Marilyn Monroe and Milton Greene Conspired in This Upper East Side Townhouse
Back in 2006, this 3,500 square-foot four-story Upper East Side townhouse first surfaced on the rental market, and again three years later; in 2010, its owner attempted to find a renter for the winter holiday season (a portion of December) apparently without much luck. After bouncing through several different agencies, 127 East 78th Street landed at Sotheby’s in 2011 with the intent of marketing the house as a summer rental for $25K; not much luck there either, as townhouse renters tended to want something more long term. A lesson seems to have been learned here, as there are no short-term stipulations mentioned in its new listing for $27,500.00 a month.
What is mentioned is more interesting: The townhouse once belonged to famous fashion photographer Milton Greene–known for his collaboration with Marilyn Monroe on photo shoots as well as their joint film production company–and his wife, Amy. Marilyn considered the home a sanctuary among friends when she was in town. And though its interiors have likely been updated since Marilyn’s day, the elegant Upper East Side enclave still retains the aura of an East Coast refuge for Old Hollywood.
The home’s front parlor retains plenty of impressively ornate original details like high decorative ceilings and fireplace mantels. Though not pictured, stained glass from the famed Luchow’s restaurant can also be found here. On the garden level, the kitchen, though vast, well-outfitted and nothing if not cheerful, is from a decidedly more recent era, though it’s hard to tell which one. However nothing says Hollywood-in-its-heyday like those solid marble stairs.
A lovely backyard patio should provide as much refuge today as it ever did, and raised beds at the back offer opportunities for a green thumb.
On the parlor floor there’s a cozy home office and den.
Just off the parlor floor is this elegant terrace, perfect for bringing the office–or just a good book and coffee–outside.
The entire third floor comprises a luxurious master suite, which is just as we’d imagine in a townhouse with an iconic celebrity past.
Though the master bath, complete with steam shower and jacuzzi soaking tub, reads a little more Bay Ridge than Park Avenue, it makes a fitting addition to the grand bedroom suite. On the top floor are three smaller bedrooms and two full baths. Firmly in the 21st century are the home’s central A/C and heating, security system and finished basement with laundry. The house is available furnished or unfurnished.
This timeless and coveted Upper East Side block is a short walk from Central Park and surrounded by the neighborhood’s elegant shopping, fine dining, cafes and cultural institutions as well as multiple subway lines and a cross-town bus.
[Listing: 127 East 78th Street by John Carapella and Rachel Rainaldi of Town Residential]
[via CityRealty]
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Images courtesy of Town Residential; Monroe/Greene image courtesy of The Marilyn Monroe Collection.
