pickford, who suffered a cerebral hemorrhage there but died later at Santa Monica Hospital. And I remember almost bursting into tears when I read Pia Zadora had it torn down. A wonderful, grand house & home. Notable pieces in the collection included furniture from the Barberini Palace, the The mansion also featured an Old West style saloon complete with an ornate burnished mahogany bar obtained from a saloon in During the 1920s the house became a focal point for Hollywood's social activities, and the couple became famous for entertaining there.

I have felt their presence and seen them, but am still not sure of what happened. The Buss’ knew it was haunted.

)I would have sold Pickfair. Wouldn’t a death at Pickfair have made the newspapers unless it was covered-up by Fairbanks and Pickford?

His what, man servant?? I loved this home.
It was so karmically cool. !Great story Allan. Shame shame shame on you Pia!!!!!!!

Thanks for hearing my small part of Pickfair memories.I think all your tidbits of Hollywood History would make a great book. I just saw a strange tall, dark woman in the hallway up there. What’s new?“Mark”.

“My daughter described this apparition of this woman: She had a … I agree, if you don’t want to keep the house, go somewhere undeveloped and build your dream McMansion.Trash with cash, destroying an iconic landmark. Architect Wallace Neff rebuilt the mansion to a Georgian style manor with 25,243 square foot. During her busy lifetime, silent screen diva Mary Pickford Pickfair collected opulent furnishings, decorative art, jewelry and fittings to adorn PICKFAIR, the Beverly Hills Georgian manor she and Douglas Fairbanks Sr. constructed in Beverly Hills when they married..