In an actual estate twist fit for the silver screen, the legendary Upper East Side home and studio of the late celebrity photographer Carl Fischer is up for grabs for $13.5 million, The Post has learned.
Located at 121 E. 83rd St., this historic gem holds a treasure trove of memories from Fischer’s illustrious profession, offering potential buyers a likelihood to own a real piece of New York history.
Fischer, who called this eclectic abode home for greater than 4 many years, recently passed away on the age of 98.
The property exudes a bohemian charm that’s as unique as Fischer’s photographs.
Standing on a picturesque block adorned with other romantic carriage houses, this residence offers greater than just 4 partitions; it’s a living piece of the town’s artistic soul.
Fischer’s claim to fame includes capturing the legendary Muhammad Ali in his white shorts, a photograph that graced the duvet of Esquire Magazine and is etched into the annals of photography history.
He was also known for photos of past United States politicians, similar to Lyndon Johnson and Robert Kennedy.
Fischer’s sons, Doug and Ken Fischer, recall their childhood spent in the corporate of greatness inside these hallowed halls.
“I got to be there when Ali was there,” said Doug, now 67. “And that was kind of exciting. It was like meeting God.”
In a surprising twist, Doug adds that he stumbled upon Ali’s famed white shorts many years later, hidden away in a forgotten corner of his brother’s belongings, where they were repurposed for a relatively casual game of basketball.
Beyond the star-studded encounters, Doug fondly remembers his father’s photo sessions with the legendary Walt “Clyde” Frazier, securing an autograph as a prized memento.
“The three kids had the third floor to themselves, which was great,” Doug said of his brother and older sister. “The outdoor space on the third floor was an unusual thing and we spent day trip there, snowball fights, sneaking cigarettes … The second floor was where the grownups were, meals, parents and their friends.”
In 1969, Carl Fischer also produced Andy Warhol’s “Soup Can” photograph.
The ground level, once Fischer’s studio, is currently rented to a plastic surgeon, with the lease set to run out soon.
As Doug put it, “We lived in an enormous house, and that was out of the odd. A carriage home is 25 feet wide, even wider than a brownstone.”
With additional floor area ratio allowing for expansion to 10,420 square feet, this 7,825-square-foot marvel boasts that ground-floor business space, a basement and a duplex residence that after echoed with the creativity of Fischer himself.
As it currently stands, the living space boasts 4 bedrooms and 6 bathrooms.
Ken, now 62, recalled, “He used to say that he lived above the candy store, so to talk, because his photo studio was on the bottom floor, which had very high ceilings.”
“When you have a look at my father’s work, and also you realize that much of his work was within the studio in that space, and far of it’s iconic. It just, you’re feeling very special walking within the space, knowing that every one that happened.”
Built by Hamilton & Mesereau as one in all Frank W. Woolworth’s private stables, this Flemish-bond variegated brick-face constructing has also been home to illustrious figures, including Murray Guggenheim.
Fischer converted the lower floors into his photographic studio in 1965.
With the lease set to finish in the autumn of 2024, the chance to renovate, live, or earn rental income is ripe for the taking.
Beyond its historic allure, the residence boasts exposed brick partitions, tiled and wood flooring, and leaded glass doors.
With its prime location near Central Park, renowned museums just like the Met, upscale dining and quick access to transportation, this property is a slice of New York’s Upper East Side heaven.
Michelle Griffith with Douglas Elliman holds the listing.
