It really saddens me that they ever decided to demolish The Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles because it was such a great piece of our history. I couldn’t believe that nothing could be done to save it, and am again blown away at what the LA Unified School District has built there. Why don’t people recognize the value in saving historical landmarks?
If you aren’t familiar with the Hotel, it is the site where Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated, and it was extremely famous in its day for housing the Cocoanut Grove club. The Cocoanut Grove was famous for the list of Hollywood stars who spent time there. It was known to be a favorite hangout of Howard Hughes, Judy Garland, Marilyn Monroe, and several others. The club was over the top as far as decor goes. It was known to have huge, fake palm trees throughout, and several outlandish shows took place there. It was shown in “The Aviator” with Leonardo DiCaprio.
Since the Hotel was demolished, the LA Unified School District has built one of the most expensive projects known. They spent $578 million to build 6 schools on the site where the Ambassador once stood. They have tried to preserve some of the historical value of the property, by keeping the doors of The Cocoanut Grove, incorporating the decor into their theater, some floor tiles have been preserved, and there are murals dedicated to Kennedy throughout.
The Ambassador Hotel opened in 1921, designed by renowned architect Myron Hunt (Rose Bowl Stadium, Caltech, Pasadena Library, Occidental College, Huntington Hotel in Pasadena–all still standing, among many others). It occupied 23.7 acres at 3400 Wilshire Boulevard bordered by Wilshire Boulevard at the north, 8th Street at the south, Catalina Street at the east, and nearly to Mariposa Avenue at the west. It was owned by the Schine family for about 50 years, until its doors were closed after 68 years of service in 1989, selling for $64 million, which was consumed entirely by accrued debt.
Do you know anyone who had the chance to visit the beautiful hotel? I only wish I could go and take pictures.
The hotel was torn down so 3 schools could be built to relieve overcrowding in the LA unified school district caused by illegal immigration.
The Academy awards were held in the couconut grove including the 1940 awards which honored Gone With the Wind.
I worked in the film industry and we shot several music videos and commercials at the Hotel in the late 1990’s. We were one of the last crews to work in the building before the school district bought the property and ended all film shoots. The location manager at the Hotel unlocked the kitchen for us so we could see the spot where the famous last photo of RFK and a busboy was taken. In the floor of the kitchen there was a deep “X” carved into the cement floor. We all assumed it was to mark the spot where RFK had passed away. Our guide explained that the actual location was closer to the huge ice machine in the room. The kitchen staff had carved the “X” several feet away from the actual lcation to keep the dozens of people who came daily to see the “spot” out of their way! The Hotel was impressive when I was there and really looked salvageable. We also got a tour of the suite that Sammy Davis Jr. requested when he stayed there. We shot several scenes in the ball room where RFK was shot, there were warning signs posted on the doors regarding asbestos in the ceilings. The Tom Hanks movie “That Thing You Do” has several scenes shot in and around the Hotel. I feel lucky that I got to work there, even though it was at the very end of her wonderful life. Long live the Ambassador, she will be missed. J.D. Local 728
I worked in the film industry and we shot several music videos and commercials at the Hotel in the late 1990’s. We were one of the last crews to work in the building before the school district bought the property and ended all film shoots. The location manager at the Hotel unlocked the kitchen for us so we could see the spot where the famous last photo of RFK and a busboy was taken. In the floor of the kitchen there was a deep “X” carved into the cement floor. We all assumed it was to mark the spot where RFK had passed away. Our guide explained that the actual location was closer to the huge ice machine in the room. The kitchen staff had carved the “X” several feet away from the actual lcation to keep the dozens of people who came daily to see the “spot” out of their way! The Hotel was impressive when I was there and really looked salvageable. We also got a tour of the suite that Sammy Davis Jr. requested when he stayed there. We shot several scenes in the ball room where RFK was shot, there were warning signs posted on the doors regarding asbestos in the ceilings. The Tom Hanks movie “That Thing You Do” has several scenes shot in and around the Hotel. I feel lucky that I got to work there, even though it was at the very end of her wonderful life. Long live the Ambassador, she will be missed. J.D. Local 728
Hi Blondie,
Great blog. I love old Hollywood. I have collected on Carole Lombard for year. Please come and visit. I have old Hollywood throughout my blog. I love the old hotels. I love going to The Beverly Hills Hotel.
Wow! That is sad. I don’t exactly live in the area, but it certainly is close enough that I could have made a day trip of it.
How interesting! I’ve never heard of it but it’s sad that tore it down. Would have been great to see in person!
ah yes…that’s where I stayed back in ’37 when I was courting Miss Rogers…we used to test out all the new dances on the floor of ‘The Grove’… sigh… fantasies are pretty cruel at times, eh? :-}
Seriously, that’s a dang shame they tore it down… but sometimes the ‘bottom line’ financially is tough to overcome – the cost to renovate is prohibitive… and probably would have to add a LOT to bring it up to code (remember, I work for the Code Council) – just easier and cheaper to tear down and build new… well, hopefully the new educational complex will prove to be constructive.
I REALLY need to get out there and check out the last vestiages of the ‘Golden Era’, before they are all torn down, or fade away…
Well, Hope YOU are doing fine and dandy, Lady K!!!
KIG!
VKMfanHuey
—
The people that must have stayed there. My God what history! What a shame but at least they didn’t just abandon the space. =)
Melanie’s Randomness
In the mid-1920s, the Grove was a popular young people’s hangout, renowned for its dance contests. Two of the contest regulars were starlets named Jane Alice Peters and Lucille LeSueur; we know them today as Carole Lombard and Joan Crawford.