Leonie Pray House
Encyclopedia
Leonie Pray House, also known as "Dawson-Pray House," is a Long Beach Historic Landmark located in the Bixby Knolls
section of Long Beach, California
. It is a 4321 square feet (401.4 m²) English Tudor Revival mansion designed by architect Clarence Aldrich. It has been used as a filming location for films and television series, including Donnie Darko
, Not Another Teen Movie
, Weird Science
, and Beverly Hills, 90210
.
.
In 1929, the house was purchased by Russell Honore Pray (1892-1971) for his wife, Leonie Pray. Russell Pray was a lawyer who graduated from the University of Michigan Law School
in 1913. He served in France during World War I and held the rank of captain at the time of his discharge. Following discharge, he remained in Paris, first attending Sorbonne University, then practicing law. While living in France, he met his wife, Leonie Pray.
The couple married in Paris after "a whirlwind courtship" and then moved to Long Beach. She attended a school in Pasadena to rid herself of her French accent, and as a graduation present, Russell Pray purchased the English Tudor house for her.
Beginning in 1932 and continuing through the 1970s, the Prays decorated the house with flowers and a two-story Christmas tree and held an annual New Year's Eve party at the house. Following the 1973 open house, the Long Beach Press-Telegram wrote: "Everyone is still talking about Leonie Pray's elegant New Year's Eve party, so I will too. Her lovely Los Cerritos home bloomed with pink azaelas but the guests were most impressed by the 14-foot Christmas tree. By a trick of light selection when the 300 tree lights are on, the observer gets an image of four magnificent trees." In 1976, a Long Beach newspaper described the holiday tradition: "Champagne sparkled at the Los Cerritos home of Leonie Pray just as it has each New Year's Eve for half a century. Except for the World War II years, Leonie and her late husband, Russell, invited friends and neighbors to open house."
The house was a center of social life for the upper class of Long Beach for many years. Leonie became an actress in community theater while her husband practiced law. A Long Beach newspaper later wrote that "it was in the Pray home that Leonie starred as a hostess."
Liberace
, then a young concert pianist, made one of his first appearances in the Prays' living room. Opera star Risë Stevens
also sang for a select group at the home.
In 1966, the Prays were still living in the house when the Long Beach Independent ran a story on the house. The paper wrote: "When things get dull on the fishing and hunting fronts, one can always turn to the North Forties, out in Los Cerritos Heights, for wildlife notes. That applies especially to the Russell and Leonie Pray home, 4252 Country Club Drive, where there is never any end to wildlife. Perhaps it is because both Russell and Leonie love birds and animals of all kinds."
In 1968, a Molotov cocktail
firebomb ignited a blaze at the home. At the time, Russell Pray, then 76 years old and the senior partner in the law firm of Pray, Price, Williams and Deatherage, told officers he heard an explosion in the alley behind his home and ran outside to see flames shooting up. He called the police and the fire department, but was able to extinguish the fire with a garden hose. Damage was confined to the rear gate which was scorched and blackened.
Russell Pray died in 1971, and Leonie Pray continued to live at the house.
The house was subsequently acquired by William F. Dawson and is sometimes referred to as the Dawson-Pray House.
It has been designated as a Long Beach Historic Landmark. A web site dedicated to the Long Beach Historic Landmarks notes that "this English Tudor mansion is one of the most architecturally significant residential structures in Long Beach. Its scale, size, and detail is unmatched in the city."
Bixby Knolls, Long Beach, California
-Location:Bixby Knolls is an affluent area of Long Beach adjoining North Long Beach to the north, California Heights on the southeast, Wrigley on the southwest...
section of Long Beach, California
Long Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
. It is a 4321 square feet (401.4 m²) English Tudor Revival mansion designed by architect Clarence Aldrich. It has been used as a filming location for films and television series, including Donnie Darko
Donnie Darko
Donnie Darko is a 2001 American psychological thriller film written and directed by Richard Kelly and starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Drew Barrymore, Patrick Swayze, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Noah Wyle, Jena Malone, and Mary McDonnell...
