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CALIFORNIA
LEGENDS
The Haunted Georgian Hotel
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Georgian
Hotel in
Santa Monica,
California |
At
the end of your
Route 66 travels, be sure to check out The
Georgian
Hotel in
Santa Monica,
California.
Built in 1933 and originally named
The Lady Windemere, it was designed to be an intimate
hideaway, catering to
Los Angeles’
high society. At the time the hotel was developed, it was nestled in
a heavily-wooded shoreline of the little-known seaside community of
Santa Monica.
The dream of Rosamond Borde, a daring and progressive entrepreneur, she
commissioned Eugene Durfee to construct the posh resort in an art deco
style opening its doors to the rich and famous in 1933.
During prohibition, the Georgian was home to
one of
Los Angeles’
first speakeasies and soon became the rendezvous point for many
up-and-coming
Hollywood
studio executives and celebrities including Clark Gable and Carole
Lombard, who sought secluded weekends away from the cameras.
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The
oceanfront veranda provided a stage for martinis, jazz and notorious
figures including Bugsy Siegel and Fatty Arbuckle. The hotel was
considered to be one of the most modern facilities of the time,
featuring a beauty parlor, barber shop, playground and dining room, in
addition to its most popular speakeasy. The primary reasons for the
hotel’s popularity and success was the exclusive, secluded location
and the discriminating manner of Rosamond.
Borde.
When
prohibition finally ended and expansion dramatically occurred in the
1950's,
Los
Angeles
began to develop into a major metropolitan city. It was during
this decade that The Lady Windemere was sold, refurbished and renamed
the Georgian
The property
remained a favorite vacation residence for the new era of jet setting
Americans and Europeans. In the Spring of 2000, a $2 million
renovation was completed which included the addition of numerous
elegant amenities to the Georgian’s guest rooms, lobby, hallways and
meeting facilities.
Today the
old hotel is surrounded by modern office buildings rather than
pristine forests, but still continues to attract
Hollywood
celebrities such as Oliver Stone, Robert DeNiro and Arnold
Schwarzenegger.
And,
according to legend, it continues to play host to a number of other
unearthly guests, whether they be famous or infamous. In the
hotel’s Speakeasy Restaurant, both staff and guests have reported a
number of strange phenomena over the years. At many times when
the restaurant is completely empty, employees have heard loud sighs,
gasps and have been startled by a disembodied voice who greets them
with, “Good Morning.” At other times the sounds of running
footsteps are heard throughout the restaurant when no one is there and
a number of transparent apparitions have been seen.
So, perhaps if you stop to have a libation
at the Speakeasy you’ll bump into none other than Robert DeNiro if
you’re lucky, and if you’re not, you might “bump” into an unearthly
presence for which you cannot see.
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At any rate, it should be a fun look around at
this vintage hotel, officially recognized by the City of
Santa Monica
as a historical landmark.
Book your room at The Georgian Hotel right here.
Georgian
Hotel - An Art Deco boutique hotel ideally
located right across the street from the Beach; 100% ocean view rooms,
free wireless internet and 24 hour room service available. 2 minutes walk
from the shops of the Third Street Promenade, and 5 minutes from
Santa Monica
Pier. Spectacular sunsets from our verandah, complimented with a glass of
fine wine from our lobby bar. Walking distance to Third Street Promenade
-2 minutes,
Santa Monica
Pier -5 minutes, Pacific Palisades Park -1 minute, beach -2 minutes.
Driving distance to
Los Angeles
International -8 miles, Malibu -10 minutes, Venice Beach -10 minutes,
Beverly Hills -20 minutes,
Hollywood/Universal
Studios -30 minutes, Disneyland, Anaheim -1 hour. Member of 'Historic
Hotels of America' built in 1933. Back in its heyday, a patient onlooker
could spot Clark Gable savoring a martini or Carole Lombard listening to
the strains of jazz on the ocean-facing veranda. During prohibition, the
hotel/speakeasy was a hot spot for both the famous and infamous--fatty
Arbuckle and mobster Bugsy Siegel were familiar faces.
1415 Ocean Avenue,
Santa Monica,
California.
Click
HERE to book a room.
July, 2005 |
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Also See:
Santa Monica
at the End of the Mother Road
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The
Georgian
Hotel in
Santa Monica
California
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From the Rocky Mountain General Store
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Print Shop - Travel the trails of the
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