| Citizen Kane is part of the new Essential Classic Dramas collection on DVD from Warner Home Video. Orson Welles directed and starred in this 1941 masterpiece about Charles Kane, an egomaniac newspaper magnate whose power ends up destroying him before he dies, alone, in his gloomy Xanadu estate. The story parallels the real life of William Randolph Hearst, who ran a media empire in the early 1900s and built Hearst Castle. The four-disc set also features Ben-Hur and The Maltese Falcon. |
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The National Geographic Theater, located at Hearst Castle
Visitor Center, shows "Hearst Castle - Building the Dream", the companion film
to castle tours, on a giant 5-story large-format screen. Also there is the "The
Experience Tour", combining Tour 1 of the estate with the movie.
Call (800) 444-4445 or visit web site.
Visitor Center, shows "Hearst Castle - Building the Dream", the companion film
to castle tours, on a giant 5-story large-format screen. Also there is the "The
Experience Tour", combining Tour 1 of the estate with the movie.
Call (800) 444-4445 or visit web site.
San Simeon California Chamber of Commerce
www.sansimeonchamber.com
805-927-3500
www.sansimeonchamber.com
805-927-3500
In 1865, George Hearst, a wealthy miner, purchased
40,000-acres of ranchland that included the Mexican Ranchos of
Piedras Blancas, San Simeon and Santa Rosa. In 1919, his only
son, William Randolph Hearst, inherited the land from his
mother, Phoebe Apperson Hearst. By then the ranch had grown
to encompass 250,000 acres.
40,000-acres of ranchland that included the Mexican Ranchos of
Piedras Blancas, San Simeon and Santa Rosa. In 1919, his only
son, William Randolph Hearst, inherited the land from his
mother, Phoebe Apperson Hearst. By then the ranch had grown
to encompass 250,000 acres.
Originally known as "Camp Hill," its wilderness offered a place for family members and friends to "rough it" on
camping trips. The family slept in tents on wooden platforms. Despite comfortable arrangements with separate
sleeping and dining tents, Hearst envisioned more comfortable accommodations. Throughout his life, Hearst
dreamed of building a dwelling similar to those he had seen on a European tour as a boy. He gave simple
instructions to famed San Francisco architect Julia Morgan in 1919: "Miss Morgan, we are tired of camping out in the
open at the ranch in San Simeon and I would like to build a little something"
camping trips. The family slept in tents on wooden platforms. Despite comfortable arrangements with separate
sleeping and dining tents, Hearst envisioned more comfortable accommodations. Throughout his life, Hearst
dreamed of building a dwelling similar to those he had seen on a European tour as a boy. He gave simple
instructions to famed San Francisco architect Julia Morgan in 1919: "Miss Morgan, we are tired of camping out in the
open at the ranch in San Simeon and I would like to build a little something"
As they were planning and constructing his dream home, Hearst
renamed the rocky perch from which it rose
"La Cuesta Encantada" - The Enchanted Hill. By 1947, Hearst and
Morgan had created an estate of 165 rooms and 127 acres of
gardens, terraces, pools and walkways. Hearst was an inveterate
tinkerer, and would tear down structures and rebuild them at a
whim, so the estate was never completed in his lifetime.
renamed the rocky perch from which it rose
"La Cuesta Encantada" - The Enchanted Hill. By 1947, Hearst and
Morgan had created an estate of 165 rooms and 127 acres of
gardens, terraces, pools and walkways. Hearst was an inveterate
tinkerer, and would tear down structures and rebuild them at a
whim, so the estate was never completed in his lifetime.
The estate is a pastiche of historic architectural styles that Hearst admired in his travels around Europe. The
estate's magnificent main house, "Casa Grande," and three guest houses are of Mediterranean Revival style, while
the imposing towers of Casa Grande were inspired by a Spanish cathedral.
estate's magnificent main house, "Casa Grande," and three guest houses are of Mediterranean Revival style, while
the imposing towers of Casa Grande were inspired by a Spanish cathedral.
During construction Hearst used the Castle as his primary residence and it was here that he continually
entertained the elite of Hollywood, politics and sports. Invitations to Hearst Castle were highly coveted during its
heyday in the 1920s and '30s. The Hollywood and political elite often visited, usually flying into the estate's airfield or
taking a private Hearst-owned train car from Los Angeles. Charlie Chaplin, Cary Grant, the Marx Brothers, Charles
Lindbergh, Joan Crawford, Calvin Coolidge, and Winston Churchill were among Hearst's A-list guests.
entertained the elite of Hollywood, politics and sports. Invitations to Hearst Castle were highly coveted during its
heyday in the 1920s and '30s. The Hollywood and political elite often visited, usually flying into the estate's airfield or
taking a private Hearst-owned train car from Los Angeles. Charlie Chaplin, Cary Grant, the Marx Brothers, Charles
Lindbergh, Joan Crawford, Calvin Coolidge, and Winston Churchill were among Hearst's A-list guests.
