Hotel Alexandria facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hotel Alexandria |
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The Alexandria under renovation in 2008.
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| General information | |
| Location | 501 South Spring Street, Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Coordinates | 34°02′50″N 118°14′59″W / 34.047222°N 118.249722°W |
| Opening | February 12, 1906 |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 12 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | John B. Parkinson (original building), Parkinson & Bergstrom (1911 addition) |
| Developer | Bilicke-Rowan Company |
The Hotel Alexandria is a very old and important building in Downtown Los Angeles. It started as a fancy hotel in the early 1900s. Over time, the main business area of the city moved. Because of this, the hotel became a place for people needing long-term, affordable housing. It also became known for facing some challenges.
The hotel has a beautiful design. Its main public rooms were not used for many years. This made it a popular spot for filming movies and TV shows. The special Palm Court ballroom is even a protected landmark in Los Angeles. In the early 2000s, the area around the hotel became popular again. The building was then changed into apartments. Today, it still welcomes movie crews and hosts special events.
A Grand Beginning
The Hotel Alexandria was designed by architect John B. Parkinson. It was built by Albert Bilicke and Robert Arnold Rowan. The hotel first opened its doors on February 12, 1906. It was an 8-story luxury hotel. It stood at the corner of Spring and 5th Streets in downtown Los Angeles.
The hotel quickly became very popular. So, in 1911, a twelve-story addition was built behind the original building. This made the hotel even bigger. Sadly, Albert Bilicke died in 1915. He was on the ship RMS Lusitania when it sank. Robert Arnold Rowan also passed away not long after. Their wives sold the hotel in 1919. It was bought by the people who built the nearby Ambassador Hotel. For a while, the Alexandria was part of their hotel system.
The Hotel Alexandria was the most luxurious hotel in Los Angeles for many years. This changed when the Biltmore Hotel was built in 1923. The Ambassador Hotels System sold the Alexandria in 1927. It was sold again in 1930. Then, it went through tough times and closed in 1932.
In 1934, many of the hotel's beautiful items were sold. This included its gold leaf ceilings, furniture, and chandeliers. This helped pay off its debts. The hotel was sold again in 1937 to film producer Phil Goldstone. He fixed it up and reopened it. After World War II ended, Goldstone sold the hotel in 1946. In 1954, new owners changed the lobby. They added a new floor to create space for businesses. The lobby was given a new, modern look. Later, in 1961, real estate developer S. Jon Kreedman bought it. He renovated it again in 1970.
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Changes Over Time
By the early 1970s, the hotel's special Palm Court was still in good condition. It was even named a city historic landmark on March 3, 1971. Around this time, the main business area of downtown Los Angeles began to move. The old heart of the city became less busy. A new downtown grew up further west.
Because of these changes, the Hotel Alexandria slowly became a "Single Room Occupancy" (SRO) hotel. This meant it offered long-term housing for people who needed affordable places to live. Its location near an area called Skid Row meant it no longer attracted many short-term visitors.
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A New Life
In 2005, the area around the hotel started to change. Many buildings were turned into expensive apartments. The new owners of the Hotel Alexandria decided to turn it into an apartment building too. They remodeled it bit by bit as people moved out. Today, the building has a mix of regular apartments and affordable housing.
The building is now considered a historic place. Its beautiful ballrooms are often rented out. People use them for events, filming, and weddings. From 2010 to 2014, the lobby even had a restaurant called The Gorbals. It was run by Ilan Hall, who won the TV show Top Chef.
The Mystery Wing
The Hotel Alexandria has an extra part on the 5th Street side. This part is no longer connected to the main hotel. It was built in 1905 by a local businessman named William Chick. He owned the land next to the hotel. This wing looked very similar to the main hotel. Each floor had guest rooms that connected to the Alexandria's hallways.
In 1938, the owners of the wing and the Alexandria had a disagreement. So, the Alexandria simply built a brick wall to block off the hallways on all seven floors. This made the rooms in the smaller wing impossible to reach. This was because Chick had not built his own stairs or an elevator in his part. He had relied on the main hotel's access. The shops on the ground floor of the wing stayed open. But the hotel rooms above sat empty for many years, like untouched time capsules.
In 2012, the entire wing was sold. It was turned into condos and is now completely separate from the Hotel Alexandria.
Star of the Screen
The Hotel Alexandria has been used for countless film shoots. Its fancy public rooms, marble stairs, and old-fashioned charm make it a favorite. Many movies, music videos, TV commercials, and fashion shoots have taken place there.
In the movie Se7en (1995), the hotel was used as the home of the killer, John Doe. There was a long chase scene through much of the hotel. Other films shot at the Alexandria include A Midnight Romance (1919), Dreamgirls (2006), Water for Elephants (2011), Spider-Man 3 (2007), and Domino (2005).
