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Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
How This Legendary Singer-Songwriter's '60s Classic Became a #1 Dance Hit — and a 'Seinfeld' Plot Line
How This Legendary Singer-Songwriter's '60s Classic Became a #1 Dance Hit — and a 'Seinfeld' Plot Line originally appeared on Parade. As one of the most prolific and beloved songwriters in music history, Jimmy Webb is responsible for such classic hits as "Wichita Lineman," "Up, Up and Away" and "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" — but he initially had a tough time finding a singer for one of his most famous tunes, "MacArthur Park." Inspired by a painful breakup, Webb initially offered "MacArthur Park" to The Association, a group known for hits like "Cherish" and "Windy." Unfortunately, with its complex arrangement and unconventional lyrics, the song wasn't exactly what the pop stars were looking for. Then, in the summer of 1967, Webb met actor Richard Harris, who'd recently starred in the movie adaptation of the musical was interested in recording an album of his own. Included on Harris' 1968 album A Tramp Shining, "MacArthur Park" peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100. In an interview with Songfacts years later — and following the death of Harris in 2002 — Webb praised the Harry Potter star for his performance on the track. "He brought a great kind of theatrical dignity to 'MacArthur Park' and to those songs," Webb said, adding, "And if he missed a note or he didn't carry it off particularly well as a singer, he had the actor's ability to step his way through the lyric and to speak some of the lines and basically to carry it off." As it turned out, the Harris version of "MacArthur Park" was only the beginning, as the tune's legacy would live on in more ways than one. In 1978, it was back on the charts — this time hitting number one — as a disco song by Donna Summer, who was looking for a song that would show off her vocal abilities, according to Stereogum. Jimmy Webb's MacArthur Park became a classic after the Richard Harris #2 hit (May 1968) and then the later a #1 hit by Donna Summer. Over the years, pop culture references have popped up - like this one in Seinfeld. #MacArthurPark #popculture — Jimmy Webb (@realjimmywebb) May 15, 2020 In the years since, fans haven't forgotten about "MacArthur Park" or the sad story it tells. The unforgettable lyrics even inspired a classic Seinfeld plot line about George (Jason Alexander) and a traumatic childhood memory involving him breaking a statue while singing the part about a cake being left out in the rain. The song also got the Weird Al treatment in 1993 with the parody "Jurassic Park" — further solidifying its place in the pop culture landscape for generations to This Legendary Singer-Songwriter's '60s Classic Became a #1 Dance Hit — and a 'Seinfeld' Plot Line first appeared on Parade on Aug 8, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Aug 8, 2025, where it first appeared.
New York Post
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Home closest to the iconic Hollywood sign lists for $2.25M
If location is everything in real estate, then 6105 Mulholland Highway may have just taken home the crown. Nestled into the hillside of Beachwood Canyon and perched just beneath the towering white letters that spell 'Hollywood,' this A-frame chalet isn't just close to the famous sign — it's the closest residence to it, The Post has learned. Listed for $2.25 million with Christopher Soffer and Trenton Armitage of The Beverly Hills Estates, the midcentury hideaway offers something few properties can: front-row views of the cultural landmark that has defined Los Angeles for a century. Advertisement 'It is extremely limited,' Soffer told The Post. 'Being the closest house to the Hollywood sign in the world is as limited as it gets.' 17 Located at 6105 Mulholland Highway, the 1963 chalet-style property sits at the end of a private road in L.A.'s Beachwood Canyon and is surrounded by untouched wilderness. Lawrence Fitz-Simon Built in 1963 and tucked at the end of a private road, the three-bedroom, 2,500-square-foot home will be the first time it will hit the market in almost 40 years. Advertisement 'It's perched up in the trees, almost like a tree house,' Soffer said. 'You have this sense when you're there that you really feel like you're entrenched in this lifestyle and this period of time that seems to have faded away with the modern age.' 17 The foyer. Lawrence Fitz-Simon 17 The current owners, digital artists Jeffrey Kleiser and Diana Walczak, are selling the home as part of a broader real estate consolidation. Lawrence Fitz-Simon 17 The kitchen and breakfast nook. Lawrence Fitz-Simon Advertisement The chalet is a rarity in both style and setting. Its A-frame design — uncommon in Los Angeles — is clad in wood inside and out, creating a cabin-in-the-woods ambiance in the middle of one of the city's most iconic neighborhoods. 'There's tons and tons of wood,' Soffer said. 