The Beverly Hills Hotel facts for kids
| The Beverly Hills Hotel | |
Quick facts for kids .jpg) |
|
| Hotel facts and statistics | |
|---|---|
| Location | Beverly Hills, California |
| Coordinates | 34°4′53.17″N 118°24′49.29″W / 34.0814361°N 118.4136917°W |
| Address | |
| Developer | Margaret & Stanley Anderson |
| Architect | Elmer Grey |
| Owner | Dorchester Collection |
| No. of restaurants | The Polo Lounge The Cabana Cafe The Fountain Coffee Room Bar Nineteen12 |
| No. of rooms | 210 guest rooms 23 bungalows |
| Parking | Valet Parking |
The Beverly Hills Hotel, also known as the Beverly Hills Hotel and Bungalows, is a famous hotel on Sunset Boulevard in Beverly Hills, California. It's known worldwide and has strong connections to Hollywood film stars, rock stars, and other famous people. The hotel has 210 guest rooms and suites, plus 23 special bungalows. Each building is painted in the hotel's signature pink and green colors.
The Beverly Hills Hotel opened in May 1912, even before the city of Beverly Hills officially existed! It was started by Margaret J. Anderson, a wealthy woman, and her son, Stanley S. Anderson. The first hotel was designed by architect Elmer Grey in a Mediterranean Revival style. Over the years, many different people owned the hotel. In 1941, Hernando Courtright bought it with friends, including famous actors like Irene Dunne and Loretta Young. Courtright created the Polo Lounge, which became a top dining spot in Los Angeles for many years. In 1948, the hotel was painted its famous pink color.
From 1954 to 1979, Ben L. Silberstein owned the hotel. Later, in 1986, Marvin Davis bought it. The hotel closed for a big renovation in 1992 and reopened in 1995. Since 1996, it has been part of the Dorchester Collection, owned by the Sultan of Brunei. In 2012, the hotel became the first historic landmark in Beverly Hills.
The song "Hotel California" by the band Eagles is partly inspired by stories about this hotel. The cover of their album, also called Hotel California, even shows a photo of the hotel.
Contents
Discovering the Hotel's Past
How the Hotel Began
In 1911, Margaret J. Anderson and her son, Stanley S. Anderson, decided to build the Beverly Hills Hotel. They chose a spot near the mansion of Burton E. Green, a rich oil and real estate developer. Green wanted a hotel to attract people to the area, which he called "Beverly Farms." He hoped it would make people want to buy land there. The Los Angeles Times announced the hotel's construction, saying it would be a "huge Mission-style hotel" where guests would get "the best of everything."
The hotel opened on May 12, 1912. Soon, famous Hollywood directors and actors like Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks, Charlie Chaplin, and Gloria Swanson bought homes nearby. This helped turn the area into the city of Beverly Hills. In 1915, the first five bungalows were built at the hotel. Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford bought a lodge above the hotel, which they called Pickfair. It was said that if you were invited to dine at Pickfair, you had truly "made it" in Hollywood!
In 1915, the Andersons gave some of the hotel's land to the community. This land became the first public park, now called Will Rogers Memorial Park. The hotel also had a fun tradition: an annual Easter egg hunt for the children of guests and employees. Silent film star Harold Lloyd even filmed a scene for his movie A Sailor-Made Man at the hotel in 1921.
The hotel faced challenges during the Great Depression, closing for a few years. But with help from the Bank of America, it reopened in 1932.
The Golden Age of Hollywood
During the 1930s, the Beverly Hills Hotel became very popular with Hollywood stars. Fred Astaire loved reading the Daily Variety by the pool. In 1938, the hotel added the Sand and Pool Club, which was a huge hit. They even brought in white sand from Arizona to make the pool area look like a beach! Famous actress Marlene Dietrich helped change a rule in the Polo Lounge in 1940. Before, women had to wear skirts, but she refused to, leading to a new policy.
In 1941, Hernando Courtright and his friends bought the hotel. Courtright created the Polo Lounge, named after famous polo players who celebrated there. In 1942, Howard Hughes, a very rich and unique businessman, bought several bungalows and lived there often. The hotel even delivered his favorite roast beef sandwiches to a special spot in a tree!
