Yes, Bela Lugosi had a pet panther. Because why the hell wouldn’t he?
You may remember that one of Bela Lugosi’s homes hit the market around this time last year, a home that he (allegedly) still haunts. Late psychic Sylvia Browne once visited that home in Los Angeles, which rests under the iconic Hollywood sign, and reported seeing the spirit of the long-dead Lugosi roaming the halls in his Dracula cape.
That house has since sold, but another former Lugosi home just went up for grabs this week. Los Angeles Times reports that the horror icon was the very first owner of the house located in the Outpost Estates area of the Hollywood Hills, which was built in 1935. The asking price, at the time of writing this? $3.795 million.
The site details the listing, “Obscured from the street by fences and hedges, the two-story house was built as a model home in 1935 by developer Charles E. Toberman. Lugosi was the home’s first resident and is said to have let his pet panther roam the lush half-acre property.”
They continue…
“Among features of note are modern chandeliers, dark hardwood floors and patterned wall treatments. A large island with a floating range anchors the refreshed kitchen, which has built-in booth seating and a brick fireplace. Other living spaces include a living room with a fireplace, a formal dining room and a study/den that sits off the staircase landing. There are four bedrooms and 5.5 bathrooms plus a separate pool house and guesthouse, each with a full bath. An outdoor kitchen, a dining pergola and a swimming pool and spa fill out the leafy grounds.”
No word on if any panthers are buried in the backyard.
