The Cinderella Homes of Jean Vandruff – Fairy TaleTracts in the Suburbs. In the 1950s, Southern California tract housing developments filled the need of a burgeoning population, but they often lacked innovation, imagination and quality. The ubiquitous, plain box-style home tracts featuring little ornamentation came to define the term“cookie cutter.” It’s no wonder that designer and builder Jean Vandruff’s charming homes skyrocketed to popularity, since they exemplified a visionary translation of storybook magic into appealing new homes most buyers could afford. Eventually, over 6,000 Cinderella Homes were built throughout Southern California and the United States.

Mr. Vandruff began building houses in Southern California in the early 1950s, after serving as a decorated pilot in WWII. He enrolled in the USC School of Architecture, but eventually left the program to build custom homes with his brother, Shannon. His first Cinderella Home was a custom home built in Downey, CA, in 1953, creating a prototype for his wildly popular model home that was featured at the 1956 Los Angeles Home Show. The success and interest this model generated initiated his venture into tract home building and a subsequent franchise deal that facilitated his CinderellaHomes being built around the country. The style became an iconic mid-century design.