Rubel Castle, Michael's Room

I almost forgot I promised to tell you more about this triangle shaped, glass bottle wall when I posted a photo of it last week.

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.

Rubel Castle, the Old Parts

The oldest buildings on the Rubel Castle property are the packing buildings, used when this area was orange groves.

This one was kind of a bachelor pad for a friend. The gas pumps were working when our guide, Scott Rubel, was growing up at the Castle. They don't look like they're in use now, but you could fool me.

Michael Rubel and his mother Dorothy moved their family antiques into the large Packing House. There's a huge main room with a pool table and comfy seating, and along the sides are smaller, "refrigerator" rooms. The rooms are definitely cold.

There are a lot of things in the "thing room."

This was Michael Rubel's room. Cold and cozy at the same time. If I'd had a book with me I'd have sat down to read.

Next time, I'm going to show you the amazing collection of vintage vehicles at "the Pharm."

Rubel Castle, Portcullis

Once you're inside the security door of the Rubel Castle property, you approach Rubel Castle proper. You enter through a portcullis. Yes, you do.

The Wikipedia article mentions that the builder, Michael Rubel, purchased the Glendora property in 1959. It doesn't point out that he was only 19 years old at the time. He and his mother worked out the deal and moved into the existing citrus packing house with their family antiques.

Michael's mother, Dorothy Deuel Rubel, had been a dancer on Broadway in the Greenwich Village Follies and was friends with Sally Rand. (You'll find their memorabilia when you tour the castle.) Dorothy loved to host parties, and many Hollywood glitterers attended.

The castle is another story, to be continued...