Beverly Hills Hotel
Encyclopedia
The Beverly Hills Hotel is a hotel
on Sunset Boulevard
in Beverly Hills
, California
. It was opened on May 12, 1912 by Margaret J. Anderson and her son, Stanley S. Anderson, who had been managing the Hollywood Hotel
. The original main building of The Beverly Hills Hotel was designed by Pasadena architect Elmer Grey
, in the Mediterranean Revival style. The extensive gardens of the grounds were designed by landscape architect Wilbur David Cook
. The iconic signage and the addition were designed by Paul Williams
. It was the first building in the greater area, leading to the creation of a surrounding city, and is often referred to, by the local population (and others such as cab drivers), simply as The Hotel. Since the city's inception, the hotel has been a central meeting place for residents and business people, especially from Los Angeles's movie and television industries.
, which is a collection of seven luxury hotels in the United Kingdom, the United States, France, and Italy and was organized in 1996 to manage the hotel interests of the Brunei Investment Agency.
Svend Petersen, the Danish-American pool manager at the hotel for 42 years, became a Hotel Ambassador in 2002. He had notably opened up the pool after hours for The Beatles
and taught Faye Dunaway
to swim a freestyle crawl for Mommie Dearest
. He was also known for warning Southern California newcomers in drastic and memorable language about the scorching sun.
The hotel is also home to the famous Polo Lounge
, and the exterior of the hotel was featured on the album cover art of the Eagles' 1976 LP "Hotel California
".
Its strict resident owner from 1954 until his death in 1979 was former Detroit real estate magnate Ben L. Silberstein, who took it over from Hernando Courtright, later hotelier at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. Some of the hotel's owners have been celebrities: Irene Dunne
, Loretta Young
, and currently (as noted below) the Sultan of Brunei. From 1928 to 1932, the hotel was owned by the Van Noy Railway News and Hotel Company
.
bought the Hotel for $54 million from Silberstein's sons-in-law Burt Slatkin and Ivan F. Boesky. Boesky had bought the 5% of stock that was outstanding for a reported fortune and decided to sell, despite Slatkin's desire to keep the hotel. Less than a year later, Davis sold the hotel to Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah
for $110 million.
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
on Sunset Boulevard
Sunset Boulevard
Sunset Boulevard is a street in the western part of Los Angeles County, California, that stretches from Figueroa Street in downtown Los Angeles to the Pacific Coast Highway at the Pacific Ocean in the Pacific Palisades...
in Beverly Hills
Beverly Hills, California
Beverly Hills is an affluent city located in Los Angeles County, California, United States. With a population of 34,109 at the 2010 census, up from 33,784 as of the 2000 census, it is home to numerous Hollywood celebrities. Beverly Hills and the neighboring city of West Hollywood are together...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. It was opened on May 12, 1912 by Margaret J. Anderson and her son, Stanley S. Anderson, who had been managing the Hollywood Hotel
Hollywood Hotel
The Hollywood Hotel was a famous hostelry and landmark located on the north side of Hollywood Boulevard between Highland and Orchid Avenues in Hollywood, California.-History:The first section of the hotel was built in 1902 by H.J...
. The original main building of The Beverly Hills Hotel was designed by Pasadena architect Elmer Grey
Elmer Grey
Elmer Grey, FAIA was an American architect and artist based in Pasadena, California. Grey designed many noted landmarks in Southern California, including the Beverly Hills Hotel, the Huntington Art Gallery, the Pasadena Playhouse and Wattles Mansion...
, in the Mediterranean Revival style. The extensive gardens of the grounds were designed by landscape architect Wilbur David Cook
Wilbur David Cook
Wilbur David Cook , or Wilbur D. Cook, Jr., was an American landscape architect and urban planner. Cook designed the master plans for the city of Beverly Hills, California, and the city of Highland Park in Dallas, Texas.-Overview:...
. The iconic signage and the addition were designed by Paul Williams
Paul Williams (architect)
Paul Revere Williams, FAIA was a Los Angeles-based, American architect. He practiced largely in Southern California and designed the homes of numerous stars including Frank Sinatra, Lucille Ball/Desi Arnaz, Lon Chaney, and Charles Correll...
