The Governor’s Mansion from “Benson”

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A few weeks ago while out stalking in Pasadena I stopped to take some pics of the mansion that was used as the home of Governor Gatling in the 1979 television series Benson. I had actually stalked this mansion eight years before when I first moved to Southern California, but had yet to blog about it. So here goes. 🙂 Growing up, Benson was one of my very favorite shows, but to tell you the truth it’s been so long, I barely even remember what it was about now! But I sure do remember loving it as a kid. 🙂 The series, which ran from 1979 to 1986, was a spin-off of the show Soap. Jerry Seinfeld’s very first acting gig was actually on Benson, where he played a character named Frankie. According to IMDB, Jerry was unknowingly fired from the show after three episodes. He apparently showed up to work one morning only to find out that he no longer had a job and that producers had forgotten to let him know! LOL Sounds like a plotline straight out of Seinfeld. 🙂

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In reality, the Benson mansion is known as the Bundy House, named for its original owner, Harlow E. Bundy, inventor of the time clock. Harlow, a resident of Endicott, New York built the mansion in 1914 after deciding he wanted to retire to Pasadena. After retiring to the West Coast in 1915, he became involved (surprise, surprise) in the motion picture industry. Sadly, though, he passed away in 1916, a brief year after moving into his Pasadena mansion. The Bundy House is absolutely HUGE – almost unbelievably so! According to Zillow, the ten bedroom, ten bathroom home is a whopping 15,878 square feet and sits on an 87, 070 square foot lot. I highly recommend stalking the place as pictures just simply don’t do it justice.

Until next time, Happy Stalking!

Stalk It: The Benson house is located at 1365 S. Oakland Avenue in Pasadena.

28 Replies to “The Governor’s Mansion from “Benson””

    1. I really don’t know. I can only tell you that the Benson House is at 1365 South Oaklands Avenue, and the Beverly H B’s House is 1365 South Oaklands.. Anthony.. Eccles England.

      1. Hi Anthony…We have been looking for you for quite a while. Is there any way that we could contact you concerning our family…Martin & Kevin

    2. They do appear similar but the governor’s mansion shows windows on a third level and the circular entry-way is wider. Most importantly the location of the “Benson House is located at 251 N Bristol in Brentwood. Therefore not the same house.

      1. Hi Jai… You are in the wrong City. I do know Brentwood well, but the Benson House is in Pasadena. South Oaklands Avenue in Oak Knoll. I have never been inside the house, because the owner mrs Bruce Ford Bundy had sold it and moved to Newport Beach. I once drove her there in her new 1965 Oldsmobile 98, and as we looked at it she told me that when she lived there there were Iron Stags on the lawn ! Long gone. So long ago… Anthony

        1. What I meant was the exterior shots of the house on Fresh Prince was at 251 N Bristol in Brentwood. Not the Govenor’s mansion on Benson

  1. I was just watching a rerun of “Columbo” on Netflix – Season 2, Episode 1 – and the same house makes an appearance! As soon as I saw it, I said to my husband, “That’s the governor’s mansion from Benson!” I did an immediate Google search and found your blog. 🙂

  2. The last of the Bundy family, who lived in the house in the picture was Mrs Bruce Ford Bundy, (nee Anne Smith), a great lady. good ,kind, generous, and with a brain like an IBM computer, who was my friend and came from my small town, Eccles Lancashire England. (Bundy Business Machine became IBM). The Mayo brothers, (Clinic) also came from Eccles.

    1. Hi Anthony.
      Anne Bundy was my great Aunt and I remember her well from when we lived in Manchester.
      I would like to find out more about how you knew her if that’s ok.
      Best wishes.
      Michael Smith

      1. Hello Michael. I knew Mrs Bundy because my grandmother Edith Boddan was a great friend of her sister Mrs Pickup, and in later years, (I am now 77), Mrs Bundy would visit her sister in Monton during the summer. The last time I saw her was at the Chateau La Jolla Inn in California. She was great fun, and very kind. Sincerely Anthony.

        1. Hi Anthony.
          It’s a small world !
          Aunt Harriet Pickup ( my grandfather Ernest Smith’s elder sister) was a lovely lady too and as children we used to spend hours at her house in Monton during the school holidays.
          We may even have been introduced to your grandmother when she visited. !
          It is nearly 50 years since we lived in Worsley , Swinton and Patricroft and Eccles but everything still has many fond memories.

          I remember our last visit with my own children to see Aunt Anne at the Chateau in La Jolla and the four generations all being together was very special.

          If you have any thoughts or memories you might like to share, I’d be very happy to reminisce.

          Best wishes
          Mike

          1. Thank you Mike for your reply. I do know quite a lot about Mrs Bundy. I still live in Eccles, but I will be in San Diego next February 19/20 if you would like to meet for a drink/chat. sincerely Anthony.

          2. An even smaller world !
            We’re still over in the UK. !
            An opportunity to compare notes might be very interesting. Thank you.

            Michael.

  3. I just watched Season 2 Episode 07 of Scandal and the entire episode is based at the Governor’s Mansion. Don’t know if the interior shots are from the same mansion but check it out.

  4. OMG this mansion is huge I see it all the time its amazing so the other one 1288 S oakland their beautiful love your website!

  5. Hi,
    I love your site. I just recently visted L.A from Austin, T.X and had a blast stalking. I bought a map of the stars but it did not have Lauren Conrad’s address so I googled it and it lead me right to your site, now I am on everyday. Sadly, I didn’t spot any celebritys. c/s this house looks like the house from Fresh Prince of Bel-Air that is shown in the opening. Let me know if I’m correct.
    Okay, Happy Stalking!!
    Thanks,
    Amanda

    1. Hey i love your posts. I was looking for Nora Walker’s house and the google search led me to your website. Its really amazing how painstakingly you search for these treasures.
      I stay in Bangalore, India which has these lovely British Bungalows. Your site has inspired me to document them as most of them are disappearing, making way to ugly apartment blocks.
      Thanks!
      Kevin

  6. Hi! My name is Neto … I loved your blog! I was doing some research at Google and I accidentally found it! I’m from Brazil and I’m a huge fan of O.C.! I saw some pictures of the filming locations! Should be awesome go to all these locations, isn’t it? Answer me, we can chat, can’t we !? Bye.

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