1950s Cliff May Rancho Is Seemingly Immune to the Hands of Time

Born in Ohio in 1876, Harry Fryman moved to Los Angeles at the age of 17, shortly thereafter landing himself a job as a bellhop at the Mt. Lowe Hotel. Before long, Fryman worked his way up the ladder to become the hotel’s manager, which led to his managing other establishments around Los Angeles, and eventually, to owning his own hotel, the Hayward, in Downtown Los Angeles. A shrewd businessman on top of being a real go-getter, Fryman also invested heavily in Los Angeles real estate, purchasing approximately 1,000 acres of then-agricultural and ranch land in the Hollywood Hills and San Fernando Valley, which was subsequently developed into Studio City.

Fryman Canyon, the still-rugged portion of Studio City named for its developer, has long been popular with people in the business of show. A small sampling of current and former residents includes Gene Autry, Roddy McDowall, George and Amal Clooney, Leah Remini, Teri Hatcher, Bruno Mars, Julie Bowen, Alex Trebek, and Jeff Probst, who acquired the former Autry estate in 2011. Many notable architects are also represented in the pastoral enclave, such as Paul R. Williams, Paul Lazlo, Carl Maston, Raphael Soriano, and Cliff May, who designed this classic midcentury ranch that recently surfaced on the market for the first time in several decades.

Looking to be in near-original condition, the three-bedroom, three-bath residence exudes an air of sturdy, unpretentious comfort. Sheathed in vertical board-and-batten, the 2,782-square-foot home features a V-shaped floor plan designed to maximize connection with nature and enable cross-ventilation. A covered terrace leads to its front entry, beyond which is a slate-tiled lanai with views of the backyard and surrounding mountains. A spacious living room with decorative stone fireplace sits at the heart of the “V,” with the bedrooms located in the left side and the public spaces, including a wood-paneled den with a second fireplace, off to the right.

Other appealing character details include beamed ceilings, large picture windows, walls of built-in closets and other custom cabinetry, a vintage stove with porthole windows, and original ceramic tile. Several rooms are equipped with sliding glass doors that open to the swimming pool and sizable backyard, which is surrounded by beautiful mature oak and sycamore trees.

Listed with Amy Pell of Coldwell Banker, the .81-acre property hit the market February 21 with an asking price of $3 million; a sale is currently pending.