In a city like Los Angeles, where everything always seems to be in a state of flux and change and “progress”, it’s nice to know there are some places that rarely change and look pretty much as they did 100+ years ago. The Beverly Hills Hotel is one of those places. This photo was taken circa 1925, but apart from the cars parked along the driveway and the height of the palm trees, you’d be hard pressed to know what year it was. Let’s hope it never changes.
The Beverly Hills Hotel in April 2019. See what I mean about the palm trees?
I’ve lived in Los Angeles since December of 1981 and it still gives me a thrill every time I drive past that green sign for the Beverly Hills Hotel.
A few years ago I was in LA for a weekend and ended up with a rather special rental car. We had brunch at the Polo Lounge and when we left I was thrilled to find that the valet had parked the car right up front with the other “power” cars. I felt like I had arrived!
I’d say by Hollywood’s rules, you *had* arrived! Do you remember what sort of car it was?
I remember precisely. It was a Jag F-Type convertible in white. Those are pretty common now but this was not long after the model came out, and they were still pretty rare, even in Beverly Hills.
Another funny thing (to me) is that on that trip we rented and stayed in the Bel Air pool house of someone I see comment here somewhat regularly.
When arriving at the hotel the valeys descended on us like no other valeys at any hotel…my friend from Paris was shocked…we only had two pieces of luggage for 4 valets!
Did you still manage to pull it off with aplomb? Or did you shoo them away, telling them not to be so ridiculous?