From Beverly Hills to Desert Elegance: Exploring Harold W. Levitt’s Design Vision

Join author and historian Steven Price for a groundbreaking exploration of Harold W. Levitt’s architectural legacy, the first comprehensive study dedicated to understanding his work’s roots, significance, and resurgence in popularity. Renowned as a leading figure in midcentury Modern architecture catering to the elite, “Hal” Levitt designed opulent residences that became homes for a host of iconic celebrities, including Burt Lancaster, Dean Martin, Steven Spielberg, Jennifer Aniston, Karen Carpenter, as well as influential figures like producer Ross Hunter and studio mogul Lew Wasserman. 

His lavish homes in the prestigious “Golden Triangle” of Bel-Air, Holmby Hills, and Beverly Hills—particularly within the highly coveted Trousdale Estates, where he designed over two dozen houses alone—remain sought-after status symbols for the wealthy and influential, often making headlines in real estate for their record-breaking prices. These, together with several recently re-discovered and landmarked local gems in the Palm Springs area built between the 1950s through the 1990s, tell a singularly stylish story, with most of the homes being shown having rarely appeared to the public before. To ensure Levitt’s legacy, Price is co-director of the Harold W. Levitt Professional Archive Project with Kyle Moss, Levitt’s succeeding partner in the firm Levitt & Moss. Over the last 12 years, the Project has assembled, cataloged, and re-acquired original blueprints and drawings to endow a complete academic collection. 

Steven Price is a distinguished historian, speaker, consultant, and author known for his expertise in architecture, particularly midcentury Modern design. His highly successful book, Trousdale Estates: Mid Century to Modern in Beverly Hills (Regan Arts, January 2017) gained wide recognition, selling out the first edition, and is now in reprint. Steven has lived in Palm Desert since 2015, where he currently serves on the Architecture & Design Committee of the Historical Society of Palm Desert.   

$18

Things To KnowAges 13 and older
Wheelchair accessible
Parking and handicap parking available
Seated activity
No smoking or e-cigarettes

Important InformationThe entrance to the Annenberg Theater is located behind the Annenberg Theater Box Office, adjacent to the Palm Springs Art Museum's North Parking Lot.
The organizer of this event is Modernism Week Annenberg Theater Activity.

Check-in LocationPalm Springs Art Museum
101 N Museum Dr
Palm Springs, CA 92262View Map

Photo Credits: Patrick Ketchum, Julius Shulman/Getty Research Institute, Natural Retreats, Steven Price, Scott Francis {"locationAddressVisibility":"visible"}