Sunset Tower facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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The Sunset Tower Hotel
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The Sunset Tower Hotel
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 Location in the Los Angeles metropolitan area
Location in California
Location in the United States
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| Location | 8358 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, California |
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| Built | 1931 |
| Architect | Leland A. Bryant |
| Architectural style | Art Deco |
| NRHP reference No. | 80000812 |
| Added to NRHP | May 30, 1980 |
The Sunset Tower Hotel is a famous building and hotel located on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, California. It was designed in 1929 by architect Leland A. Bryant and opened in 1931. This hotel is known as one of the best examples of Art Deco architecture in the Los Angeles area. For many years, it was home to lots of Hollywood stars, like John Wayne and Howard Hughes. After a time when it wasn't doing so well in the early 1980s, the building was fixed up. It has since been a fancy hotel, known by names like The St. James's Club and The Argyle, before becoming The Sunset Tower Hotel again. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980, which means it's an important historical site.
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Building Style: Art Deco Design
The Sunset Tower is a fantastic example of the Streamline Moderne style of Art Deco architecture in Southern California. This style is known for its smooth lines and fancy decorations. Experts David Gebhard and Robert Winter called it a "first class monument" and a symbol of Hollywood, just like the famous Hollywood sign.
The hotel stands in a great spot on the Sunset Strip, offering amazing views of the city. It's decorated with cool plaster carvings called friezes. These carvings show plants, animals, airships, and even legendary creatures.
When it first opened, it was a luxury apartment hotel. It was one of the first tall buildings in California made with reinforced concrete. It cost $750,000 to build and was finished in August 1931. The Los Angeles Times newspaper reported that it was the tallest apartment building in Los Angeles County, standing 15 stories high.
A Famous Hollywood Spot
The Sunset Tower Hotel was a very popular place for Hollywood celebrities. An advertisement in 1938 called it "Hollywood's Most Distinguished Address," meaning it was a top place to live. In 1933, the Los Angeles Times wrote about the hotel's highest apartment, called a penthouse. They said it offered incredible views of the city.
Many famous people lived in the penthouse over the years, including John Wayne, Howard Hughes, Frank Sinatra, and Jerry Buss. John Wayne once famously brought a cow up to his penthouse! Other stars who lived there include Clark Gable, Errol Flynn, Marilyn Monroe, Michael Caine, Quincy Jones, Roger Moore, and Zsa Zsa Gábor.
The hotel has also appeared in many movies, like The Italian Job, The Player, and Freaky Friday. In the TV show Cannon, the main character lived at the tower. The hotel's outside is also shown in the TV series Lucifer.
Challenges in the 1980s
By 1982, the building was in a tough spot. A plan to turn the apartments into condos didn't work out. Construction stopped suddenly, even with people still living there. The building started to look run-down. One resident even joked that it looked "like something from a war-ravaged land."
The St. James's Club Era
Luckily, the building was saved from getting worse or even being torn down. In 1985, Peter de Savary bought it. He promised to spend $25 million to make it beautiful again. He wanted to turn it into the first American location for his fancy hotel chain, the St. James's Club.
In 1988, the Los Angeles Conservancy gave an award to the owners for their great work in saving the Sunset Tower. The St. James's Club became a popular luxury hotel for several years, attracting celebrities like David Bowie.
Bringing Back the Shine
In 1992, a group called The Lancaster Group bought the hotel and changed its name to The Argyle. Then, in 2004, Jeff Klein bought the hotel. He hired a designer named Paul Fortune to update the hotel and add modern features. He also brought back its original name, The Sunset Tower Hotel.
In 2006, a Canadian newspaper, The Globe and Mail, reviewed the newly renovated Sunset Tower. They said that the hotel's long and grand history spoke for itself, and that its classic style had been successfully brought into the present day.
As part of the 2006 updates, the hotel's Tower Bar was redesigned to feel more like it did a century ago. After it reopened, the Los Angeles Times reported that the Tower Bar had become one of the most popular spots in Los Angeles. Celebrities like Sean Penn, Victoria Beckham, Tom Cruise, and Jennifer Lopez have visited the Tower Bar. In February 2009, Vanity Fair magazine even held its famous Oscar party at the Sunset Tower.
Historic Recognition
The Sunset Tower Hotel was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. This means it's recognized as an important part of history and is protected.
Images for kids
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The Sunset Tower Hotel
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Sunset Tower Hotel, June 2008
See also
In Spanish: Sunset Tower para niños
