The wall forms part of the loft above Michael Rubel's private room, one of the first things he built as Rubel Castle was beginning to form.
Michael's mother Dorothy liked to host lots of parties. Hollywood celebrities came to the Packing House. Dorothy was good friends with the famous fan dancer and actress, Sally Rand. Jack Benny came, and Bob Hope, even Alfred Hitchcock. There was usually dancing and a small orchestra.
Michael was not a party guy.
So he began to build himself a retreat where he could dream of his ambition.
There's something poignant about this little room. The loft above it is reached by a rickety ladder. There's nothing up there now but the bottle wall, some dust and a rug. But Michael's ambition surrounds it, in the form of his Castle.
We'll look at some of the antique Castle vehicles next time.
10 comments:
That bottle wall is fabulous. I have never been to Rubel Castle. Judging by what you have shared in this series, I think I'll add it to my list of places to see when in California :).
Cool!
What an amazing story you're telling us. When you first showed us this photo I thought you were looking down at a cellar full of bottles and jars. It never occurred to me it would be under the roof! They're really beautiful when the light shines on them, though I prefer a cellar full of unopened bottles myself.
If those walls could talk!... wow...
Apparently this was called "The Bottle House." I might have some historical photos for you later. The Castle is built inside an old reservoir, and in one photo you can see this little house in the middle of it and the Packing House along one side.
The bottle wall is very unusual, but quite photogenic!
Michael and his crew used a lot of found objects for building the castle walls. I believe I even saw a rubber glove.
This is amazing! How vey clever.
Fascinating. But the room is rather sad. I would love to visit this place.
Very clever, José, and Lowell, I suppose it seems sad. But Michael was young at the time he built it, perhaps 20 or not much more. He needed his own room, his own hideaway from his mother's social life and friends. So he made one!
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