Perhaps the most famous or infamous guests in the hotel's early years were the Munchkins, who stayed there while filming the Wizard of Oz. Judy Garland also used to spend many nights here and the hotel has a small room with five windows that is called the Judy Garland room. There is a large painting of Judy Garland over the bed which can appear rather frightening but some die-hard Judy Garland fans insist on staying in this room.
Rounding out the famous list is Vivien Leigh, Clark Gable (during the filming of Gone with the Wind), Joan Crawford, Greta Garbo, Buster Keaton, Ronald Reagan, and Red Skelton. The hotel was even once purchased by John Wayne who spent so many nights there he figured he should own it.
Today after a few change of ownership hands (John Wayne sold it to the YMCA), the hotel has been restored to its early glory and had the rooms modernized with individual baths and furnished with antiques, although some are a bit gaudy.
The lobby lounge and bar (still popular with industry people at the Sony Studios next door) is set to undergo a renovation as is the hotel restaurant which will be helmed by Bigg's of Long Beach (voted one of the top 25 restaurant in LA by the LA Times). These renovations on the ground floor should add some much needed luster to the hotel which despite the structure's good condition, still looks a tad run-down.
The hotel rooms themselves are set to undergo a makeover to be done by Spring 2007. The rooms here are very spacious but the decor is a little cheesy since its mostly done to "remind" you of the 1930s/40s/50s. Even the elevators are a little frightening with floral wallpapering.
We mock it only because we think the hotel has great potential to become a stylish boutique hotel a la Kimpton or JDV but some Hollywood movie buffs (ie. calling Judy Garland fans) will absolutely love the faux-authenticity of the decor.
Related Stories:
· Culver Hotel reviews [TripAdvisor]
