Fran Lebowitz once said, "Los Angeles is a large city-like area surrounding the Beverly Hills Hotel." Truer words have never been spoken.
Since the hotel opened 100 years ago, the pink palace (albeit it was originally white) has become one of the most iconic and legendary landmarks in this city. In fact, it was built before the Hollywood(land) sign was even erected.
Marilyn Monroe, Howard Hughes and Elizabeth Taylor are just a few of the stars that called the mysterious Mediterranean-style building on Sunset Blvd home. The BHH also features some of the city's best restaurants: The Cabana Cafe, The Fountain Coffee Shop and of course, The Polo Lounge.
In honor of their 100 years, browse the Beverly Hills Hotel's memorable history below:
Many images are courtesy of the upcoming book, "The Beverly Hills Hotel and Bungalows - The First 100 Years" by Robert S. Anderson.
100 Years At The Beverly Hills Hotel
1912(01 of28)
1912: Hollywood Hotel former manager Margaret Anderson builds the Beverly Hills Hotel for $500,000 with architect Elmer Grey. (credit:Beverly Hills Patch)
1912(02 of28)
1912: Opening Party of The Beverly Hills HotelThis photo is courtesy of "The Beverly Hills Hotel and Bungalows - The First 100 Years" by Robert S. Anderson, Official Historian for The Beverly Hills Hotel, publication date May 2012.
1914(03 of28)
1914: Beverly Hills becomes an incorporated city. (Image circa 1912)This photo is courtesy of "The Beverly Hills Hotel and Bungalows - The First 100 Years" by Robert S. Anderson, Official Historian for The Beverly Hills Hotel, publication date May 2012.
(04 of28)
1915: The first five of the hotel's private bungalows are built. (Image circa 1912.)This photo is courtesy of "The Beverly Hills Hotel and Bungalows - The First 100 Years" by Robert S. Anderson, Official Historian for The Beverly Hills Hotel, publication date May 2012.
1919(05 of28)
1919: Douglas Fairbanks buys a lodge and expands it into "Pickfair" house with his love Mary Pickford, above the hotel. (credit:Wikimedia)
1923(06 of28)
1923: The front lawn of the Beverly Hills Hotel.This photo is courtesy of "The Beverly Hills Hotel and Bungalows - The First 100 Years" by Robert S. Anderson, Official Historian for The Beverly Hills Hotel, publication date May 2012.
1928(07 of28)
1928: Interstate Company of New York buys the hotel from Margaret Anderson.Image courtesy of Facebook.
1933(08 of28)
1933: With the economy devastated by the Great Depression, the hotel closes in April. (Drawing circa 1911) (credit:Wikimedia)
1934(09 of28)
1934: Bank of America reopens the hotel under trusteeship in February. Image circa 1925. (credit:Wikimedia)
1937(10 of28)
1937: Cesar Romero and Carole Lombard sharing a moment at The Beverly Hills Hotel.This photo is courtesy of "The Beverly Hills Hotel and Bungalows - The First 100 Years" by Robert S. Anderson, Official Historian for The Beverly Hills Hotel, publication date May 2012.
1938(11 of28)
1938: The Beverly Hills Hotel pool and sandy beach.This photo is courtesy of "The Beverly Hills Hotel and Bungalows - The First 100 Years" by Robert S. Anderson, Official Historian for The Beverly Hills Hotel, publication date May 2012.
1939(12 of28)
1939: William "Hernando" Courtright, Bank of America's then vice president, is chosen to oversee the hotel's liquidation, and becomes the hotel's longtime manager. (Image circa 1954) (credit:Flickr/ Alden Jewell)
1942(13 of28)
1942: Courtright buys the hotel with friends Loretta Young, Irene Dunne, Harry Warner and Joe Schnitzer, and renames the El Jardin restaurant as the Polo Lounge in honor of polo players. (Photo circa 2012)This photo is courtesy of "The Beverly Hills Hotel and Bungalows - The First 100 Years" by Robert S. Anderson, Official Historian for The Beverly Hills Hotel, publication date May 2012.
