The Knickerbocker Hotel at 1714 Ivar Ave, Hollywood. It opened in 1923 as a luxury apartment building before subsequently becoming a hotel with a slogan of “Your home for a year or a day”. It’s had quite the history, playing host to the likes of Rudolph Valentino, Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio, Frank Sinatra, Lana Turner, Mae West, and Cecil B. DeMille among many, others. On the downside, D.W. Griffith died of a stroke on July 21, 1948 under the crystal chandelier of the lobby; costume designer named Irene Gibbons jumped to her death from a hotel window; William Frawley, who lived at the hotel for decades, died of a heart attack on the sidewalk in front of the Knickerbocker. In 1970 it was converted into housing for senior citizens which it remains to this day.
I think the Knickerbocker is my favourite story of old Hollywood…if those walls could talk….I know it’s present state…are there any decent then / now comparison pics available?
cheers !
Hi Alan,
The Knickerbocker DRIPS with atmosphere and – shock of shocks! – is still there!
There aren’t any (decent) then/now comparison shots but now that I’ve seen what the interior used to look like, I think I might make the trek down there and take a few myself!
Thanks, Billy. The public areas of the Knickerbocker were much grander than I ever suspected, so I was glad to come across these – and glad you enjoyed seeing them too!
1958 Knickerbocker Hotel advertisement:
Hi…we’ve emailed before 🙂
I think the Knickerbocker is my favourite story of old Hollywood…if those walls could talk….I know it’s present state…are there any decent then / now comparison pics available?
cheers !
alan
Hi Alan,
The Knickerbocker DRIPS with atmosphere and – shock of shocks! – is still there!
There aren’t any (decent) then/now comparison shots but now that I’ve seen what the interior used to look like, I think I might make the trek down there and take a few myself!
Wow, the interior is beautiful…….thanks for sharing, Martin!
Thanks, Billy. The public areas of the Knickerbocker were much grander than I ever suspected, so I was glad to come across these – and glad you enjoyed seeing them too!
WHY have I never seen this site before!! Where have I been!
I don’t know where you’ve been, Stephen, but apparently it’s not at the Knickerbocker!