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Hollywood Plaza Hotel

April 13, 2024

"Hollywood Plaza" redirects here. Not to be confused with Plaza Hollywood in Hong Kong.

Hollywood Plaza Hotel was a 200-room hotel located at 1633–37 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California, just south of the famous intersection of Hollywood and Vine. It is in close proximity to the Capitol Records Building. Opened on October 15, 1925,[1] it was a popular venue for film, radio, and theatre stars of the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s. It was converted into a retirement home in the 1970s.

Hollywood Plaza Hotel
Hotel in 2015
Location in Los Angeles
General information
TypeHotel
Architectural styleRenaissance Revival
Address1633–37 North Vine Street
Town or cityHollywood, California
CountryUS
Coordinates34°6′3″N 118°19′37″W / 34.10083°N 118.32694°W / 34.10083; -118.32694
Construction started1924
OpenedOctober 15, 1925
Cost$1 million
OwnerJoseph Stern
Design and construction
Architecture firmWalker & Eisen
DesignatedSeptember 29, 1999
Reference no.665
Hollywood Plaza Hotel pool, c. 1960
Hotel facade and coffee shop, 1963

History edit

The site was previously occupied by the residence of Jacob Stern. Joseph Stern, the hotel owner, leased the hotel to the Vine Street Hotel and Investment Company, led by Harold Stern.[1]

Description edit

Designed by Walker & Eisen in Renaissance Revival style,[2] the hotel was built in 1924 at a cost of US$1 million. The plan was T-shaped and 10 stories in height, of reinforced concrete, ornamental plaster, and stone. There were two garden plazas[1] and a street-level ballroom.[3] The name "Plaza" appeared on a large neon signboard atop the roof.[4]

The lobby, which was modernized after World War II, originally featured an Italian-style coffered ceiling and bronze chandeliers.[5]

The hotel's "Russian Eagle" nightclub was renamed the "It Cafe" by Clara Bow and her husband, Rex Bell, in 1937.[6] Though Bow promised to appear three times a week at the cafe, her interest gradually waned and the cafe closed in 1943.[4] It later became a coffee shop.[7] The hotel featured vaudeville acts,[3] and during the 1950s, the television game show Queen for a Day set up a live remote broadcast location in the ballroom.[8] Disc jockey Johnny Grant broadcast his daily show from the Hollywood Plaza Bar.[4]

Clientele edit

Being located in the vicinity of many broadcast studios,[4] the hotel was popular with radio performers and live theatre actors visiting Los Angeles, including Jackie Gleason, Doris Day, Marilyn Monroe, and Edward Everett Horton,[2] as well as top bandleaders like Harry James, Paul Whiteman, and Hal McIntyre.[9] Bette Davis resided in the hotel with her mother when she arrived in Hollywood in 1930.[5] A fresh contract in hand, Ava Gardner checked into the Hollywood Plaza in 1941, but was forced to move to the cheaper Wilcox Hotel.[3] In the 1940s and 1950s, a barber shop in the basement was frequented by singer Frank Sinatra, who enjoyed playing gin rummy with the barber.[9][10] Comedian George Burns maintained an office at the top of the hotel in the late 1930s.[5][4]

The silhouette of a hotel seen from the window of Lucy Ricardo's flat in several I Love Lucy episodes is that of the Hollywood Plaza.[7]

Notoriety edit

The hotel had its share of notoriety. In 1937 Ern Westmore, released from detainment for a drunk-driving charge, checked into a 10th-floor room and threatened to leap out the window; his brother Frank came to calm him down.[3] That same year, an airline stewardess was found dead in her room.[11] In 1954, an Alaskan woman indicted for the murder of her husband and released on bail committed suicide in her room with an overdose of sleeping pills.[12] In 1959 a woman survived an 8-story fall down the hotel's stairwell.[13]

Present day edit

By the early 1970s, the hotel had become derelict.[14] The building was converted into a retirement home.[15] Original palm trees occupy the rear of the building.[16]

