Goodbye to the Ambassador Hotel
Monday October 18, 2004
It was one of those special places where history was made, again and again. Six Academy Awards ceremonies were held there. Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated in the pantry, shortly after his victory speech for California's 1968 presidential primary in the ballroom. The famed Cocoanut Grove nightclub hosted the likes of Frank Sinatra and Judy Garland. Richard Nixon was staying there in 1952 when he wrote his pivotal "Checkers" speech. Hotel guests included Charlie Chaplin, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Winston Churchill.
Despite its storied past, last week the Los Angeles school board voted to tear down the Ambassador Hotel to make room for a public school complex. The historic hotel was opened in 1921 and closed in 1989.
Despite its storied past, last week the Los Angeles school board voted to tear down the Ambassador Hotel to make room for a public school complex. The historic hotel was opened in 1921 and closed in 1989.
Comments
The Ambassador was the PARTHENON of Los Angeles, gorgeous, glamorous temple where Marilyn Monroe was discovered at the pool, JOAN CRAWFORD was discovered doing the charleston at the Cocoanut Grove…and now it’s all gone. With the occupancy rate of Wilshire area office buildings there was plenty of space for a school or even 5 schools, but LA only destroys what’s most important.