When we think about iconic American actors, we think of names such as Brad Pitt, Marilyn
Monroe, and Charlie Chaplin, but what about the first actors who inspired them?
Hi everyone ken here, welcome to this house.
Today we are exploring William Gillette’s castle.
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In 1853, William Gillette was born in Hartford, Connecticut, the son of Francis Gillette,
a united states senator who fought for abolition and women’s suffrage.
His political views attracted the people such as Mark Twain and Harriet Beecher Stowe to
his inner circle.
These people were fundamental in shaping the young mind of William as he grew up.
When he turned 20 years old, he began dabbling with acting before taking a job down in New
Orleans working for a stock company.
One day, he received a letter from Mark Twain asking him to return to new England.
Mark Twain had written a play called the Gilded Age and wanted to give the young William Gillette
his debut moment on the stage.
William was ecstatic!
He quickly returned home and informed his father of Mark Twain’s offer.
Francis did not approve of his son leaving the business world to start a career in acting,
but nevertheless offered his support by giving his son a modest allowance to help him make
the transition.
When William took the stage, he was a hit!
The audience loved him.
He was known for slow, realistic movements and expressions in a time where melodramatic
actors commanded the stage.
Instead of over the top set design, he insisted that his scenes mirror real life.
During his rise to fame, he met the one and only love of his life, Helen Nichols.
They married in 1882, but she passed away just 6 years later from a ruptured appendix
before the couple could have their first child.
He took his grief and displayed it for the world to see, having known love and death
he studied his emotions and replicated them on the stage.
His most notable role was that of Sherlock Holmes in the 1916 film by the same name.
Here he set the tone for how sherlock holmes would be portrayed over the next century.
He invented the manerisms, clothing, and attitude that would set the basis for the character
in the countless renditions of Sherlock Holmes.
By this time, he was not only one of the most popular stars, but one of the wealthiest.
With his money, he decided to build a house as eccentric as himself.
It took ten years to build and was completed in 1924.
The 14,000 square foot castle dominated a hilltop in New London County, Connecticut.
The hill it sat on was part of a grouping of 6 other hills known as the 7 sisters- fittingly,
he named his house the Seventh Sister.
The interior of the home was inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement with clean continuous
lines in the millwork and oversized stone columns supporting exposed wood beams.
Built in seating could be found in the living room set against distressed wood panels and
colorful fabric walls.
The library contained built in floor to ceiling book shelves set against wallpaper with diamond
pained windows set below exposed beam ceilings.
The fantasy inspired castle even contained whimsical wooden mechanisms for opening and
closing doors including wood locks.
Even some of the light switches were crafted from wood and assembled with wood pegs and
wood switches.
Of the charming details found throughout, there were equally as many abstract details
such as the chaotic stained glass appearing to have been thrown together in a fit.
These details stood in stark contrast to the stone corridors and staircases reminiscent
of medieval European castles.
Leading to landings overlooking two story rooms with floor to ceiling fireplaces and
floor to ceiling windows.
Every unique detail had been well thought out to be interesting without being ostentatious.
A grand home with humble proportions overflowing with charming details in lieu of pretention.
At the height of the estate, William hosted guests such as Albert Einstein and Charlie
Chaplin who enjoyed the private steampunk railroad which winded around the property’s
bluffs.
Similar to a slow roller coaster with vista views.
Williams fame continued to grow throughout his life as he captivated audiences around
the world All the way up until his death In 1937.
the New York Times said about him “It would be hard to convince that portion of the American
public that knew and followed him that any better actor had ever trod the American stage.
It would be conservative to say that mr.
Gillette was the most successful of all American actors.
Today, the Seventh Sister is open to the public as the Gillette Castle State Park where visitors
can enjoy the 184 acres of natural beauty and tour the interior of the castle.
Which details were your favorite?
Let me know down below in the comments section.
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