Back to the Biltmore

…The Biltmore Palm Springs, to be more exact. I have been to the Arizona Biltmore, the Biltmore in Los Angeles, and The Biltmore estate in North Carolina. Who knew there were so many Biltmores? Built in 1948 and designed by architect Fred Monhoff, The Biltmore Palm Springs it was once a  popular resort with the Hollywood crowd. This color image from 1949 features actor Don DeFore, best known for the sitcom “Hazel,” and wife Marion. Looks like the hotel used a Woodie wagon for transportation. Any of my vintage auto nuts able to give more info about the make and year?



DeFore also ran the Silver Banjo BBQ restaurant at Disneyland (1957-1962) in Frontierland (now the River Belle Terrace). The Silver Banjo was the only establishment at Disneyland to display the name of a non-fictional person and the only business ever to be owned by an individual. Below is DeFore behind the serving line. Sure looks tasty!



But back to the Biltmore Palm Springs! This previously posted shot of singer/actor Tony Martin and wife actress/dancer Cyd Charisse shows them sunning poolside.



A 1954 shot of actress Virginia Mayo ready for a dip in the pool. Did she actually go in? I doubt it!



The resort lost favor and closed in the late 1980s. It was converted into a condominum community and its clubhouse became an office building. It was bulldozed in 2003 because the city claimed it didn’t realize it was significant historically/architecturally.

See more Palm Springs photos at my main website.