, Not Another Teen Movie
Not Another Teen Movie
Not Another Teen Movie is a 2001 American comedy film directed by Joel Gallen, released on December 14, 2001 by Columbia Pictures. It is a parody of teen movies which have accumulated in Hollywood over the last few decades...
, Weird Science
Weird Science (film)
Weird Science is a 1985 American teen comedy film written and directed by John Hughes and starring Anthony Michael Hall, Ilan Mitchell-Smith, and Kelly LeBrock...
, and Beverly Hills, 90210
Beverly Hills, 90210
Beverly Hills, 90210 is an American drama series that originally aired from October 4, 1990 to May 17, 2000 on Fox and was produced by Spelling Television in the United States, and subsequently on various networks around the world. It is the first series in the Beverly Hills, 90210 franchise...
.
History
The house was built in 1927 by William E. "Billy" Babb, who made a fortune when oil was discovered on nearby Signal HillSignal Hill, California
Signal Hill is a small city in California located in the Greater Los Angeles area. Signal Hill, completely surrounded by the city of Long Beach, was incorporated on April 22, 1924, roughly three years after oil was discovered in Signal Hill. As of the 2010 census, the city population was...
.
In 1929, the house was purchased by Russell Honore Pray (1892-1971) for his wife, Leonie Pray. Russell Pray was a lawyer who graduated from the University of Michigan Law School
University of Michigan Law School
The University of Michigan Law School is the law school of the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor. Founded in 1859, the school has an enrollment of about 1,200 students, most of whom are seeking Juris Doctor or Master of Laws degrees, although the school also offers a Doctor of Juridical...
in 1913. He served in France during World War I and held the rank of captain at the time of his discharge. Following discharge, he remained in Paris, first attending Sorbonne University, then practicing law. While living in France, he met his wife, Leonie Pray.
The couple married in Paris after "a whirlwind courtship" and then moved to Long Beach. She attended a school in Pasadena to rid herself of her French accent, and as a graduation present, Russell Pray purchased the English Tudor house for her.
Beginning in 1932 and continuing through the 1970s, the Prays decorated the house with flowers and a two-story Christmas tree and held an annual New Year's Eve party at the house. Following the 1973 open house, the Long Beach Press-Telegram wrote: "Everyone is still talking about Leonie Pray's elegant New Year's Eve party, so I will too. Her lovely Los Cerritos home bloomed with pink azaelas but the guests were most impressed by the 14-foot Christmas tree. By a trick of light selection when the 300 tree lights are on, the observer gets an image of four magnificent trees." In 1976, a Long Beach newspaper described the holiday tradition: "Champagne sparkled at the Los Cerritos home of Leonie Pray just as it has each New Year's Eve for half a century. Except for the World War II years, Leonie and her late husband, Russell, invited friends and neighbors to open house."
The house was a center of social life for the upper class of Long Beach for many years. Leonie became an actress in community theater while her husband practiced law. A Long Beach newspaper later wrote that "it was in the Pray home that Leonie starred as a hostess."
Liberace
Liberace
Wladziu Valentino Liberace , best known simply as Liberace, was a famous American pianist and vocalist.In a career that spanned four decades of concerts, recordings, motion pictures, television and endorsements, Liberace became world-renowned...
, then a young concert pianist, made one of his first appearances in the Prays' living room. Opera star Risë Stevens
Risë Stevens
Risë Stevens is a retired American operatic mezzo-soprano.-Professional life:Stevens studied at New York's Juilliard School for three years. She went to Vienna, where she was trained by Marie Gutheil-Schoder and Herbert Graf. She made her début as Mignon in Prague in 1936 and stayed there until...
also sang for a select group at the home.
In 1966, the Prays were still living in the house when the Long Beach Independent ran a story on the house. The paper wrote: "When things get dull on the fishing and hunting fronts, one can always turn to the North Forties, out in Los Cerritos Heights, for wildlife notes. That applies especially to the Russell and Leonie Pray home, 4252 Country Club Drive, where there is never any end to wildlife. Perhaps it is because both Russell and Leonie love birds and animals of all kinds."
