Marmont Monday: Entrance Changes

This recently acquired vintage 1987 shot of the exterior of my fantasy home-away-from-home (and Willis’, too), the Chateau Marmont, initially shows very little change (other than growth of the landscaping) from the photo below that I snapped in 2016.



Upon closer look, other subtle differences come to light. A small portion of the brick wall at the entrance still remains, mainly the pillars on both sides. The light globes are gone though, and the wall to the right seems to have been completely rebuilt (as well as painted). The neon sign seems identical, other than its placement. I am guessing that the growth of the vines/trees necessitated the movement so that it could still be visible to those entering the hotel. I believe the sign stays on 24 hours now, rather than being turned off during the day (don’t quote me on that one). The small table/stand at the entrance has been replaced with the valet/check-in stand and a tent where guests can hide from the paparazzi as they await their limos.





In the 1987 image, TV antennas clutter the chimney stack:



By 2016, POOF! They are no longer necessary and have been removed. 



These are the details that I obsess over. What are yours?

See more Chateau Marmont hotel on Sunset Boulevard photos at my main website.

TGIF: R&R at the Chateau

Remember when Instagram was about posting pretty pictures? And Facebook was for connecting with friends and sharing your life adventures? Nope…me neither. They have devolved into platforms for people to spew out their opinions and anger. I get it; times have been crazy the last year and a half. I just don’t necessarily need to know everybody’s rants and raves. Neither does Willis. So…we packed our bags and went to our zen place: The Chateau Marmont.



Our burdens lifted the minute we entered its historic walls. When my friends hear I have gone there, they often ask, “What did you do while you were there? Did you go see anything?” The answer is usually, “no.” The Chateau is enough. I park my car, and I literally unwind. 



Willis and I sat by the pool and did some research for future blog posts (as well as continued work on the upcoming Daveland book) and even finished reading a book (gasp!). Willis is good about reminding me that it’s time to eat.



Old habits die hard and I still found myself scrolling through Instagram photos. This one from a painting company was tagged “Chateau Marmont.” See the Chateau through the view of the window on the left?



Lo and behold the view from my window:



 The house getting painted. I let them know they were doing a nice job!



While in the room, the Chateau’s music selection is perfectly eclectic; just the way I like it.



Sometimes I pretend I’m from a 60s rock group and explore the fire escape.



Willis knows I’m busy taking photos so he just sleeps a lot and gives me that “do not disturb” look.



During dinner, classic black and white movies are shown (sans sound) in the living room area off the lobby and sometimes the patio:



Breakfasts were hearty:



…and so were the desserts.



A new gate to the pool had been installed since my last visit; notice the “CM” at the top:



When I left, I felt renewed and ready to take on the world again. Thanks as always, Chateau, for being my safe haven from the rest of the world. Until next time…

See more Chateau Marmont photos at my main website.

Marmont Monday: Room 44

I actually finished my taxes early so that I could squeeze in another stay at the Chateau Marmont on Sunset Boulevard. As my readers know, this place is my addiction. I was pretty stoked to have a room I had not stayed in before.

There were so many things that raced through my mind when I saw this on the notepad in my room:

One of the first things I did was to take a photo in the same area Anthony Perkins did back in the 1960’s:

Willis had to be front and center. Of course I am wearing my Disneyland Hauntd Mansion Fandana from Going to Guides’ etsy shop.

There were still signs of the pandemic. The garage was still self-park, which makes me somewhat nervous. I don’t know how the valets do it, as the spaces are tight as hell.

Occupancy was still being held to 25%. These branded floor stickers for distancing were in the common spaces:

The living room area restaurant was still lovely, but also still closed.

Typical Willis while at the Chateau: don’t bother me. I’m enjoying the bed.

Typical Willis #2 at the Chateau: give me treats from the table.

It was great to see Amanda and Kamy, who I had not seen at the same time since their wedding a little over a year ago. If Willis looks annoyed, it’s because even though there were more people at the table with us, the treats did not increase exponentially.

Every morning began with a swim in the pool.

I assume the unicorn was to keep the waters pure for the safety of the guests.

Willis was very well behaved while I did my laps.

The view from my room was fab, whether it was day:

Or night:

Breakfast during the week had to be room service. I can deal with that.

…especially with my little buddy beside me.

See more Chateau Marmont photos at my main website.

Coronado Construction

Willis was feeling a little cooped up from a year of quarantine, so we went to Coronado Island yesterday for a stroll along the beach. It had been quite some time since I'd been to this area, and I was surprised to see quite a bit of construction at the entrace to the Hotel del Coronado, one of the historic landmarks of San Diego.

The beachside of the hotel also had some construction fences up, but that didn’t seem to deter tourists/guests who were enjoying the good weather.

