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Beverly Hilton Hotel, Beverly Hills, California, 1956
Terrace dividers are multi-colored for a very satisfying, grand scale pop art effect. The giant half-a-cat-food-can stylishly sticking out from the top floor certainly must be a semi-circular cocktail lounge. Street level orange stripes mark the 76 Gas Station at the Hotel’s entrance corner.
This spectacular slide was taken just months after the grand opening ceremony where pink-painted elephants, escorted by bathing suit-clad models, circled the hotel’s main entrance. Did anyone protest?
During construction Conrad Hilton buried a stainless steel time capsule beneath the lobby. According to the list of contents on the Beverly Hilton’s website, the most exciting thing in the time capsule is a 1954 Sears Catalog. Want to join me there when they unearth it in 2054?
Just last week I went to the Beverly Hills Hilton to report on the Cher Auction preview for NPR’s Day to Day.
Listen to Charles on NPR.org
They transformed one of the big ballrooms into what I called Cherland. Four decades of Cher hits provided a snappy sound tract. There were two lands. Her extra large-scale, Hearst Castle-style furniture and décor were displayed in Cher–at-Homeland. In Cher-costumeland dozens of memorable, heavily-beaded, often belly-button revealing Sonny and Cher Show costumes were in perfect condition.
“Well, they were only worn once” Cher’s genius designer, Bob Mackie, told me. Then Cher entered Cherland, sort of. It was a man in Cher-drag. But that’s not much different than having a woman playing Mickey Mouse at Disneyland!
Here’s to Cherland and Pink Elephants at the Beverly Hilton and YOU!!!
Posted Thursday, October 5th, 2006 under Slide of the Week.
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So I heard Merv is selling the place to some developers! Shocking. Trader Vics too??? This place is amazing. Charles loving the NPR stuff. You definatley have the ‘Radio Voice’. Take care buddy.
I’m sure you know this already, and others are sure to point it out to you, but obviously the Beverly Hills Hotel (aka The Pink Palace) and the Beverly Hilton (shown here) are not the same place. Otherwise, love your stuff. Keep it coming.
Great slide of the Beverly Hilton. Mis-titled as the Beverly Hills Hotel. The room at the top that bumps out at the tower’s intersection of wings was called The Starlight Roof. It served many purposes, including a lavish bruncheon and dancing almost-under-the-stars at night. I can’t remember the orchestra that held forth there during the early years, but it was famous at the time.
The Union 76 station would move up Wilshire Blvd when the area depicted became a parking structure. Also, the near-front left area would become a Robinson’s parking structure. The multi-colored balcony dividers have been bland white for many years. Unfortunate.
This slide is so appropriate now since even the Robinson’s department store will soon be gone.
Is this building still standing? I’d love to toss back a martini in the catfood tin lounge. Ah, the days of good natured alcoholism.
The half can of catfood on the roof was more than a cocktail lounge, it was a somewhat celebrated restaurant, L’Escoffier. It was sort of a big deal at the time, but closed in the late ’60’s or early ’70’s.
Intrepid Traveler Charles!
Isn’t it romantic? A lovely hotel located so close to Robinson’s and a gas station! Quelle convenience! A tear comes to my eye just thinking how a time machine is so sorely needed — I simply MUST stay a weekend in 1956 in the Beverly Hills Hilton. Thankfully, when a time machine is invented, I have guide for how to act while staying at a hotel. That’s a relief! A lady wouldn’t want to make a misstep.
The following was written for teens, but its good sense is applicable to adults of all ages. Let’s turn to _The Seventeen Book of Etiquette and Entertaining_ by Enid A. Haupt (1963). The chapter is entitled, “On the Move: Planes, Trains, Busses; Motels, Hotels, Ships.” Whew. So much sensible information to wrestle into one measly chapter. After telling the young lady how to write a letter to request a room, the following guidelines appear:
Arrival procedures vary. At a hotel you leave your bags on the sidewalk in the care of the doorman. He will have your car parked for you. Then you walk in to register at the desk. (The book then goes into a lengthy explanation of how to tip the doorman — if he “heaved a good many bags around himself” — amounts vary from 10 to 25 cents). The manager takes the key to your room from its slot and calls “front,” and a bellboy appears to carry your bags to your room. (One or two bags, 25 cents; more, 50 cents). You accompany the bell boy. He unlocks your room; turns on the lights; tests radio, TV, radiator, air conditioner; opens and shuts windows; opens and shuts closet and bathroom doors. When he (and you) are sure everything is in good working order, you tip him. If you find you’re short of towels or hangers, call the housekeeper.
The letter paper and matches are meant to be used, not to be taken home. Ash trays and towels also stay where you find them.
Checking out. When you wish to leave a hotel, telephone the cashier and ask to have your bill made up. If you need help with bags, call the front desk and ask for a bellboy. After he’s come for the bags, you go to the front desk, pay your bill, arrange to have any mail which might arrive forwarded — and you’re on your way again … but probably not without another tip to two. Tips vary with the lavishness and location of the hotel, just as room prices do. But whether you stay at the Waldorf or the Weeping Willow Arms, you’ll find the staff expects only modest tips — and a smile and a thank you — from a young girl.
A smile, a thank you, and 25 cents for tip — now THAT’S lavish travel I can certainly appreciate! Another tiny piece of advice appearing at the end of this chapter can certainly help those girls reading this who plan to travel:
“A good traveler … doesn’t wear shorts downtown.”
As if I needed to tell you that!
50 cents all around!
xoxo!
Miss Sharon
You got that right about Cher! I saw her at “It’s Boss!” on Sunset in the ’60s when she was doing “Caeser and Cleo” with Sonny. A LOT has changed since then for Cher! Keep up the good fight, Charles!
This is the Beverly HILTON, not the Beverly HILLS hotel-
In 1956 I don’t remember too many days with skys this blue!! I had to walk 2 miles to school and I remember lots and lots of smog filled days. When I arrived at school I went straight to the nurse’s office because I was coughing and couldn’t breathe.
Looks like a nice place to stay. I’d like to see the time capsule unearthed and see what’s in it.
Just last week I went to the Beverly Hilton to report on the Cher Auction preview…
Charles must know somebody to get all the primo assignments!
Yes I remember the line from an MST3k show
‘Stars of Attack of the 60 ft. woman stay at the luxurious Beverly Hilton Hotel’ (don’t remember the exact line but this is the gist)
As a youngster I attended elementary school (El Rodeo) across the street from the Beverly Hilton. I have fond memories of the cafe and small store where I would buy candies after school (don’t tell my mom). I spent a lot of time in that hotel as a kid. As I recall, Rodney Dangerfield lived in the hotel for years.
looks nice, there’s an error in the title – it’s the Beverly Hilton, not the Beverly Hills Hotel.