Hearst left his San Simeon estate in 1947 to seek medical care unavailable in the remote location. While the Castle
was never completely finished, it stands as the remarkable achievement of one man's dream.
was never completely finished, it stands as the remarkable achievement of one man's dream.
The Hearst Corporation donated the Castle to the state of California in 1957. One condition of the Hearst
Corporation's donation of the estate was that the Hearst family would be allowed to use it when they wished. Patty
Hearst, a granddaughter of William Randolph, related that as a child, she hid behind statues in the Neptune Pool
while tours passed by. After a room in the estate was bombed in the 1970s during her crime spree with the
Symbionese Liberation Army, no member of the family has ever returned to live there. it is now a State Historical
Monument and a National Historic Landmark, open for public tours.
Corporation's donation of the estate was that the Hearst family would be allowed to use it when they wished. Patty
Hearst, a granddaughter of William Randolph, related that as a child, she hid behind statues in the Neptune Pool
while tours passed by. After a room in the estate was bombed in the 1970s during her crime spree with the
Symbionese Liberation Army, no member of the family has ever returned to live there. it is now a State Historical
Monument and a National Historic Landmark, open for public tours.
Hearst furnished the estate with truckloads of art, antiques, and
even whole ceilings that he acquired en masse from Europe and
Egypt.
even whole ceilings that he acquired en masse from Europe and
Egypt.
Hearst Castle was like a small self-contained city, with 56 bedrooms, 61 bathrooms, 19 sitting rooms, 127 acres of
gardens, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, tennis courts, a movie theater, an airfield, and the world's largest
private zoo. Zebras and other exotic animals still roam the grounds. Morgan, an accomplished civil engineer,
devised a gravity-based water delivery system from a nearby mountain. Some of the highlights of the estate include
the Neptune Pool, which features an expansive vista of the mountains, ocean and the main house.
gardens, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, tennis courts, a movie theater, an airfield, and the world's largest
private zoo. Zebras and other exotic animals still roam the grounds. Morgan, an accomplished civil engineer,
devised a gravity-based water delivery system from a nearby mountain. Some of the highlights of the estate include
the Neptune Pool, which features an expansive vista of the mountains, ocean and the main house.
Hearst Castle is located near San Simeon, California, about 43 miles from San Luis Obispo, the nearest city with
an airport.
The castle itself is five miles inland on a hill. Access is only by a scheduled tour bus.
Directly across the street from the entrance is San Simeon State Park, which features a fishing pier and a public
park.
an airport.
The castle itself is five miles inland on a hill. Access is only by a scheduled tour bus.
Directly across the street from the entrance is San Simeon State Park, which features a fishing pier and a public
park.
Location-Directions
Hearst Castle is located on California Highway 1, about halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles. Driving
time from either city is four to six hours, depending on traffic and road conditions. Map.
From Los Angeles -- Take U.S. Highway 101 north to San Luis Obispo, then California Highway 1 north about 40
miles.
From San Francisco -- Take U.S. Highway 101 south to California Highway 46 west to California Highway 1 and
north about 13 miles.
If you plan to use Highway 1, be aware that it is not designed for freeway speeds and may be partly or completely
closed during the rainy season. In rainy winters, Highway One landslides can sometimes Highway One. Check
road conditions online or call 800-427-7623 or 916-445-7623 before you go. Be sure to allow plenty of time, as
tours leave promptly at the time printed on your ticket. Recorded Information 805-927-2020.
Hearst Castle is located on California Highway 1, about halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles. Driving
time from either city is four to six hours, depending on traffic and road conditions. Map.
From Los Angeles -- Take U.S. Highway 101 north to San Luis Obispo, then California Highway 1 north about 40
miles.
From San Francisco -- Take U.S. Highway 101 south to California Highway 46 west to California Highway 1 and
north about 13 miles.
If you plan to use Highway 1, be aware that it is not designed for freeway speeds and may be partly or completely
closed during the rainy season. In rainy winters, Highway One landslides can sometimes Highway One. Check
road conditions online or call 800-427-7623 or 916-445-7623 before you go. Be sure to allow plenty of time, as
tours leave promptly at the time printed on your ticket. Recorded Information 805-927-2020.