This is the same hotel where Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis, and Marilyn Monroe cavorted on the beach in the classic Billy Wilder comedy “Some Like It Hot” (1959).

The Hotel’s website has this information somewhat hidden at the bottom of the "what to expect" page:

• Fitness Center (opening early 2021, if health regulations allow)
• Windsor Lawn on the beach side of the Victorian building (opening July 2021)
• Ice House Museum (opening by summer 2021, if health regulations allow)
• Lower level retail shops (opening late spring 2021; The Signature Shop and Brady’s for Men are open off the Garden Patio)
• Victorian lobby, front porch, and south entrance drive and walking paths (opening by summer 2021)
• Ocean Towers guestrooms (reopening as The Views, July 2021)
• 142 new residential rooms and suites, and a conference center on the south end of the resort (opening summer 2022)

I’m most curious to see if they put the Victorian lobby back to its original splendor; currently owned by Hilton, the lobby has definitely been “dumbed down” over the years. Not surprisingly, they are doing lots of new construction (residential rooms and suites and the conference center) which might help them actually turn a profit.

Willis enjoyed the beach; it had been too long since his last dipping of the paw into the tide!

See more Coronado Island photos at my main website.

Marmont Monday, 1957

In this interesting article from TV Guide, you get a peak into the lobby of the Chateau Marmont hotel in Hollywood and an idea of the type of people were drawn to its unique atmosphere. Left to right in the photo above: Theodore Bikel, Mildred Dunnock, Brandon de Wilde, Tony Charmoli, Rebecca Welles, and Judith Braun. From the article:

When a New York actor gets the summons to work in Hollywood, either in television or films, chances are nine out of 10 that he will check into the Chateau Marmont, a sedate, 25-year-old apartment-hotel which looks down on Los Angeles from a hill above the Sunset Strip.

To Manhattanites (Susan Strasberg, Mildred Dunnock, Boris Karloff, Jonathan Winters, Nancy Kelly and Carol Channing are some who’ve headquartered there recently), the 52-suite Marmont is a place where New York thespians, like lonely voyagers meeting on foreign soil, feel free to gather and decry the bitter fate which has brought them to the barren wastes of Hollywood.

Not long ago, one of these informal meetings occurred in the Oriental-rugged lobby. Character-actor Theodore Bikel (he played the title role in the “Climax!” production of “The Mad Bomber”) told TV GUIDE’s reporters: “Hollywood is not a town to wait around in. When you’re out of work you become a fourth-rate citizen. In New York, you only become a second-rate citizen. In New York, people smile at you less. Here they cease to smile.”

Judith Braun, whose credits read like a TV log, said: “I’ve met many nice people here—mostly New Yorkers, of course.”

Paul Ford (Col. Hall on “The Phil Silver Show”) confided, “In New York the weather is filthy, the heat is oppressive, everything is overcrowded. I can hardly wait to get back.”

Young Brandon de Wilde scratched his head before going on record: “The thing I don’t like about Hollywood is that people are too lazy. The weather is monotonous and the kids dress too sloppily.”

Rebecca Welles (who’s appeared on “Studio One,” “Lux,” and dozens of other shows) admitted that she’s becoming a Southern Californian because it’s a wonderful place to raise children. “Besides, Hollywood producers are so appreciative of actors trained in New York.”

Tony Charmoli, dance director for “The Dinah Shore Show” said: “It’s a pity that Hollywood didn’t have the sense to get started in San Francisco.”

Just why did they consent to come to Hollywood if their feelings are so antipathetic to the western end of the entertainment axis? Bikel spoke for the group: “We are actors! We go where the demands of the profession call us.”

All were agreed on one thing — that when in Hollywood their home is the Chateau Marmont. “Living here,” said Bikel, “gives you the impression—even if you’re not”that you’re leaving for New York tomorrow.”

A photo of the lobby as it looks today:

See more Chateau Marmont photos at my main website.

Vintage Mission Inn, Pt. 2

Moving ahead five years, I present a batch of images from 1956 of the Mission Inn Hotel in Riverside, California. This waterfall is still at the Inn, located at the entrance to the Las Campanas restaurant:

I can't really give high marks to the 1956 photographer; this image appears to show a glimpse of the hotel’s pool:

Shot from the Spanish Patio, this image shows Author’s Row:

A few different paint colors, but still about the same:

A vintage view of the Spanish Patio fountain…

and a contemporary detail shot of the same area:

The Anton Clock in the Spanish Patio:

Still ticking away!

Vines create a canopy over the wooden archways near the entrance:

Although my shot is facing the wrong way, I believe this is the same pathway as it looks today:

See more vintage and contemporary Mission Inn photos at my main website.