‘Color Purple’ composer Allee Willis’ bubble-gum-pink wonderland in Valley Village

By Audrey Davidow

For the unsuspecting visitor, musician and artist Allee Willis’ bubble-gum-pink house in Valley Village is a winking, delightful shock. The William Kesling-designed property was commissioned by MGM in 1937 as the studio’s party house. Willis bought it in 1980 and has carried on the revelry ever since, throwing much-publicized bashes with regularity. The place has been dubbed Willis Wonderland, not only for the theatrical soirees but also for the way its owner — whose credits include the Broadway musical “The Color Purple,” the theme song for “Friends” and Earth, Wind and Fire hits — has decorated the place. It’s as if the Jetsons hired Willy Wonka to be the interior designer. For the pictures that follow, we asked Willis to provide a guided tour, in her own words.