The hotel got a big makeover in the late 1940s. In 1948, it was painted its famous pink color, earning it the nickname "the Pink Palace." Architect Paul R. Williams added the Crescent Wing, and the Fountain Coffee Shop also opened.
In 1954, Ben L. Silberstein bought the hotel. The Beverly Hills Hotel became known as a top luxury hotel, attracting famous guests like the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Princess Margaret, and Grace Kelly. Elizabeth Taylor, a very well-known guest, stayed in the bungalows with her many husbands and spent six of her eight honeymoons there. The Polo Lounge became a favorite spot for stars like Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin.
The hotel was also a filming location. In 1956, the pool was used for the movie Designing Woman with Gregory Peck and Lauren Bacall. Marilyn Monroe and Yves Montand stayed at the hotel, with Monroe favoring Bungalow No. 7.
In the 1970s, John Lennon and Yoko Ono stayed in one of the bungalows. The hotel's exterior was even featured on the album cover of the Eagles' album Hotel California in 1977.
Recent Years
After owner Ben Silberstein passed away in 1979, his daughters inherited the hotel. In 1986, Marvin Davis bought it, and less than a year later, he sold it to the Sultan of Brunei.
On December 30, 1992, the hotel closed for a huge restoration project that cost over $100 million. It reopened on June 3, 1995, with updated furniture and features. Since 1996, the hotel has been managed by the Dorchester Collection. In 2012, the hotel celebrated its 100th anniversary. It also became the first historic landmark in Beverly Hills in September 2012.
Hotel Design and Features
Outside the Hotel
The Beverly Hills Hotel is famous for its "peachy pink" color with green and white stripes. The main building was designed by architect Elmer Grey in the Mediterranean Revival style. It looks like a grand mansion with arches and verandas. The iconic signs and some additions were designed by architect Paul R. Williams.
The hotel has huge gardens, covering 12 acres. They are filled with beautiful plants like bougainvillea, banana plants, and hibiscus. Svend Petersen, the pool manager for 42 years, became a Hotel Ambassador. He once opened the pool after hours for The Beatles!
Inside the Hotel
The sunroom offers amazing views of the Pacific Ocean. The main dining room could seat up to 500 people. The children's dining room later became the famous Polo Lounge. The Polo Lounge is known as a top spot for important meetings and dining in Los Angeles. It has a peachy pink color with dark green booths and even plug-in phones at each table. A photo behind the bar shows Will Rogers and Darryl F. Zanuck playing polo. The hotel even has its own bakery and herb garden!
In 2007, a large suite was turned into the Bar Nineteen12. The fireplace in the hotel's lobby has a fire burning every day of the year.
Rooms and Bungalows
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
Many rooms have their own balcony and are decorated in the hotel's signature pink, green, apricot, and yellow colors. Some of the more expensive rooms have private patios, hot tubs, and kitchens.
Five bungalows were first added in 1915 for families who wanted to return each year with their own staff. Today, the hotel has 23 bungalows spread throughout the gardens. Bungalows 14-21 are called "Bachelor's Row" because of their connection to film stars. In 1990, a private pool and hot tub were added to Bungalow No. 5 for businessman Walter Annenberg. This bungalow was also a favorite of Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. Marilyn Monroe loved Bungalow No. 1 and No. 7. No. 1 is the most private bungalow. No. 7 is sometimes called "the Norma Jean." Marlene Dietrich had a huge bed added to No. 10, where John Lennon and Yoko Ono stayed in the 1970s. Bungalow 22 was a favorite of Frank Sinatra and later, Donald Trump. In 2011, two new Presidential Bungalows were built, each with three bedrooms and a private swimming pool. Staying in a bungalow can cost a lot, sometimes up to $10,000 for one night!
Howard Hughes always kept a bungalow at the hotel, but it was a secret whether he was there or not. Often, only the hotel's chef knew he was on the property. Hughes would sometimes wake the chef in the middle of the night to prepare food for him. Some people even say that a few of the bungalows are haunted! Guests have reported hearing what sounds like Harpo Marx playing the harp and seeing a ghost of Sergei Rachmaninoff.
Gallery
-
Entrance
-
Main floor plan
-
Upper floor plan
-
Lobby
-
Dining room
-
The hotel in 1913
