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Would You Rather Live In Will Stacks's Manhattan Pad Or Daddy Warbucks's Mansion?
By
Jen Carlson
Published Dec 18, 2014
Modified Dec 18, 2014
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By
Jen Carlson
Published Dec 18, 2014
Modified Dec 18, 2014
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(Wikipedia)
In 1982's Annie, Daddy Warbucks lived in a mansion at Fifth Avenue and 82nd Street, but the real location was actually WIlson Hall at Monmouth University in West Long Branch, New Jersey. Prior to being a university building in 1956, it was the home of Hubert Templeton Parson, president of the F.W. Woolworth Co., who lived there from 1929 (when it was built) until 1939, when he had to sell it following financial ruin during the Great Depression.
During filming. (Monmouth University)
The 90,000-square-foot home had 130 rooms, and 19 bathrooms, a pool, and a two-lane bowling alley. There was limestone, marble, chandeliers, plenty of outdoor space, and a grand staircase.
In 1982, production designer for the film, Dale Hennesy, told the NY Times, ''It was as though the mansion was built knowing that someday we going to come and shoot 'Annie' here." They add, "One anecdote he tells is that the house was already leased for the production when he remembered that a swimming pool was needed. ''I called the college and asked if there was a gym pool nearby that we could dress up. Sure, there was a pool, they said, right in the mansion—just like it was written in the script.'''
Today, the NY Times noted that the new version of Annie, featuring Jamie Foxx as Will Stacks (the new Daddy Warbucks), went a different route for a location. Stacks's home was created inside of 4 World Trade Center, about 40 floors up—"[He] needed to be on top of the world. He’s a billionaire," production designer Marcia Hinds told the paper. "We were in some beautiful homes, but none of them just wowed us. We were constantly pointing at 4 World Trade Center... It just was breathtaking—the terrace, the Freedom Tower in front of you; you look down at Memorial Park."
(Columbia Pictures)
Instead of an old money feel, they went modern (note that lucite baby grand piano)—Hinds says, "We wanted it to be more than a stereotypical modern, minimal, cold, streamlined, white interior. We wanted it contemporary, dramatic, interactive and embracing technology."
In total they designed the home in 4,500 square-feet, not including the 8,000-square-foot terrace. You can see more of the home here:
And that concludes our tale of two imaginary rich dudes. In the next iteration, will the wealthy stepadad live in North Williamsburg or Quooklyn?
Tagged
annie
daddy warbucks
nyc as seen on tv
real estate
will stacks
original
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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