'You kind of also feel like you're in a cabin in the woods, which is beautiful because the entire A-frame is essentially made out of wood.' The home's current owners, digital effects pioneer Jeffrey Kleiser and sculptor Diana Walczak, have used the space as both residence and creative incubator. Walczak, best known for sculpting the Michael Jackson HIStory statue and designing its digital version for the album cover, and Kleiser, whose credits span 'Tron' to 'X-Men,' are consolidating their property portfolio, according to Soffer. Advertisement 17 The home has hosted a slew of artists over the years. Lawrence Fitz-Simon 17 Walczak is best known for sculpting Michael Jackson's HIStory statue, while Kleiser's visual effects work includes 'Tron' and 'X-Men.' Lawrence Fitz-Simon 17 The three-bedroom home has played host to numerous artists and musicians, including The Association, the 1960s band featured in Linda McCartney's photography book, 'The Sixties.' Lawrence Fitz-Simon 'They've absolutely loved living there and they are creatives themselves,' Soffer said. 'They've actually recorded in that house, numerous bands over the years.' One of the most famous is The Association, the 1960s band behind hits like 'Cherish' and 'Windy.' Their connection to the property earned it a cameo in Linda McCartney's photography book, 'The Sixties.' The home's creative legacy doesn't stop at music, and has quietly played host to artists, sculptors and filmmakers over the decades. 'That place kind of attracts a very interesting crowd and has a very interesting creative energy to it,' Soffer said. 17 Nearly every surface inside the house is clad in wood, giving it the feeling of a forest cabin, while expansive rooftop decks offer panoramic views of downtown Los Angeles on one side and the towering Hollywood sign on the other. Lawrence Fitz-Simon Advertisement 17 'It's perched up in the trees, almost like a treehouse,' said listing agent Christopher Soffer. Lawrence Fitz-Simon 17 Despite its fame-adjacent location, the home has remained surprisingly peaceful, with the owners reporting no issues from tourists or passersby. Lawrence Fitz-Simon 17 It has also performed well as a short-term rental, earning spots in Travel + Leisure and the Emmy-winning show Staycation. Lawrence Fitz-Simon Though it's tucked into the hills, the property is not without modern acclaim. It has been featured on 'Staycation,' the Emmy-winning travel show, and was recognized by Travel + Leisure as one of California's best Airbnbs. Advertisement The owners even produce 'Hollywood Honey' on the premises, courtesy of a small hillside apiary tended by a local beekeeper. The house's positioning on the ridge yields dual vistas: the Hollywood sign at its back and sweeping views of downtown L.A., Griffith Park, and — on clear days — the Pacific Ocean at its front. 'When you are building on a site like that, the Hollywood sign is as direct as it gets,' Soffer said. 'When you're sitting on either of the rooftop decks, all you can see is the Hollywood sign… and on the front of the house, you have these panoramic views of the city.' 17 The property even features a honeybee colony producing 'Hollywood Honey' on a hillside perch. Lawrence Fitz-Simon Advertisement 17 The surrounding land is protected from overdevelopment, with only one neighboring lot eligible for construction. Lawrence Fitz-Simon 17 Soffer described the home as a rare architectural gem, especially in a city where A-frame homes are uncommon. Lawrence Fitz-Simon The listing also marks a nod to the roots of the surrounding area. 'Originally, Beachwood Canyon was built by a single guy and he had done it because he wanted to create a neighborhood that was perfect for Hollywood and studio production,' Soffer said. 'When they first built the Hollywood sign, it was actually almost like an advertisement for the neighborhood.' Advertisement At the time, the sign was even illuminated at night — a touch of glamor that has since disappeared. 'They actually used to have lights on the Hollywood sign, believe it or not,' Soffer said. 'I would love to see that today, but I think it might be a little bit too bright for the current landscape of the neighborhood.' Despite its proximity to a tourist magnet, the property offers peace and privacy. 17 'Being the closest house to the Hollywood sign in the world is as limited as it gets,' he said. Lawrence Fitz-Simon 17 A hot tub. Lawrence Fitz-Simon 17 One of four bedrooms. Lawrence Fitz-Simon 'They said everyone is so enamored by the sign, everyone's in such a good mood when they're up there,' Soffer said of the owners. 'They've never had any issues with break-ins or trespassing or anything like that over the years.' There's little risk of competition either: 'To the right of the property, if you're facing the property, there's only one other lot that can be developed,' Soffer noted. 'As of now, there's nothing on it. It's just a raw piece of land. And beyond that, it's pure wilderness.' It's that blend of exclusivity, architectural significance, and Hollywood history that Soffer believes makes the home one-of-a-kind. 'The architectural community loves these types of houses — A-frame houses,' he said. 'They aren't typical for Los Angeles, and when they do pop up, it's something to be cherished.'
