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Arguably the most historic hotel in downtown LA, the Biltmore Los Angeles opened in October 1923, and at that time, it was the largest hotel west of Chicago. In 1927, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences was founded at a luncheon held in the hotel's extravagant Crystal Ballroom. The Biltmore Bowl, located in the hotel's basement, was the world's largest nightclub, and eight Academy Award ceremonies were hosted there. In addition to hosting Hollywood's elite, six U.S. presidents and The Beatles have all stayed at the hotel. The Biltmore was designated as a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument in 1969. Reflecting the rise, decline, and rebirth of many downtowns, the hotel experienced a decline in the 1970s and even closed for closed for a time in the early 1980s. However, the hotel was restored to its former glory the following decade and has been managed by Millennium Hotels since 2000.


The Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles

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A postcard of the Biltmore Hotel as seen from Pershing Square.

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Peggy Hamilton, "the original Biltmore girl," poses with the Biltmore Hotel's general manager while wearing the famous Biltmore Gown, modeled after the Crystal Ballroom.

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When the Biltmore Los Angeles opened in 1923, the main entrance was located on Olive Street.

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Los Angelenos celebrate the new year in the Biltmore Hotel's Crystal Ballroom, 1939.

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Shirley Temple and Walt Disney attend the Academy Awards at the Biltmore Hotel in 1939.

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Presidential candidate John F. Kennedy speaks to a delegation before the Democratic National Convention at the Biltmore Hotel, July 1960.

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During Prohibition, the Gold Room in the Biltmore acted as one of L.A.'s most popular speakeasies.

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The ornate Crystal Ballroom in the Biltmore.

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In the early 1920s, hotelier John McEntee Bowman partnered with the architectural firm Schultze & Weaver to create the grandest hotel in the Western part of the United States, the Biltmore Hotel. With assistance from Italian artist Giovanni Smeraldi, the Beaux Arts-style hotel was completed in 18 months and its grand opening was held in the fall of 1923. On the night of the opening, the main ballroom was filled with more than 3,000 guests, who enjoyed a seven-course meal and were entertained by seven orchestras flanked by caged canaries. Hollywood legends such as Cecil B. DeMille, Douglas Fairbanks, and Mary Pickford were amongst the partygoers, but designer and fashion artist Peggy Hamilton stole the show in the unique gown she called “The Biltmore.” The ornamental dress replicated Smeraldi’s extravagant ceiling in the Crystal Ballroom, and it earned Hamilton the nickname "the original Biltmore girl.” The Biltmore gown that Hamilton wore in 1923 can now be viewed in a glass case across the hall from the Crystal Ballroom.

In total, the hotel cost $10 million to build, and the architect designed a place reminiscent of European palaces. At eleven stories high, the Biltmore had more than 1600 rooms and covered more than half a city block. The interior was Smeraldi’s true masterpiece, with crystal, marble, gold, bronze, and elaborate tapestries enhancing the palatial feel. After its opening, the Biltmore quickly became known as “The Host of the Coast,” and during Prohibition, the Gold Room became one of the most famous nightclubs in Los Angeles. The room was equipped with a secret door that led to Olive Street to help partygoers escape police. The Presidential Suite has hosted six presidents, members of royalty, and even gangsters like Al Capone. The suite still holds a spot that was used by guests to store liquor. From the time it opened, the Biltmore became a favorite filming location, and it can be seen in such movies as Cecil B. DeMille’s Triumph (1924), Ocean’s 11 (1960), Ghost Busters (1984), Beverly Hills Cop (1984), and television shows like Mad Men.

The Biltmore was also a place for renowned celebrations, and when Grauman’s Chinese Theatre was dedicated in 1927, the opening party was held at the hotel. That year, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences was created during a meeting held in the Crystal Ballroom. Later, the Academy Awards ceremonies were held in the Biltmore Bowl, a basement ballroom added in 1928 that could host 1,000 guests. Stars who won Academy Awards at the Biltmore include Clark Gable, Jimmy Stewart, Bette Davis, and Ginger Rogers. After the outbreak of World War II, the Biltmore opened its doors to house servicemen. The Biltmore has a haunting connection to Elizabeth Short, more commonly known as the Black Dahlia. It has been reported that the Biltmore Hotel was the last place Short was seen before her murdered body was discovered on January 15, 1947.

During the presidential campaign of 1960, the Biltmore served as the base for the Democratic National Convention and John F. Kennedy’s campaign. By the end of the 1970s, downtown Los Angeles and the Biltmore experienced a decline, leading to the hotel’s doors being closed. In the 1980s, it was purchased for $75 million, and the new owners spent $135 million restoring the historic hotel. Millennium Hotels purchased the Biltmore in 2000 and continues preserving the grandest hotel in downtown Los Angeles. 

The History of The Millennium Biltmore Hotel Los Angeles, Millennium. September 5th, 2021. Accessed December 17th, 2023. https://www.millenniumhotels.com/en/magazine/us/los-angeles/history-of-biltmore-hotel/.

Meares, Hadley. The Biltmore Girl, Curbed Los Angeles. April 14th, 2016. Accessed December 17th, 2023. https://la.curbed.com/2016/4/14/11395812/los-angeles-fashion-biltmore-peggy-hamilton.

Truhler, Kimberly. The Biltmore Los Angeles: The Story of an LA Icon, Discover Los Angeles. December 13th, 2023. Accessed December 18th, 2023. https://www.discoverlosangeles.com/hotels/the-biltmore-los-angeles-the-story-of-an-la-icon.

Meares, Hadley. Why The Biltmore Hotel, 100 Years Old This Year, Plays A Big Role In Oscars History, LAist. March 9th, 2023. Accessed December 19th, 2023. https://laist.com/news/la-history/los-angeles-biltmore-hotel-100-years-oscars-academy-of-motion-pictures-sciences-history.

Millennium Biltmore Hotel Los Angeles, Los Angeles Conservancy. Accessed December 20th, 2023. https://www.laconservancy.org/learn/historic-places/millennium-biltmore-hotel-los-angeles/.

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