Palm Court (Alexandria Hotel)

Last updated
Palm Court (Alexandria Hotel)
Palm Court (Alexandria Hotel).jpg
Palm Court, 2008
Coordinates 34°02′51″N118°15′01″W / 34.0475°N 118.2502778°W / 34.0475; -118.2502778
Governing bodyprivate
Designated1971 [1]
Reference no.80
U.S. - Los Angeles Metropolitan Area location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location of Palm Court (Alexandria Hotel) in the Los Angeles metropolitan area

The Palm Court, also known at other times as the Franco-Italian Dining Room, [2] the Grand Ballroom and the Continental Room, [3] is a ballroom at the Hotel Alexandria in downtown Los Angeles, California. In its heyday from 1911 to 1922, it was the scene of speeches by U.S. Presidents William Howard Taft and Woodrow Wilson and Gen. John J. Pershing. It is also the room where Paul Whiteman, later known as the "Jazz King", got his start as a bandleader in 1919, where Rudolph Valentino danced with movie starlets, and where Hollywood held its most significant balls during the early days of the motion picture business. Known for its history and its stained-glass Tiffany skylight, noted Los Angeles columnist Jack Smith called it "surely the most beautiful room in Los Angeles". [4] The Palm Court was designated as a City of Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument (HCM#80) in 1971.

Contents

Palm Court's heyday 1911-1922

Built in 1906, the eight-story Hotel Alexandria was designed by noted Los Angeles architect John Parkinson. In 1911, the firm of Parkinson and Bergstrom was hired to design an addition that would double the capacity. The Palm Court was part of the 1911 addition. [5] When the design of the new "crystal palmroom" was announced, the Los Angeles Times wrote:

Palm Court as it appeared in 1920 during a banquet in honor of Gen. John J. Pershing. Banquet for Gen. Pershing 1920.jpg
Palm Court as it appeared in 1920 during a banquet in honor of Gen. John J. Pershing.

"The room will be one of the largest of its kind in California and will be available for social affairs of every nature. Its primary object, however, will be more of a furnishing a convenient place for afternoon teas, card parties and evening receptions." [6]

When the new ballroom opened in October 1911, it was acknowledged for its beauty. The room was "christened" in a gala attended by 385 of the city's "most prominent names." [7] The Alexandria orchestra played throughout the evening," [7] and the Los Angeles Times reported the next day on the city's spectacular new room:

"The great room, over one hundred feet in length and seventy-five feet in width, was a sunburst of light. Great crystal chandeliers blazed from a dozen vantage points, while softer and smaller lights were placed along the four sides of the room. ... The perfection and symphony of the great room held the guests spellbound upon their arrival. As the stately ladies and gentlemen entered the salon the pause each made at the threshold as with intense interest they swept the salon with their gaze was noticeable." [7]

Rudolph Valentino danced with young starlets in the Palm Court. Rudolph Valentino.jpg
Rudolph Valentino danced with young starlets in the Palm Court.

For the next 12 years (until the opening of the Biltmore in 1923), the Palm Court was the city's most prestigious ballroom event location, hosting receptions for the likes of President Woodrow Wilson and Gen. John J. Pershing, as well as balls where Hollywood's silent film stars and early movie moguls mingled. [8] By 1912, the Alexandria had become such an important gathering place that the Los Angeles Times wrote the following:

"What Union Square was to old New York, what Forty-second street is to the present metropolis, and what the vicinity of the Cort Theater is to San Francisco, the Alexandria mezzanine seems to be to theatrical Los Angeles. ... Hardly ever does the day pass in which some nationally-known actor or actress does not linger in the low settees or pause at the golden rail, looking down into the lobby below -- pausing, lingering, while in whispered tones behind rises the chatter that his or her presence has caused." [9]

Rudolph Valentino, whose untimely death at age 31 caused mass hysteria among his female fans, was a regular visitor to the dances held at the Alexandria's great ballroom. Actress Claire Windsor recalled that, when she and Valentino were "$5-a-day extras", they rode the streetcar from Westlake Park to dance in the Palm Court. [4] Silent movie actress Mary MacLaren later recalled that her mother had "blighted a blossoming romance" with Valentino when she would not allow her to go dancing with "Rudy" at the Alexandria. [10] [11] A third actress, Marjorie Bennett, also recalled meeting Valentino at a tea dance at the Alexandria, when Valentino was "a handsome aspiring Italian actor, Rodolpho d'Antonguolla." [12]

In the Alexandria's heyday, movie stars and other celebrities, including Valentino, Mary Miles Minter, Sarah Bernhardt, Enrico Caruso and Jack Dempsey were guests. Charlie Chaplin reportedly kept a suite at the Alexandria and did improvisations in the lobby, and western star Tom Mix reportedly rode his horse through the lobby. [8] The large oriental rug in the lobby was called the "million-dollar carpet", because there was purportedly a $1 million worth of business done there every day. [8] It was there that D.W. Griffith, Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks met in 1919 to form United Artists. U.S. Presidents Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft and Woodrow Wilson, [8] and many foreign dignitaries, also stayed at the hotel while visiting Los Angeles.

