If you haven’t heard of the Sheats-Goldstein Mansion, you’ve probably seen it. This incredible piece of real estate has been featured on television, in commercials, and in movies including The Big Lebowski, Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle, and most recently Space Jam 2. Located in the Beverly Crest neighborhood in Los Angeles, a stone’s throw from Beverly Hills, it is a sight to behold with some of the most jaw-dropping views the area has to offer. In a city of interesting buildings and multi-million dollar mansions, so much simply pales in comparison.
The current (and second) owner of the home is entrepreneur James F. Goldstein. He purchased the home from Helen and Paul Sheets in 1972. It was originally built between 1961 and 1963 by famed architect John Lautner, who was one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s protegees. Made from poured-in-place concrete, steel, and wood, the 4500 square foot house has five bedrooms and four and a half bathrooms.
In 2016, Goldstein announced that the home would be donated to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) upon his death. The donation includes almost everything in the house including the furniture and art. It is one of the most culturally and architecturally important homes in the area.
Co-CEO and co-founder of Talent Resources Sports David Spencer tells me, “It will be a museum and nobody will ever be able to live here again. There’s nothing like this anywhere else. With the pedigree of somebody so passionate about architecture, having James be the curator and developer of this property and extending John Lautner’s legacy over time is something he’s been really effective at doing and taking Lautner’s vision to new levels.”
Spencer and his business partner Michael Heller currently consult officially with the iconic home, managing the space for high-end brand activations, organizing exclusive events and photoshoots. Spencer generously gave me an exclusive behind-the-scenes walkthrough.
The Main House
The Sheats-Goldstein mansion has some of the best views in Los Angeles from Downtown facing east all the way to Century City and even to the ocean.
Every room in the home, particularly the living room feels as if it belongs in a different era. Yet the windowed walls, extreme opulence of the views along with the minimalist vibes and custom furniture pieces feel surprisingly of the present moment. Still, the eyes are almost immediately drawn to the outside.
“There’s no mistake where we’re highlighting the city of Los Angeles in the background, and people are coming for this immersive experience where they can come and feel what it’s like to be part of this Hollywood lifestyle for a minute. With the house having this incredible pedigree, all of the incredible shots that have happened here, the events that have happened here” says Spencer.
While it isn’t open to the public, one of the most interesting rooms in the home is the master bedroom. There is absolutely nothing like it in any other home in the world. Situated above the pool, there are windows facing into the pool underwater. There is also a wall of windows that makes the space feel like the end of the world.
Like many of the rooms, the bedroom is not directly connected to the rest of the house through the indoors. The home features one-of-a-kind outdoor hallways, decorated by the sky and a myriad of vegetation. The architectural grandeur redefines indoor/outdoor living.
Another one-of-a-kind feature of the bedroom is the closet which features a turnstile to allow Goldstein to easily view his wardrobe. It was the inspiration for films like Clueless. Adjacent to that is a scale that is built into the floor. There’s even a television that comes out of the ceiling.
Club James
One of the most unique features of the home is the event space. Featuring concrete walls and floors, it is the world’s coolest and most exclusive nightclub. This addition was envisioned by Jim Goldstein and John Lautner as a collaborative effort. Spencer tells me, “The preexisting structure was a John Lautner house that was demolished and recreated for the entertainment venue which includes the only infinity-edged tennis court in the world. We often repurpose the court for our events including NBA All-Star with Stephen Curry and Space Jam 2 with Lebron James.”
With breathtaking views akin to those in the main house and a capacity of 250 people, Goldstein rents this space out for some of the most exclusive private events in Los Angeles for brands including Lacoste, Louis Vuitton, Bleacher Report, Amazon, and Under Armor. They were even preparing for a shoot with actress Kate Hudson on the day we toured the estate.
“Our team is very selective about what events we bring to life at the house. Every event Talent Resources Sports is responsible for is curated and specific to the DNA of the brand partner and their marketing and hospitality objectives. We amplify our event-driven efforts via social media through our network of athletes and celebrities,” explains Spencer.
Club James has it all— from state-of-the-art LCD screens to a concrete DJ booth with a concert-quality sound system. The poured concrete space has a glass wall overlooking Beverly Hills that can retract, giving the space an indoor/outdoor feel.
Unlike typical venues, every single event must be built from the ground up. While this is an incredible amount of effort, it’s also what makes attending an event a true once-in-a-lifetime experience.
The Fabulous Outdoors
Adjacent to Club James is a newly built entertainment terrace. Years in the making, it features an 85 foot infinity-edged cantilevered concrete foot lap pool. This is in addition to an original pool in the main house which was completed in 1959.
This space is framed by a lawn that can accommodate up to 300 people. There’s also an outdoor catering kitchen, a fine dining area, as well as an outdoor media room.
Talent Resource Sports, which has worked with the home for the last few years curating events for A-List actors, sports stars, and top music artists, is currently gearing up to throw an epic Super Bowl 2022 event series that will be like nothing else in the world. The schedule of activations and parties will appeal to football fans and architecture aficionados alike (along with top-level executives and celebrities) who may be priced out of the tickets to the game itself. Curated by Spencer, it will surely be an experience like no other.