Except for an episode or two, did you ever notice how happy The Brady Bunch kids were sharing two bedrooms? Johnny Bravo’s (I mean, Greg’s) frustration aside, sometimes less is more, especially when it ultimately brings family closer together (in real life or on TV).
The iconic home from The Brady Bunch is on sale for the first time in 45 years—for nearly $1.9 million. Not bad for a 2 bedroom, 3 bathroom split-level with interiors likely too small to house a half-dozen Brady kids (and Alice the housekeeper).
But never mind that. The beloved 2,477-square-foot home we wished we lived in is actually situated on one of the neighborhood’s largest lots—12,573 square feet on 1/3rd of an acre. Although not exactly like the TV show, the residence features a preserved 1970s décor we’d expect (wood paneling, traditional furniture, linoleum floors, a built-in wall radio…remember radios?) as well as a lush backyard large enough for swings, sack races, volcano science experiments and football tosses with Marcia’s nose.
The private sanctuary backyard is much nicer than the TV show, with a gazebo, sculptures, flowers and real manicured grass instead of astroturf. There’s even a gated motor court and a large detached garage which can house both a 1969 blue Plymouth Fury convertible (for dad) and a 1969 Plymouth Satellite (for family outings).
Aside from that, the eventual buyers will be the grooviest family on the block. Located at 11222 Dilling Street in Studio City, California, on a quiet residential block (sans tourists), the serene property also borders the Los Angeles River. George and Violet McCallister purchased the home in 1973 for $61,000, while the TV show was still on the air. After they passed away, their children decided to sell the famous home, according to reports.
The Brady Bunch (a sitcom about a blended step family of six similarly-aged kids) aired on ABC from 1969 to 1974, eventually becoming a rerun cult classic for producer Sherwood Schwartz, who also produced Gilligan’s Island. For 35 years afterward, the show spawned TV series spinoffs, variety specials, movies, stage plays, and lots of retro mockery as a family of “fuddy-duddies” with psychedelic clothes. The Brady Bunch is a virtual time capsule—a wonderfully idealistic escape compared to today’s cynical society.
The residence façade was practically a co-star, as the first image shown right after the TV show’s iconic theme song (the show’s interiors were recorded at a sound stage). The Brady-inspired home is reportedly the second-most photographed home to the White House, according to Carswell & Partners, whose partner Ernie Carswell has the listing.
Rumors persist that developers are lurking to scoop up the home in order to raze and rebuild a bigger residence on the sizable lot. However, a representative at Carswell Partners says the firm hasn’t fielded calls from overzealous developers at all. Just in case, Ernie Carswell has been quoted stating he’d like to sell to a buyer who will preserve the home’s historic relevance.
The house includes two master suites (one upstairs, perhaps for two square parents) and one downstairs (for Johnny Bravo). No word on whether there’s a Jack and Jill bathroom layout but it’s doubtful a real life, modern day family could tolerate that for long.
After original construction, the living space was significantly expanded via a garage conversion into a family room (an ideal area for a throwback black and white television with rabbit ears). Like the Brady household, generous entertaining spaces flow from one room to the next. As the listing states, “Whether inspired by the TV family or the real life surrounding neighborhood, this residence is a perfect postcard of American 70’s style and its special culture.” Far out.
The “Brady Bunch home” is more than a residence, it’s pop culture. When they sang, “That’s the way we became The Brady Bunch,” those lyrics meant all of us—viewers included. The inspired residence doesn’t come with a sarcastic housekeeper, a runaway dog named Tiger nor a jump-the-shark nephew named Oliver. But just imagine the memories this home furnishes—for a new owner and those of us driving by with our Polaroid cameras.
