Boddy House New ‘Showcase House’

In an unprecedented move in the 43-year history of The Pasadena Showcase House For the Arts (PSHA), the Pasadena-based organization is partnering with The Descanso Gardens Guild to present the Manchester Boddy House as its 2007 Pasadena Showcase House of Design.

The 22-room, two- story mansion built in 1938, currently used as a gallery for local artists and various social events, overlooks 25 acres of a live oak forest and a camellia-lined driveway. Architect J.E. Dolena of Beverly Hills designed the Hollywood Regency style mansion for E. Manchester Boddy, publisher of the Los Angeles Daily News.

The County of Los Angeles owns Descanso Gardens, but its 160 acres is maintained and operated by the non-profit Descanso Gardens Guild.

A 26-member Board of Trustees, with Amy Lamb as its chairman, leads the Guild, an organization of approximately 11,000 members. There is a professional staff headed by David R. Brown, executive director, who manages the Gardens and is supported by an active volunteer group

Jennifer Johnson, president of PSHA and a La Cañada Flintridge resident, said, “Our organization is thrilled to be working with The Descanso Gardens Guild in this collaborative effort. This will be the ultimate experience for Showcase visitors to see a beautiful old mansion in its original setting exactly as its owner envisioned it to be. It is extremely rare to find a mansion like this with its grounds intact.”

Amy Lamb, chairman of the Descanso Gardens Board of Directors, shares Johnson’s enthusiasm for the project. “This is the time for the Boddy House to shine. It is a gracious old house and it will become even more beautiful. It is a win-win situation for everybody,” Lamb said.

The Boddy House will open to the public on April 22 and will close on May 20.

During the showcase run there will be an expanded boutique marketplace of many vendors set up in the oak forest, as well as a restaurant with catering done by Patina, the Gardens’ current caterers.

Besides Johnson, other PSHA members who live in La Cañada Flintridge involved in this year’s Showcase House include Delise Menik, interior chairman; Kathryn Hofgaarden, program; Lisa Lipman, house and garden operations chair; Paulette Geragos and Brigett Guitron, special evening chairs; Susan Jackson, a member of the PSHA board of directors; Eileen Riley, graphics chair and Jenine Bains, public relations team.

Joy Sullivan, a longtime member of PSHA and San Marino resident, is benefit chair for this year’s Showcase House.