Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
BEVERLY
HILLS HOTEL
. ,
By the time New Spain had officially become Mexico in 1821, there were a number of Spanish set-
tlers who had claimed land in the area now known as Beverly Hills. Homes were built and cattle
ranches were created, even though the Native Indians often raided the herds.
After California became a state in 1850, there was a brief flirtation with oil drilling in 1865.
Wildcatting efforts proved unsuccessful, and a series of owners tried vegetable farming and sheep
ranching, until more interest in oil produced another flurry of drilling around 1900. Once again,
their efforts were in vain, and the land passed to new owners determined to create a town.
In 1906, Burton Green formed the Rodeo Land and Water Company to develop the area. Lay-
ing out wide streets and large lots, the company considered its options for what to call it. Rejecting
the previous name, Rancho Rodeo de las Aguas, used by the settlers, Burton suggested they call it
“Beverly Hills” after his former home in Beverly Farms, in Massachusetts.
On May 1, 1912, the Beverly Hills Hotel opened with the description as “about halfway between
Los Angeles and the sea.” At a cost of a half-million dollars, the hotel became the social focus of the
city. It not only served as the local church but also housed the only movie theatre in town. With the
attention of the film industry, the hotel soon began to attract the rich and famous. Mary Pickford
and Douglas Fairbanks moved to “Pickfair” in 1920 just above the hotel and it was quickly dubbed
the “White House of Hollywood.”
On the grounds of the Beverly Hills Hotel, the great Will Rogers was inaugurated as the mayor
in 1923. Unfortunately, during the Depression the hotel was forced to close but the bungalows con-
tinued to be occupied under individual leases.
In 1941, Loretta Young, Irene Dunne, and Harry Warner were part of the group that bought
the hotel. Soon the world-famous Polo Lounge was christened. Will Rogers, Darryl Zanuck, and
Tommy Hitchcock enjoyed casual polo matches; the championship polo team of Charlie Wrights-
man stored its elegant silver trophy bowl on the premises.
Designing Women
was filmed with Gregory Peck and Lauren Bacall at the pool and cabana
club. Marilyn Monroe and Yves Montand stayed in a couple of the bungalows while filming the
celebrated
Let's Make Love
. In 1963, the intimate Cinema Room provided guests with a marvel-
ous opportunity to screen films. When Charlie Chaplin returned to Hollywood to accept an Oscar
award, he stayed at the Beverly Hills Hotel. The Rat Pack, W. C. Fields, and Humphrey Bogart all