About Cinderella Homes
Historical Significance
Celebrate the history of these charming, magical homes. First built in the 1950s, Cinderella Homes changed the landscape of tract housing in Southern California. These homes were so popular that they threatened to put other home builders out of business. Many of them ended up imitating the Cinderella Home style.
Popular Tract Home Designs
Cinderella Homes were first built in Anaheim, CA. They were also built throughout the state of California, as well as in Nevada, Kansas and Texas & Arizona. Over 6,000 homes were built. There's a Cinderella Drive in Claremont, CA, and a Cinderella Lane in Santa Barbara, CA.
Magical Home Living
The first custom Cinderella Home was built in Downey, CA, in 1953, two years before Disneyland opened. Jean's brother, Shannon, had the idea to build them as tract homes. If you live in a Cinderella Home today, or once upon a time, we would love to hear about your personal experience living there.
Order Your Book Today!
The Cinderella Homes of Jean Vandruff
$30.00
By Chris Lukather
The true story behind the original Cinderella Homes. Designed and built by Jean Vandruff in the 1950s and '60s, these homes were characterized by their elegance, charm and comfort. Innovative at the time, Cinderella Homes combined the aesthetic and quality of a custom-built home into a tract home development—at a price families could afford. These magical, well-built homes are still popular today. Jean Vandruff, who passed away in 2021, at 99 years old, was interviewed extensively for the book.
Format: Softcover, perfect bound, 10x10 inches, 120 pages.
Includes many vintage color and B&W photographs.
Introduction by Jean Vandruff.
ORDER NOW! FREE SHIPPING! SIGNED COPIES UPON REQUEST.
Order Your Brochure Today!
Official Reprint of 1956 Cinderella Brochure
$20.00
From the Vandruff Family Archives
This 12-page brochure is a full color reproduction of the original brochure printed in 1956. It's an exact copy—reproducing all of the color pages from the brochure used to promote the magical Cinderella Homes in Anaheim, CA. The size is 8.5x11 inches.
FREE SHIPPING!
Book & BROCHURE at Special Price!
GET 20% OFF! Buy Cinderella Book & Cinderella Brochure
$40.00
By Chris Lukather
The true story behind the original Cinderella Homes. Designed and built by Jean Vandruff in the 1950s and '60s, these homes were characterized by their elegance, charm and comfort. Innovative at the time, Cinderella Homes combined the aesthetic and quality of a custom-built home into a tract home development—at a price families could afford. These magical, well-built homes are still popular today. Jean Vandruff was interviewed extensively for the book.
Format: Softcover, perfect bound, 10x10 inches, 120 pages.
Includes many vintage color and B&W photographs.
Introduction by Jean Vandruff.
PLUS - Printed full color copy of 1956 promotion brochure, 12 pages.
FREE SHIPPING!
Photo: Author Chris Lukather, with Mid-century pop culture expert and author, Charles Phoenix
NEW, UPDATED EDITION!
A Birdhouse in Paradise: William Mellenthin SFV Ranch Homes
$42.00
AVAILABLE NOW – ORDER TODAY!
The New, updated edition of the William Mellenthin book, now includes information about his son, Mike Mellenthin. With a degree in Engineering from USC, Mike built homes just like his father. Mike also worked with renowned architect, Cliff May.
120 pages
10x10 inches
Color and black & white photos and illustrations
Soft cover, perfect bound
FREE SHIPPING
NEW BOOK! HOMES BY BYRD
The Art & Architecture of Robert Byrd and His Son, Gary
$39.00
AVAILABLE NOW – ORDER TODAY!
A new book about the art and architecture of Robert Byrd, who designed and built homes in Southern California from the 1920s to the 1970s—many for Hollywood celebrities. His son, Gary, built homes in a similar style. Byrd is often credited as the inventor of the California Ranch Style of Architecture. A Byrd home featured natural materials that lent them a comfortable, symbiotic and timeless ambience.
148 pages, Soft Cover, Perfect Bound
10x10 inches, Color and Black & White Photos and Illustrations
FREE SHIPPING