1942(14 of28)
1942: Billionaire Howard Hughes moves into the bungalows, staying there on and off for 30 years. (image circa 1940s) (credit:Wikimedia)
1948(15 of28)
1948: The hotel is painted pink, dubbed the "Pink Palace," as part of a redesign during the 1940s by African-American architect Paul Williams that includes the Crescent Wing and Fountain Coffee Room. (Image circa early 1950's) (credit:Wikimedia)
1949(16 of28)
1949: Rita Hayworth marries Prince Aly Khan. The star is photographed at the Beverly Hills Hotel pool here in the 1940's.This photo is courtesy of "The Beverly Hills Hotel and Bungalows - The First 100 Years" by Robert S. Anderson, Official Historian for The Beverly Hills Hotel, publication date May 2012.
1954(17 of28)
1954: Detroit real estate magnate Ben L. Silberstein buys the hotel. (Image of The Fountain Room circa 2012)This photo is courtesy of "The Beverly Hills Hotel and Bungalows - The First 100 Years" by Robert S. Anderson, Official Historian for The Beverly Hills Hotel, publication date May 2012. (credit:Facebook)
1955(18 of28)
1955: Receiving a phone call at the pool has always been a hallmark of exclusivity at The Beverly Hills Hotel.This photo is courtesy of "The Beverly Hills Hotel and Bungalows - The First 100 Years" by Robert S. Anderson, Official Historian for The Beverly Hills Hotel, publication date May 2012.
1957(19 of28)
1957: Gregory Peck and Lauren Bacall's film "Designing Woman" is shot at hotel's pool, Cabana Club.This photo is courtesy of "The Beverly Hills Hotel and Bungalows - The First 100 Years" by Robert S. Anderson, Official Historian for The Beverly Hills Hotel, publication date May 2012.
(20 of28)
1959: Marilyn Monroe and Yves Montand stay in bungalows 20, 21 while filming "Let's Make Love." (credit:Wikimedia)
1978(21 of28)
1978: Neil Simon's "California Suite," starring Maggie Smith and Bill Cosby, uses the hotel as a set. (Image of Neil Simon circa 1966.) (credit:Wikimedia)
1979(22 of28)
1979: Silberstein's daughters Muriel Slatkin and Seema Boesky inherit the hotel after their father dies. (Image circa 2012)This photo is courtesy of "The Beverly Hills Hotel and Bungalows - The First 100 Years" by Robert S. Anderson, Official Historian for The Beverly Hills Hotel, publication date May 2012.
1985(23 of28)
1985: Seema Boesky and her husband Ivan Boesky gain control of the hotel. Ivan Boesky is indicted by the Securities and Exchange Commission for insider trading a year later. (Image circa 2012)This photo is courtesy of "The Beverly Hills Hotel and Bungalows - The First 100 Years" by Robert S. Anderson, Official Historian for The Beverly Hills Hotel, publication date May 2012.
1986(24 of28)
1986: Denver oil executive Marvin Davis purchases the hotel. (Davis with Joan Collins circa 2000.) (credit:AP)
1987(25 of28)
1987: The hotel is bought by the Brunei Investment Agency. (The agency's luxury hotel properties now belong to the Dorchester Collection.) (credit:AP)
1992(26 of28)
1992: The hotel closes in December for a $100 million restoration. (Image circa 2012)This photo is courtesy of "The Beverly Hills Hotel and Bungalows - The First 100 Years" by Robert S. Anderson, Official Historian for The Beverly Hills Hotel, publication date May 2012.
1995(27 of28)
1995: The hotel reopens that June. (Photo circa 2012)This photo is courtesy of "The Beverly Hills Hotel and Bungalows - The First 100 Years" by Robert S. Anderson, Official Historian for The Beverly Hills Hotel, publication date May 2012.
2012(28 of28)
2012: The Beverly Hills Hotel celebrates its centennial. (credit:Alamy)
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