Hollywood Blog

Chateau Marmont: A Hollywood Icon

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180px-chateaumarmont_01It may not be the newest hotel in the area, nor is it the grandest, but the Chateau Marmont is the hotel steeped in authentic Hollywood history. Located at 8221 Sunset Boulevard, the hotel was built in 1927 by Fred Horowitz. It was modeled after the famed Château d’Amboise in the Loire Valley in France. Originally, though, the project was not meant as a hotel. In fact, it was opened in 1929 as an apartment building. Due to the high rent and the Depression, there weren’t many takes. As such, it was converted into a hotel in 1931.

In 1990, Chateau Marmont was bought and has since then been run by hotelier Andre Balazs. So what is so special about this hotel? Let’s just say that countless Hollywood (and non-Hollywood) celebrities have spent many a naughty time in this place. This hotel is perhaps the most discrete and most private that you can find in all of Hollywood. And, in a place where privacy is hard to come by, Chateau Marmont is a haven for many. Indeed, Harry Cohn (founder of Columbia Pictures) is quoted to have said that “If you must get in trouble, do it at the Chateau Marmont.”

This license for the naughty and the privacy does not come cheaply, though. The hotel has 63 rooms, cottages, and bungalows. The cheapest room – standard – will cost you a hefty $300++ per night. For the utmost privacy, the bungalows are what the stars choose. I can’t even begin to imagine how much these cost!

The next time you find yourself with cash – lots of it – to burn and you want a genuine Hollywood experience, check yourself in at the Chateau Marmont.

Originally posted on November 18, 2010 @ 12:45 am

Grauman’s Chinese Theatre

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Grauman's Chinese Theatre

The Grauman Chinese Theatre is one of the most popular attractions in Hollywood. The great thing about this theatre is that its popularity is not only due to its “star record” but also because of its architecture. In fact the theatre is has been a historic-cultural landmark since 1968. Thanks to this status the theatre has been kept well preserved undergoing several facelifts and much needed earthquake retrofits to ensure that future generations will still have a Grauman’s Chinese Theatre to visit and enjoy when going to Hollywood.

The Grauman’s Chinese Theatre was first opened in May 18, 1927 with Cecil B. DeMille’s “The King of Kings” premiering that night. From the opening the theatre has already been popular and been making history as attested to by the thousands of fans, that turned out to see both the celebrities and the theatre, and then went ahead and rioted.

As mentioned earlier the theatre is also very special due to the architecture and the interior design. Quite obviously the theatre is of Chinese architecture, but what makes it really special is its legendary forecourt better known as the “Forecourt of the Stars”. The intricate artistry, from the fountains to the statues, displayed in the forecourt is actually the work of real Chinese artisans. Lots of the other artifacts that dot the theatre, such as the giant Heaven Dogs guarding the entrance of the theatre, are genuine Chinese artifacts imported from China. Of course, to the fans the emphasis goes to the stars part of the “Forecourt of the STARS” since it is there where you’ll find the hand and footprints of more than 200 celebrities. The very first hand and footprints belong to Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks in April 30, 1927 with more and more stars adding to the A-List each year.

The theatre, though a tourist attraction, is also still very much a real theatre serving as the venue for premieres of the best shows in Hollywood.

Originally posted on April 27, 2011 @ 11:03 pm

Hollywood’s Gower Gulch

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gowers-t.jpgGower Street may not be the most popular or well known areas of Hollywood, but it’s played a big role in its history. This humble road was home to the very first motion picture studio was built here, the Christie Studios, founded by Al Christie in 1911. It later became the location of major players like Paramount Pictures, Sunset-Gower Studios (occuping the former lot of Columbia Pictures). The Oz Film Manufacturing Company also used to stand here, before it was bought out by Paramount.

Gower St’s Columbia Drugstore was also the favorite hangout of young movie stars who loved the soda fountain. They would also buy their hometown magazines and newspapers from the vendor outside the store.

So who’s Gower? He was not a producer, or an actor. Actually, he was a farmer who brought in the area’s first farming equipment — back when Hollywood was mostly pastureland. In the 1930s Hollywood actors called the place “Gower Gulch”. It was the height of the Western films and many extras would walk around in their cowboy costumes. A mall named “Gower Gulch” now stands here.

Originally posted on September 28, 2010 @ 5:12 pm

The dramatic past of the Knickerbocker Hotel

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Some of Hollywood’s hotels can be considered as historical as Hollywood itself — like the Knickerbocker.

It was built in 1925 as a luxury apartment building, and its Renaissance Revival bar was a favorite hang out of the stars. Rudolph Valentino loved to tango here. FIlm director D. W. Griffith spent many hours at the bar, especially after he was “dismissed” by Hollywood after years of pioneering the industry. He was was walking in the lobby when he had a stroke, and died under the huge crystal chandelier.

Another Knickerbocker patron was Frances Farmer, who enjoyed an intense, but brief, career. She appeared in 18 films, three Broadway plays, thirty major radio shows and seven stock company productions, but alcohol, drugs, and weight problems had her career in shambles before she was 28. In 1943 she was arrested while she was at the Knickerbocker, and had to be dragged (half naked) out of her room. Famous costume designer Irene Gibbons also committed suicide here, checking in under another name, then trying to slit her wrists. When that didn’t work she jumped from the window.

The Knickerbocker was also the “lovenest” of William Faulkner and Meta Carpenter, a script girl from the Fox studios, Marilyn Monroe and Joe Dimaggio. Other celebrity guests were Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Mae West, Lana Turner, Cecil B. DeMille, Frank Sinatra, Laurel and Hardy and many others.

The Knickerbocker was also the stage for the last Houdini seance. After an hour, a violent thunderstorm drenched participants and ended their attempts. They later discovered that the storm didn’t occur anywhere else in Hollywood — only above the hotel!

Today a coffee shop called “The All-Star Theatre Café & Speakeasy” stands where the bar used to be, and is frequented by celebrities like Sandra Bullock and Leonardo DiCaprio.

Originally posted on June 23, 2010 @ 1:02 pm

Hollywood’s secret brothelss

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It looks harmless. Even boring. Just an office building, with names of production companies, which don’t even leave much impact to the average tourist.

Until they know the story behind the street.

8439 Sunset Boulevard, now called Piazze del Sol, used to be the site of Hollywood’s most exclusive brothel, called “House of Francis.” People would go here for a different kind of networking, and whatever happened behind its doors stayed behind those doors.

Today there are still brothels, but they are typically held in private houses.

Originally posted on September 30, 2010 @ 5:59 pm