. It was the first building in the greater area, leading to the creation of a surrounding city, and is often referred to, by the local population (and others such as cab drivers), simply as The Hotel. Since the city's inception, the hotel has been a central meeting place for residents and business people, especially from Los Angeles's movie and television industries.
Hotel family
The hotel is managed and owned by the Dorchester CollectionDorchester Collection
Dorchester Collection is a luxury hotel operator owned by the Brunei Investment Agency , an arm of the Ministry of Finance of Brunei. Dorchester Collection owns and manages 9 luxury five star hotels, The Dorchester, The Beverly Hills Hotel, Plaza Athénée, Hotel Meurice, Principe di Savoia, Hotel...
, which is a collection of seven luxury hotels in the United Kingdom, the United States, France, and Italy and was organized in 1996 to manage the hotel interests of the Brunei Investment Agency.
Svend Petersen, the Danish-American pool manager at the hotel for 42 years, became a Hotel Ambassador in 2002. He had notably opened up the pool after hours for The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
and taught Faye Dunaway
Faye Dunaway
Faye Dunaway is an American actress.Dunaway won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in Network after receiving previous nominations for the critically acclaimed films Bonnie and Clyde and Chinatown...
to swim a freestyle crawl for Mommie Dearest
Mommie Dearest
Mommie Dearest is a memoir and exposé written by Christina Crawford, the adopted daughter of actress Joan Crawford. The book, which depicts Christina's childhood and her relationship with her mother, was published in 1978.-Christina Crawford's claims:...
. He was also known for warning Southern California newcomers in drastic and memorable language about the scorching sun.
The hotel is also home to the famous Polo Lounge
Polo Lounge
The Polo Lounge is located inside the Beverly Hills Hotel at 9641 Sunset Boulevard, Beverly Hills, California.-Description:The Lounge has been described as "done up in peachy pink , with deep carpets and dark green booths, each booth featuring a plug-in phone...
, and the exterior of the hotel was featured on the album cover art of the Eagles' 1976 LP "Hotel California
Hotel California
Hotel California is the fifth studio album released by the American rock band the Eagles, in late 1976. It is the first Eagles album without founding member Bernie Leadon and the first album with Joe Walsh. It is also the last album featuring original bass player and singer Randy Meisner...
".
Its strict resident owner from 1954 until his death in 1979 was former Detroit real estate magnate Ben L. Silberstein, who took it over from Hernando Courtright, later hotelier at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. Some of the hotel's owners have been celebrities: Irene Dunne
Irene Dunne
Irene Dunne was an American film actress and singer of the 1930s, 1940s and early 1950s. Dunne was nominated five times for the Academy Award for Best Actress, for her performances in Cimarron , Theodora Goes Wild , The Awful Truth , Love Affair and I Remember Mama...
, Loretta Young
Loretta Young
Loretta Young was an American actress. Starting as a child actress, she had a long and varied career in film from 1917 to 1953...
, and currently (as noted below) the Sultan of Brunei. From 1928 to 1932, the hotel was owned by the Van Noy Railway News and Hotel Company
Van Noy Railway News and Hotel Company
The Van Noy Railway News and Hotel Company was a business which developed at the beginning of the twentieth century to provide services to travelers aboard passenger trains...
.
Recent purchases
Marvin H. DavisMarvin Davis
Marvin H. Davis was an American industrialist and philanthropist...
bought the Hotel for $54 million from Silberstein's sons-in-law Burt Slatkin and Ivan F. Boesky. Boesky had bought the 5% of stock that was outstanding for a reported fortune and decided to sell, despite Slatkin's desire to keep the hotel. Less than a year later, Davis sold the hotel to Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah
Hassanal Bolkiah
General Haji Sir Hassan al-Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah GCB GCMG is the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, the 29th Sultan of Brunei and the first Prime Minister of Brunei Darussalam...
for $110 million.