The Beverly Hills Hotel is legendary. Established in 1912, it’s known for its whimsical Palm Springs style decor as well as its rich Hollywood history. But, that’s not all. Here are five of our favorite facts that you may or may not already know.
1 – It Was Founded by a Female
As mentioned, the hotel was opened over 100 years ago, before the city of Beverly Hills was even established. It was originally owned and operated by Margaret Anderson, whose motto was “Guests are entitled to the best of everything regardless of cost!” By 1914, Hollywood directors, actors and actresses were purchasing homes in the surrounding area. Stars included Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks, Gloria Swanson, Buster Keaton, Rudolph Valentino, and Will Rogers. Swanson later resided in one of the bungalows of the hotel during her divorce.
2 – Famous Hollywood Stars Called The Beverly Hills Home
Reclusive tycoon Howard Hughes lived in one of the infamous bungalows for 30 years! Marilyn Monroe and Charlie Chaplin resided there as well. Some celebrities were even owners of the hotel. When Hernando Courtright purchased the hotel in 1941, he did so with an investment from friends which included Irene Dunne, Loretta Young, and Harry Warner.
Of course, there are hundreds of infamous stories about the hotel that include celebrities. Elizabeth Taylor honeymooned there six times! John Lennon and Yoko Ono spent a week in bed there in the 70s, while fellow Beatle Paul McCartney reportedly fell in love with Linda Eastman in a bungalow suite. Clark Gable and Carole Lombard met here in the early days of their affair. So did Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn
The hotel has hosted royal guests over the years as well, like the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon, King Albert II of Belgium, Rainier III, Prince of Monaco and Princess Grace.
3 – Celebs Love The Polo Lounge
The Polo Lounge is no stranger to celebrities either. It was a favorite of the Rat Pack and a site where Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and the boys held heavy drinking bouts. Stars like Sinatra, Rita Hayworth, Al Pacino and Kim Kardashian have had a favorite table. When a Hollywood great dies, staff rope off their table for 24 hours, an honor that has been bestowed on Carrie Fisher, Burt Reynolds, and James Caan.
My favorite celebrity fact, though, is this one. Actress Marlene Dietrich lobbied successfully to change the longstanding and archaic policy that women were not allowed to wear slacks on the premises.
On my most recent visit, I even spotted a celebrity! Justin Chambers, who you may know from Grey’s Anatomy or The Wedding Planner, was on on the patio dining with a friend.
4 – It is THE Hotel California
The hotel is the subject of the Eagles’ iconic Hotel California album cover shot. Much of the record’s tone and subject material reflect the band’s founding member and lead singer Don Henley’s commentary on “success (and excesses it can breed), love lost and just how strange life in California can be.” So it makes perfect sense that this spot was featured.
5 – It’s Also a Classic Movie Filming Location
In 1956, the pool of the hotel and cabana club was used as a filming location for Designing Woman, starring Gregory Peck and Lauren Bacall. Then, in 1963, the comedy picture Who’s Been Sleeping in My Bed?, starring Dean Martin, Elizabeth Montgomery, Jill St. John and Carol Burnett, was also shot at the hotel. Other films include Neil Simon’s California Suite (with Jane Fonda, Alan Alda, and Richard Pryor), The Way We Were (with Robert Redford and Barbara Streisand), Shampoo (with Warren Beatty and Goldie Hawn), and American Gigolo (with Richard Gere). According to IMDB, more recent films that shot scenes at The Beverly Hills include: Saving Mr. Banks, Anywhere But Here, Beverly Hills Cop and more.
The average price for a room starts at over $1000.
You can learn more about the hotel and book a room here.