Photograph of 5423 Walnut Hill Lane by The Dallas Morning News, via Flashback: Dallas
In 1948 on Walnut Hill Lane, there stood a home fit for Cary Grant. Or, at least, fit for a character he played on screen. The place was one of 73 erected to promote “Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House.” Have you seen the movie? It’s a comedy about the headache of home renovation. “Money Pit,” starring Tom Hanks, was a remake.
Contractor A. Pollard Simons designed the house in our neighborhood. It was intended to be a replica of the one in the film. He followed the guidelines provided by Selznick Studios to the best of his ability but apparently had a penchant for luxury. According to The Dallas Morning News, he couldn’t resist adding “a breezeway and connecting servant quarters.”
For more, visit Paula Bosse’s blog, Flashback: Dallas. That’s where I learned about this fascinating piece of Preston Hollow history. “A native Dallasite who often finds the past more interesting than the present,” Bosse is a wealth of information, and I highly recommend perusing her site. It’s Thursday after all. Don’t you have work you’re trying to avoid?
