This March 1955 image shows the Hotel De Soto in Savannah, Georgia. Opening in 1890, it was a stunner! From the Historic Hotels of America website:
Called “The DeSoto,” it opened with 300 magnificently equipped guestrooms, as well as a swimming pool, a solarium, a barber, and a soda shop. The hotel even had a lighted miniature golf course! Architect William G. Preston oversaw its design, which featured a wonderful blend of Richardson Romanesque and Queen Anne-style architecture. Regarded as the pinnacle of his work, Preston’s unique design for The DeSoto made it one of the area’s most recognizable landmarks. Soon enough, many throughout the city began to refer to the building as the “Dowager Empress of the South” and became the center of all social life in Savannah.…Many illustrious guests began to arrive at The DeSoto, too, including Hollywood superstars, renowned musical entertainers, and powerful political leaders. Names like Katherine Hepburn, Gregory Peck, B.B. King, and Elvis Presley soon became synonymous with The DeSoto for the people of Savannah. Even U.S. Presidents—such as William McKinley, William Howard Taft, and Woodrow Wilson—stayed at the hotel at one point or another.
This detailed view shows a neon sign (if only the shot had been taken at night!!) for the Sapphire Room. Below is a vintage postcard showing the interior:
“A Southern Paradise.” Where do I get a ticket?
The type treatment on this vintage matchbook matches the neon sign:
I love how the matches are sapphire colored! Great coordination and attention to detail.
I also found this matchbook; a different logo for the nightclub, but not sure if it was earlier or later than the one previously shown. My guess would be earlier, as it looks a bit more Art Deco to me.
The hotel closed in 1965 and was completely remodeled. Here’s what they placed the original structure with.
Yuck. Apparently they salvaged pieces of terra cotta, some wrought iron details, a crystal chandelier, and a fountain featuring the head of a lion with water flowing out its mouth.
The lion looks sad. I don’t blame him. They should have the water flowing from his eyes.
See more Savannah, Georgia photos at my main website.
Well that is some cool history about the DeSoto and I do like the blue sapphire matches, a great touch. The one thing I had to take 24 hours to think about though was that lion head. That just needs to be sandblasted down to Stone again and cared for properly. I don't think painting the head what's a solution to any problem. It certainly seems to have plenty of details on it.
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