Palm Springs Weekend

This April 1962 vintage image shows the Riviera Hotel, back when it was home to the Rat Pack. And no...I'm not talking about vermin. It was also used as the outdoor location for the 1963 film "Palm Springs Weekend," starring Robert Conrad and Connie Stevens.



According to Troy Donahue, who was also in the film, what happened off-camera was a lot crazier than what happened on-screen: "I was there to drink and get laid."



The pool scenes were shot at the Riveria. Here are Donahue, Jerry Van Dyke, and Stephanie Powers:





Flash forward to today, and the Riviera has two pools:



Unfortunately, Robert and Connie are nowhere to be seen.



See more Classic Movie & TV photos at my main website.

Back to the Riviera

After an eight-year hiatus, I returned to the Riviera Resort and Spa in Palm Springs. I really liked the vibe of the hotel, but was not impressed by the service. Eight years later, they still have room for improvement. What a splashy entrance though!



The lobby that was once hot and kitschy:



...is now less cluttered and green:



I'm okay with that change; especially since green is more soothing and happens to be my favorite color. The pool table that was once presided over by Frank and Marilyn...



Is now surrounded by books and knick knacks:



It seems like they are trying to downplay the Vegas look. The room decor hasn't changed much; still clean, hip, and minimal.





How about that sunset view?



Of course every Palm Springs hotel has to have a pool; The Riviera has two. Here's the large one:



The Spa:



and Fitness Center:



The Mid-Century Modern Pool Bar/Snack Hut:



And I'll end the post with one of my standard hallway shots:



Would I go back? Probably not any time soon. The Colony Palms still ranks supreme with me. The Riviera is a huge property, and I would imagine much more difficult to run, especially considering the pool of seasonal help that must be picked over by all the competition. Regardless I had a wonderful weekend.

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Relaxing at The Riviera

In my “younger years,” Palm Springs held little fascination for me. However, as I get older, I sure do appreciate the forced relaxation that it thrusts upon its visitors. With the high temperatures and low amount of activities available, Palm Springs puts one into a state of lethargy which is very welcome after the stress of work and life’s other hurdles wear you down. On my most recent trip, I tried a different hotel, The Riviera Resort & Spa. I had admired the design in the past and decided to give it a whirl. Although I loved the decor and style, I feel no need to return. The service was friendly yet painfully slow (until checkout time, at which time housekeeping appeared in a twinkling!). For room service, each time a message had to be left; a return call took way too much time and too many follow-up phone calls. It lacked the intimacy of The Colony Palms, which is a result of the size of the property and the chic hipster vibe that it throws off. An enjoyable stay? Yes; would I recommend it? Well...it wouldn't hit the top of the list, and it wouldn’t fall to the bottom...let’s just say somewhere in between. It’s location is also a negative; just slightly too far to make it convenient to the shops and museums of downtown Palm Springs.









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