The building and its neon signboard were designated Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument No. 665 on September 29, 1999.[4][17]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c McCann et al. 2008, p. 124.
  2. ^ a b Wanamaker & Nudelman 2007, p. 63.
  3. ^ a b c d Williams 2005, p. 141.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "Early Views of Hollywood (1920 +)". Water and Power Associates. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  5. ^ a b c Wanamaker 2009, p. 38.
  6. ^ Cooper, Hall & Cooper, Jr. 2005, p. 123.
  7. ^ a b Treiman 2011, pp. 152–153.
  8. ^ Mickelson 2007, p. 174.
  9. ^ a b Cabrera, Yvette (July 16, 1998). . Los Angeles Daily News. Archived from the original on February 24, 2016.
  10. ^ Baker, David; Hiestand, Jesse (May 16, 1998). . Los Angeles Daily News. Archived from the original on February 24, 2016. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  11. ^ "Death of Airline Stewardness Probed". Pittsburgh Press. September 13, 1937. p. 1. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  12. ^ "Blonde Kills Self Prior to Murder Trial". The Gettysburg Times. March 10, 1954. p. 3. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  13. ^ "Woman Lives After 8-Story Fall". The Miami News. April 2, 1959. p. 12A. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  14. ^ Coleman, Terry (November 24, 1973). "Briton Seeking Glamour Finds Hollywood Dying on the Vine". The Milwaukee Journal. p. 1. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  15. ^ Dangcil & Dangcil 2002, p. 86.
  16. ^ Wanamaker 2009, p. 37.
  17. ^ "Historic-Cultural Monument (HCM) List" (PDF). City of Los Angeles Department of City Planning. July 31, 2014. p. 25. Retrieved November 10, 2015.

Bibliography edit

  • Cooper, Suzanne Tarbell; Hall, Amy Ronnebeck; Cooper, Jr., Frank E. (2005). Los Angeles Art Deco. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 0-7385-3027-1.
  • Dangcil, Thomas; Dangcil, Tommy (2002). Hollywood, 1900–1950, in Vintage Postcards. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7385-2073-5.
  • McCann, Linda; Taube, Dace; Zachary, Claude; Roseman, Curtis C. (2008). Historic Hotels of Los Angeles and Hollywood. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7385-5906-3.
  • Mickelson, Ed (2007). Out of the Park: Memoir of a Minor League Baseball All-Star. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-8279-5.
  • Treiman, Jaak (2011). A Diplomatic Guide to Los Angeles: Discovering Its Sites and Character. Velak Publishing. ISBN 978-0-9835158-0-7.
  • Wanamaker, Marc (2009). Hollywood, 1940–2008. Arcadia Publishing. p. 37. ISBN 978-0-7385-5923-0.
  • Wanamaker, Marc; Nudelman, Robert W. (2007). Early Hollywood. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7385-4792-3.
  • Williams, Gregory Paul (2005). The Story of Hollywood: An Illustrated History. www.storyofhollywood.com. ISBN 978-0-9776299-0-9.

