There is a lot of confusion about what the name John Anson Ford means nowadays among Los Angeles residents, largely because most people only recognize it from a ticket for a show at the outdoor amphitheater that bears the name of John Anson Ford behind the Hollywood Bowl.

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Ford served as Los Angeles County Supervisor from 1934 to 1958 and was posthumously honored for his contributions to the arts in Los Angeles. The LA County Arts Commission was established by Ford, the LACMA was founded, the Downtown Music Center was built, and the county acquired Descanso Gardens as part of his accomplishments.

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Besides contributing to the culture of Los Angeles, Ford also contributed to the reduction of corruption, joining forces with civic reformer/restaurateur Clifford Clinton and former LAPD officer Harry Raymond to expose the organized crime that was being perpetrated by the then-mayor of Los Angeles, Frank Shaw, and the police chief, James Davis.

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There is no doubt this would have been an uphill battle if there were ever one, but through the dedicated efforts of Clinton, Ford, and Raymond, Shaw eventually received the dubious honor of being the first mayor of a major American city to be forced out of office due to misconduct.

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The Los Feliz residence Ford called home for four decades would be perfectly justified for Historic-Cultural Monument designation based on the above reasons alone, but as a valuable example of Spanish Colonial Revival-style residential architecture, it also qualifies for landmark status, according to city Cultural Heritage Commission documents.

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However, the name of the architect who designed the outstanding residence remains a mystery, regardless of the fact that building permits and census records indicate it was constructed in 1932 for the insurance broker Arthur E. Cummings, who owned the building. Ford purchased the house 14 years later, and he would live there until he passed away in 1983 at the age of 100, and it would be the last home he would ever have.

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A U-shaped courtyard surrounded by tile-roofed haciendas is located on the southern edge of Griffith Park, just a few minutes from Fern Dell. In addition to the rusticated wood front door, the entrance opens into a dramatic foyer with coffered ceilings and stenciled walls, along with a stained-magnesite staircase with colorful painted-tile risers. 

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Right of the staircase is a show-stopping living room with a stained-glass window, carved plaster fireplace, and hand-stenciled beams atop double-height ceilings. Across the spacious living room, you will find the dining room, a modernized kitchen with marble countertops and sink, and a breakfast nook with a built-in window seat. Located on the first floor is a library/entertainment lounge featuring a disappearing projector screen, stenciled-beam ceilings, and a disappearing projector screen.

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On its multiple levels, the 4,538-square-foot residence features five bedrooms, four full bathrooms, and two half bathrooms. According to listing photos, at least two of the bathrooms still possess fantastic Art Deco tile and matching fixtures, with the primary bathroom's black/green/pink combination being particularly eye-catching and striking. 

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Other notable features of the house include built-in bookcases, vanities, French doors, casement windows, and elaborate wrought-iron railings and sconces, according to Rich Report. Multiple courtyards and patios on the property are equipped with built-in amenities such as a fire-pit, barbecue station, and benches for seating.

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This Mills Act-eligible property was last sold for $3.6 million in 2020, and is currently being offered for $4.5 million. The listing is held by Carl Gambino and John Bercsi of Compass Real Estate.

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