Looming over the luxurious city of Beverly Hills sits Greystone Mansion, a sprawling estate built by Los Angeles’ first oil tycoon family, the Dohenys. It is also home to one of Beverly Hills’ earliest scandals. Typically Greystone keeps its doors closed, with only a handful of exceptions. Thankfully my friend, Kristen, was able to secure tickets for one of the days they are open for self-guided tours!

Edward Laurence Dohney was born in 1856 in chilly Wisconsin, and soon enough he listened to the call of the sunshine state, and in 1892, he became the first to find oil in Los Angeles. Dohney married Carrie Louella Wilkins, and they had two children, but after losing their daughter, they doted on their son, Edward “Ned” Laurence Dohney Jr. However, Carrie was prone to drinking, the pair divorced, and within three months, Dohney Sr. remarried. Presumably unable to handle the news, Carrie committed suicide by consuming battery acid. Ned was just six years old.

Ned grew up, and met a lovely woman by the name of Lucy Smith, and through her met a man named Theodore Hugh Plunkett. Originally from Illinois, Plunkett moved to California with his parents, and later found work as a mechanic with the Smith family. Ned eventually took on Plunkett as his chauffeur and mechanic. The pair enjoyed not just a professional relationship, but a close personal one too, described as “brothers” by some. The pair joined the military on the same day in 1917, and a war’s end, Plunkett was given the position of secretary to the Dohney family.

Ned later married Lucy, and as a wedding present, Dohney Sr., gifted the couple 12.58 acres of land perched above the growing Los Angeles area in 1926. Construction began the following year, designed by Gordon B. Kaufmann (who would go on to design Hoover Dam) and was completed for Ned, Lucy, and their five children to move in the fall of 1928. The entire estate cost over $3 million to complete, with the 46,000 square foot home alone costing a little over $1 million. Yes, that is in 1920s money. The mansion was built for guests, with a powder room for ladies, and a cloak and wash room for men, a library, card room, breakfast room, billiard room (complete with hidden bar), and even a bowling alley, and theatre. Surrounding the mansion were stables, kennels, tennis courts, swimming pool, greenhouse, even a fire station, as well as lush landscaping with water features, designed by Paul G. Thiene. In the midst of the construction, the family, including Plunkett, had been embroiled in the Teapot Dome Scandal, bribing a US cabinet official.

While Plunkett was married, he often stayed at Greystone, which his wife was annoyed by, and the pair divorced in 1928. He had also been plagued by health issues, including dental problems, an abscess near one of his eyes, and fevers. Supposedly worried for his health, the Dohneys suggested Plunkett be admitted to a sanitarium, but ultimately he did not go. There was speculation that it was really to keep him from testifying on the Teapot Dome Scandal.

Tragedy and scandal rocked the estate on February 16, 1929, when Ned and Plunkett were found dead of gunshot wounds inside the home. Plunkett had arrived around 9:30 in the evening, with Lucy and Ned putting their children to bed. Ned and Plunkett went off to talk, during their discussion, Ned made a phone call to the family doctor, Dr. Ernest Clyde Fishbaugh.  Then a little before 11 pm there was a loud noise. Shortly after, Dr. Fishbaugh arrived and went upstairs. He claimed to have seen Plunkett, who yelled at him to “stay out of here” and closed the door in his face, followed by a gunshot.

Upon entering Dr. Fishbaugh saw Plunkett dead on the floor, and Ned, in his dressing down, clinging to life, and said he did what he could to save Ned, but to no avail. Hours later the police were called in. Things were confusing to say the least, the gun was found under Plunkett’s body, still warm, and free of fingerprints. Ned had powder burns by his wound, indicating the gun was three inches or less from his head, while Plunkett had none. An autopsy and newspapers would later claim that Plunkett had placed the gun so close to his head that the powder burns were on the inside of his skull. As is often the case with rich families of influence who can write their own “truths” the papers would say Ned was the victim of his secretary who had gone insane, and Plunkett was so overcome by guilt that he turned the gun on himself. The truth may never be known.

After the tragic events, Lucy continued to live at Greystone, remodeling in the 1940s, before selling in 1955. After various owners, the last of whom wished to demolish the grand old house, the City of Beverly Hills purchased the home in 1965. In 1971 it became a public park. Its extravagant elements and historical significance to the Los Angeles area were enough for the property to be placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. Today it is maintained through the city and Friends of Greystone.

Don’t be at all surprised if the place looks familiar, as it has been used in dozens of films and televisions hows over the decades. Just to name a few… it was used extensively in the bizarre Carl Reiner comedy All of Me. The entry hall can be seen in one of my favorites, Phantom of the Paradise, and served a monastery in Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle. Fans of the Death Becomes Her, Witches of Eastwick, and Spider-Man (Raimi’s versions) will recognize the kitchen. The millennial favorite Gilmore Girls also filmed here, most notably the exterior was used as Chilton. The exterior was also used for portions of Professor Xavier’s school in 2000’s X-Men. Another Hugh Jackman film, The Prestige, used the card room, with its arched windows near the end of the film. The amazing private bowling alley was used prominently in There Will Be Blood. Greystone can also be seen in The Big Labowski, National Treasure: Book of Secrets, and most recently, Apple’s Palm Royale.

Greystone Mansion is located at 905 Loma Vista Drive in Beverly Hills. The grounds are free to visit, and open daily, but will close on occasion for filming and events. For the best up to date information, including when you can step inside, I recommend following Friends of Greystone on Instagram. Tours are self-guided with docents in each room that you can ask questions. You can learn more, including securing tickets to events, on their website.

What’s Nearby?

Song-Word Art House

The Whisky A Go Go

Sources
“History of Greystone” Friends of Greystone.
Huver, Scott. “The Greystone Mansion Murders of 1929: Mr. Plunkett in the Study, With the Gun?” Vanity Fair, 27 September 2024.