External links edit

  • History at Paradiseleased.wordpress.com

  Media related to Hollywood Plaza Hotel at Wikimedia Commons

April 13, 2024
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Hollywood Plaza redirects here Not to be confused with Plaza Hollywood in Hong Kong Hollywood Plaza Hotel was a 200 room hotel located at 1633 37 North Vine Street in Hollywood California just south of the famous intersection of Hollywood and Vine It is in close proximity to the Capitol Records Building Opened on October 15 1925 1 it was a popular venue for film radio and theatre stars of the 1930s 1940s and 1950s It was converted into a retirement home in the 1970s Hollywood Plaza HotelHotel in 2015Location in Los AngelesGeneral informationTypeHotelArchitectural styleRenaissance RevivalAddress1633 37 North Vine StreetTown or cityHollywood CaliforniaCountryUSCoordinates34 6 3 N 118 19 37 W 34 10083 N 118 32694 W 34 10083 118 32694Construction started1924OpenedOctober 15 1925Cost 1 millionOwnerJoseph SternDesign and constructionArchitecture firmWalker amp EisenLos Angeles Historic Cultural MonumentDesignatedSeptember 29 1999Reference no 665Hollywood Plaza Hotel pool c 1960Hotel facade and coffee shop 1963 Contents 1 History 2 Description 3 Clientele 3 1 Notoriety 4 Present day 5 References 6 Bibliography 7 External linksHistory editThe site was previously occupied by the residence of Jacob Stern Joseph Stern the hotel owner leased the hotel to the Vine Street Hotel and Investment Company led by Harold Stern 1 Description editDesigned by Walker amp Eisen in Renaissance Revival style 2 the hotel was built in 1924 at a cost of US 1 million The plan was T shaped and 10 stories in height of reinforced concrete ornamental plaster and stone There were two garden plazas 1 and a street level ballroom 3 The name Plaza appeared on a large neon signboard atop the roof 4 The lobby which was modernized after World War II originally featured an Italian style coffered ceiling and bronze chandeliers 5 The hotel s Russian Eagle nightclub was renamed the It Cafe by Clara Bow and her husband Rex Bell in 1937 6 Though Bow promised to appear three times a week at the cafe her interest gradually waned and the cafe closed in 1943 4 It later became a coffee shop 7 The hotel featured vaudeville acts 3 and during the 1950s the television game show Queen for a Day set up a live remote broadcast location in the ballroom 8 Disc jockey Johnny Grant broadcast his daily show from the Hollywood Plaza Bar 4 Clientele editBeing located in the vicinity of many broadcast studios 4 the hotel was popular with radio performers and live theatre actors visiting Los Angeles including Jackie Gleason Doris Day Marilyn Monroe and Edward Everett Horton 2 as well as top bandleaders like Harry James Paul Whiteman and Hal McIntyre 9 Bette Davis resided in the hotel with her mother when she arrived in Hollywood in 1930 5 A fresh contract in hand Ava Gardner checked into the Hollywood Plaza in 1941 but was forced to move to the cheaper Wilcox Hotel 3 In the 1940s and 1950s a barber shop in the basement was frequented by singer Frank Sinatra who enjoyed playing gin rummy with the barber 9 10 Comedian George Burns maintained an office at the top of the hotel in the late 1930s 5 4 The silhouette of a hotel seen from the window of Lucy Ricardo s flat in several I Love Lucy episodes is that of the Hollywood Plaza 7 Notoriety edit The hotel had its share of notoriety In 1937 Ern Westmore released from detainment for a drunk driving charge checked into a 10th floor room and threatened to leap out the window his brother Frank came to calm him down 3 That same year an airline stewardess was found dead in her room 11 In 1954 an Alaskan woman indicted for the murder of her husband and released on bail committed suicide in her room with an overdose of sleeping pills 12 In 1959 a woman survived an 8 story fall down the hotel s stairwell 13 Present day editBy the early 1970s the hotel had become derelict 14 The building was converted into a retirement home 15 Original palm trees occupy the rear of the building 16 The building and its neon signboard were designated Los Angeles Historic Cultural Monument No 665 on September 29 1999 4 17 References edit a b c McCann et al 2008 p 124 a b Wanamaker amp Nudelman 2007 p 63 a b c d Williams 2005 p 141 a b c d e f Early Views of Hollywood 1920 Water and Power Associates Retrieved November 10 2015 a b c Wanamaker 2009 p 38 Cooper Hall amp Cooper Jr 2005 p 123 a b Treiman 2011 pp 152 153 Mickelson 2007 p 174 a b Cabrera Yvette July 16 1998 A Cut Above Barber provides slice of history Los Angeles Daily News Archived from the original on February 24 2016 Baker David Hiestand Jesse May 16 1998 Legions of Fans in Valley Share Stories of Pop Icon Los Angeles Daily News Archived from the original on February 24 2016 Retrieved November 10 2015 Death of Airline Stewardness Probed Pittsburgh Press September 13 1937 p 1 Retrieved November 10 2015 Blonde Kills Self Prior to Murder Trial The Gettysburg Times March 10 1954 p 3 Retrieved November 10 2015 Woman Lives After 8 Story Fall The Miami News April 2 1959 p 12A Retrieved November 10 2015 Coleman Terry November 24 1973 Briton Seeking Glamour Finds Hollywood Dying on the Vine The Milwaukee Journal p 1 Retrieved November 10 2015 Dangcil amp Dangcil 2002 p 86 Wanamaker 2009 p 37 Historic Cultural Monument HCM List PDF City of Los Angeles Department of City Planning July 31 2014 p 25 Retrieved November 10 2015 Bibliography editCooper Suzanne Tarbell Hall Amy Ronnebeck Cooper Jr Frank E 2005 Los Angeles Art Deco Arcadia Publishing ISBN 0 7385 3027 1 Dangcil Thomas Dangcil Tommy 2002 Hollywood 1900 1950 in Vintage Postcards Arcadia Publishing ISBN 978 0 7385 2073 5 McCann Linda Taube Dace Zachary Claude Roseman Curtis C 2008 Historic Hotels of Los Angeles and Hollywood Arcadia Publishing ISBN 978 0 7385 5906 3 Mickelson Ed 2007 Out of the Park Memoir of a Minor League Baseball All Star McFarland ISBN 978 0 7864 8279 5 Treiman Jaak 2011 A Diplomatic Guide to Los Angeles Discovering Its Sites and Character Velak Publishing ISBN 978 0 9835158 0 7 Wanamaker Marc 2009 Hollywood 1940 2008 Arcadia Publishing p 37 ISBN 978 0 7385 5923 0 Wanamaker Marc Nudelman Robert W 2007 Early Hollywood Arcadia Publishing ISBN 978 0 7385 4792 3 Williams Gregory Paul 2005 The Story of Hollywood An Illustrated History www storyofhollywood com ISBN 978 0 9776299 0 9 External links editHistory at Paradiseleased wordpress com nbsp Media related to Hollywood Plaza Hotel at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Hollywood Plaza Hotel amp oldid 1154033382, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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