Cowardly Lion’s onetime lair seeks $22.8 million in Beverly Crest

A Beverly Crest estate with a cast of characters in its history is back on the market, this time priced at $22.8 million or for lease at $100,000 a month.

Originally built for Bert Lahr, the actor who played the Cowardly Lion in 1939’s “The Wizard of Oz,� the traditional-style estate has a chain of ownership that includes the likes of Betty Grable, Harry James, Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith. The Osbournes and Paul McCartney are among other past occupants.

There’s no yellow brick road, but rather a palm-lined drive that leads up to the entrance of the gated home, designed by architect-to-the-stars Paul R. Williams and built in 1941.

Inside, living spaces styled by Ralph Lauren include scaled formal rooms, a lavish chef’s kitchen, seven bedrooms, seven bathrooms and three powder rooms. A lower level with a wood-paneled theater, a speakeasy-style bar and a two-lane bowling alley also lies within roughly 12,000 square feet of living space.

Across the grounds, a 3,000-square-foot secondary house has two bedrooms as well as its own two-car garage and private driveway. Formal gardens, a tennis court and a swimming pool and spa complete the 1.38-acre setting.

The property last sold nearly two decades ago for $2.55 million, records show.

Stacy Gottula of the Agency and Branden and Rayni Williams of Hilton & Hyland are the listing agents.

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Twitter: @NJLeitereg

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