The Chateau Marmont has a long and varied history. Improbably, the
first owner, Frank Horowitz, who built the Chateau, sited it on a
dirt road. In 1929, this was far from the action in Hollywood. He had
seen the Chateau d’Amboise when on a visit to the Loire Valley and
wanted to recreate it on his land.
The initial plan for
the Chateau was to have a series of luxury apartments. When it became
too difficult to fill the apartments, the new owners turned it into a
hotel. The hotel has had a series of owners each giving it a slightly
different character.
Over the years, the
hotel has been patronized by celebrities who wanted a more private
place. Some wanted the restful ambiance; others wanted to pursue
their often illicit pleasures outside the glare of publicity. The
list of the famous who stayed there is extensive. It makes
titillating reading to discover how the famous stars cavorted within
it’s halls.
The book starts
somewhat slowly with the description of how the hotel was built and
what the early owners did to keep it afloat. The story becomes much
more interesting when the stars, particularly those from the 30s, 40,
and 50s, took up residence. This is definitely a book for history
buffs interested in Hollywood’s heyday.
I received this book
from Net Galley for this review.
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