Notable events from the Palm Court's heyday

At one of the first events in the new ballroom, Pres. William Howard Taft delivered a speech advocating the creation of a court of nations to decide disputes between countries. William Howard Taft.jpg
At one of the first events in the new ballroom, Pres. William Howard Taft delivered a speech advocating the creation of a court of nations to decide disputes between countries.
Dancer Anna Pavlova performed her celebrated "Glow Worm Dance" in 1915. Pharoah's Daughter -Anna Pavlova -1910.jpg
Dancer Anna Pavlova performed her celebrated "Glow Worm Dance" in 1915.
In a 1918 speech at the Alexandria, Japanese Vice Admiral Kantaro Suzuki pledged friendship with the U.S. and said, "No yellow peril ever had its origin in Japan." Suzuki was Japan's Prime Minister when it surrendered at the end of World War II. Suzuki Kantaro.jpg
In a 1918 speech at the Alexandria, Japanese Vice Admiral Kantarō Suzuki pledged friendship with the U.S. and said, "No yellow peril ever had its origin in Japan." Suzuki was Japan's Prime Minister when it surrendered at the end of World War II.
Bebe Daniels vamped at Hollywood's Thanksgiving ball "clothed in that siren shade of Viennese red." Bebedaniels.jpg
Bebe Daniels vamped at Hollywood's Thanksgiving ball "clothed in that siren shade of Viennese red."
The "Jazz King", Paul Whiteman led his first band at the Alexandria, providing dinner and dance music for Hollywood's elite. Whitemanband1921.jpg
The "Jazz King", Paul Whiteman led his first band at the Alexandria, providing dinner and dance music for Hollywood's elite.
Gen. John J. Pershing condemned internationalists and anarchists at a dinner in his honor in 1920. General John Joseph Pershing head on shoulders.jpg
Gen. John J. Pershing condemned internationalists and anarchists at a dinner in his honor in 1920.
Actress Colleen Moore served as a fashion model at the 1920 "Christmas in Paris" ball. Colleen Moore.jpg
Actress Colleen Moore served as a fashion model at the 1920 "Christmas in Paris" ball.

From 1911 to 1923, the Alexandria ballroom (now known as the Palm Court) was the site of many of the city's most important gatherings. The following list identifies some of the notable events associated with the room.
1911

1912

1913

1915

1916

1918

1919

1920

1921

1922

Decline and use for boxing events

The hotel declined after the Biltmore opened in 1923 and replaced the Alexandria as the city's most prestigious hotel. The opening of the luxurious Biltmore put an immediate dent in the Alexandria's business. In October 1923, the Los Angeles Times wrote:

"The exodus of the Associated Cofraternity of Lobby Loungers of Los Angeles was completed yesterday from the Hotel Alexandria to the new Hotel Biltmore. Its members, like members of similar organizations in all large cities, must have the very newest in hotels ..." [43]

By 1932, the Alexandria Hotel Realty Company was bankrupt, leaving $1,159,000 in outstanding bonds. [44] In February 1934, the Alexandria closed its doors, and many of its finest furnishings and fixtures were stripped and sold, including the famed million-dollar rug, marble columns, chandeliers, and gold leaf covering of the mezzanine lobby. [8] [45] The hotel reopened in 1937 but declined again in the 1950s and became a transient hotel. During the 1950s and 1960s, the Grand Ballroom (as the Palm Court was then known) was used as a training ring for boxers. [8] In 1958, Pajarito Moreno drew crowds of 800 people to his training camp at the Palm Room prior to his featherweight title match with Kid Bassey. [46] Sports columnist Braven Dyer noted, that on learning that Moreno was training in a ballroom, his barber sarcastically commented,

"A ballroom, yet! What's this frijole expect? That he's gonna have hisself a ball with this here Hogan Bassey? Or maybe he's training for a waltz? Why didn't he go get Fred Astaire for a sparrin' pardner?" [47]

In 1960, a Los Angeles Times article described the scene at the Palm Room where a dollar bought admission to watch world bantamweight boxing champion Jose Becerra and welterweight Battling Torres training for fights to be held at the Coliseum:

"You enter the Alexandria Hotel and find the lobby liberally sprinkled with knots of people, most of them Latin. They lounge lazily and converse in low tones. But when the door marked 'Palm Room' is thrown open, the scene suddenly becomes animated. Everybody surges toward that door, including women with babies in their arms or toddlers at their sides. ... The admission charge is $1, and bills rain down on the man at the little desk, though some don't appear to be that affluent." [48]

Noting that Woodrow Wilson had once given a speech in the same room, the writer observed: "The (boxing) session ends to long applause -- probably more than President Wilson received. After all, he packed no punch." [48]

Restoration and historic recognition

Following a restoration in the 1980s, noted Los Angeles Times columnist Jack Smith noted, "It is a room of excellent proportions, and softly lighted by its lovely oval skylight, it is surely the most beautiful room in Los Angeles." [4] In 2005, the Los Angeles Times called the Palm Court an architectural gem:

"Then there are the Alexandria's architectural gems -- the magnificent Palm Court ballroom with its stained-glass Tiffany skylight, for example -- that made it the most luxurious hotel of its era. It was the film industry's first home in the early 1900s, a place where dozens of studios maintained offices, where Charlie Chaplin and friends formed United Artists, where the lobby bustled with so many deal makers that a Persian rug there was deemed the 'million-dollar carpet.'" [49]

The Palm Court was designated a Historic Cultural Monument (HCM #80) in 1971. As of 2008, the Alexandria had been converted to apartments. [50]

Blankenship Ballet at Alexandria in Palm Court

In 2009, the Blankenship Ballet Company established its artistic residence at the Alexandria Hotel with the goal of revitalizing the Palm Court. In May 2010 the Blankenship Ballet Company created and produced the ballet-in-the-round "Cuban Ballet & Dance Extravaganza" [51] featuring many ballet dancers formerly from the Ballet Nacional de Cuba. [52] [53] [54] The Blankenship Ballet Company's May 2010 "Cuban Ballet & Dance Extravaganza" in Palm Court was documented by Supreme Master Television and played in multiple languages and dialects all over the world. [55]

See also

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