In 1968, a Molotov cocktail
Molotov cocktail
The Molotov cocktail, also known as the petrol bomb, gasoline bomb, Molotov bomb, fire bottle, fire bomb, or simply Molotov, is a generic name used for a variety of improvised incendiary weapons...
firebomb ignited a blaze at the home. At the time, Russell Pray, then 76 years old and the senior partner in the law firm of Pray, Price, Williams and Deatherage, told officers he heard an explosion in the alley behind his home and ran outside to see flames shooting up. He called the police and the fire department, but was able to extinguish the fire with a garden hose. Damage was confined to the rear gate which was scorched and blackened.
Russell Pray died in 1971, and Leonie Pray continued to live at the house.
The house was subsequently acquired by William F. Dawson and is sometimes referred to as the Dawson-Pray House.
Architecture and historic designation
The English Tudor Revival structure was designed by Long Beach architect Clarence Aldrich. It combines red brick with artificial dark wood timbers and stucco, a gothic arched entry, a cathedral ceiling with wood trusses in the living room, leaded glass casement windows and gabled dormers. The house also has a huge two story living room paneled entirely in hand carved wood, was a natural setting for "salons."It has been designated as a Long Beach Historic Landmark. A web site dedicated to the Long Beach Historic Landmarks notes that "this English Tudor mansion is one of the most architecturally significant residential structures in Long Beach. Its scale, size, and detail is unmatched in the city."
Shooting location in films and television
The house and neighborhood have been used in several feature films. The neighborhood has become known as the "American Pie" neighborhood, because the American Pie feature was shot there. The house that was the home of Ferris Bueller in Ferris Bueller's Day Off is on the same block at 4160 Country Club Drive. The Pray House has been used in the following films:- In 1985, the house was used in the film Weird ScienceWeird Science (film)Weird Science is a 1985 American teen comedy film written and directed by John Hughes and starring Anthony Michael Hall, Ilan Mitchell-Smith, and Kelly LeBrock...
. - In 2001, the house was used as the home of Jim Cunningham (played by Patrick SwayzePatrick SwayzePatrick Wayne Swayze was an American actor, dancer and singer-songwriter. He was best known for his tough-guy roles, as romantic leading men in the hit films Dirty Dancing and Ghost, and as Orry Main in the North and South television miniseries. He was named by People magazine as its "Sexiest...
) in Donnie DarkoDonnie DarkoDonnie Darko is a 2001 American psychological thriller film written and directed by Richard Kelly and starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Drew Barrymore, Patrick Swayze, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Noah Wyle, Jena Malone, and Mary McDonnell...
. The title character (played by Jake GyllenhaalJake GyllenhaalJacob Benjamin "Jake" Gyllenhaal is an American actor. The son of director Stephen Gyllenhaal and screenwriter Naomi Foner, Gyllenhaal began acting at age ten...
) sets fire to the house, and police find evidence in the wreckage that Cunningham is involved in child pornography. - Also in 2001, the house was the home of leading man Jake "the Jock" (played by Chris EvansChris Evans (actor)Christopher Robert "Chris" Evans is an American actor. He played Cary Baston on the television series Opposite Sex, and transitioned to a film career, starring in several hits, including Not Another Teen Movie , Fierce People , Fantastic Four, sequel Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer , and...
) in Not Another Teen MovieNot Another Teen MovieNot Another Teen Movie is a 2001 American comedy film directed by Joel Gallen, released on December 14, 2001 by Columbia Pictures. It is a parody of teen movies which have accumulated in Hollywood over the last few decades...
. - In the television series Beverly Hills, 90210Beverly Hills, 90210Beverly Hills, 90210 is an American drama series that originally aired from October 4, 1990 to May 17, 2000 on Fox and was produced by Spelling Television in the United States, and subsequently on various networks around the world. It is the first series in the Beverly Hills, 90210 franchise...
, the house was the home of Ty Collins. It is featured in the episode "Help Me, Rhonda" in which Adrianna meets with Ty's parents.