Vintage Photos Of California’s Glamorous Hotels From The 1920

California’s Roaring Twenties hotel scene captured the essence of Hollywood glamour and architectural innovation. Vintage photographs from this golden era reveal opulent lobbies, star-studded pool parties, and elegant ballrooms where the elite socialized. These stunning images transport us back to a time when California’s grand hotels weren’t just places to stay – they were dazzling symbols of prosperity and style during America’s most decadent decade.

The Mission Inn’s Architectural Fantasy

Frank Miller’s Mission Inn in Riverside appears in 1920s promotional photographs as a fantastical Spanish Revival wonderland. Construction images show workers adding whimsical turrets, flying buttresses, and domes to this ever-expanding architectural curiosity.

Celebrity guests like Will Rogers and Amelia Earhart were photographed exploring the hotel’s eclectic courtyards filled with artifacts Miller collected during world travels. The famous aviator’s suite, with its aviation-themed décor, appears in several rare images.

A fascinating photo series documents the 1929 installation of the hotel’s massive Raynor carillon, then the largest in North America. Workers can be seen hoisting massive bells into the tower while guests watch from ornate balconies – capturing California’s ambition to create European-inspired cultural monuments.

The Hollywood Roosevelt’s Star-Studded Opening

Movie moguls and silver screen legends gathered for the 1927 debut of this Spanish Colonial masterpiece. Funded by Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford, the Roosevelt quickly became the epicenter of Hollywood society.

Black and white photographs capture guests in flapper dresses and tuxedos ascending the grand staircase beneath glittering chandeliers. The hotel’s ornate lobby, with its hand-painted ceiling and carved columns, exemplified California luxury.

One particularly famous image shows Charlie Chaplin and Gloria Swanson chatting by the fountain, perfectly preserving a moment when Hollywood royalty made this magnificent establishment their playground.

Palm-Lined Paradise at The Beverly Hills Hotel

Standing majestically amid lush gardens since 1912, the ‘Pink Palace’ reached its glamour peak during the 1920s. Aerial photographs reveal its distinctive pink façade nestled among carefully manicured palm trees, creating an oasis for the wealthy.

Society photographers frequently captured the hotel’s famous Sunday polo brunches where studio executives mingled with oil barons. Women in wide-brimmed hats and flowing dresses strolled pathways while bellhops in crisp uniforms carried steamer trunks.

The bungalows, particularly popular with privacy-seeking celebrities, appear in several rare images showing their Mediterranean-inspired architecture and private garden entrances.

Chateau Marmont’s Gothic Grandeur

Modeled after a royal French château, this Hollywood landmark appears in haunting 1929 construction photographs. The images showcase workers putting final touches on its distinctive Gothic turrets and arched windows overlooking Sunset Boulevard.

Rare interior shots reveal the original lobby’s medieval-inspired design with heavy wooden beams and stone fireplaces. Glamorous guests pose beside ornate furniture that complemented the European aesthetic.

A fascinating series of photographs documents the hotel’s early marketing campaign, featuring models in flapper attire lounging on balconies with sweeping views of a much less developed Los Angeles below – a striking contrast to today’s urban landscape.

Hotel Del Coronado’s Beachfront Elegance

Queen of the coast since 1888, this Victorian masterpiece reached new heights of glamour in the 1920s. Photographs from this era show Hollywood stars frolicking on the pristine beach in wool bathing costumes while hotel staff served refreshments beneath striped umbrellas.

The hotel’s distinctive red turrets and white wooden façade gleam in aerial shots that showcase its prime oceanfront location. Inside, the Crown Room hosted elaborate galas captured by society photographers.

Particularly fascinating are images of the hotel’s innovative amenities – guests enjoying California’s first electric-lit tennis courts, riding the state-of-the-art Otis elevator, or posing beside the Del’s famous ice cream parlor in their finest Jazz Age attire.

The Ambassador Hotel’s Coconut Grove Nightclub

Nothing captured California nightlife like photographs of the Ambassador’s famed Coconut Grove. Opened in 1921, this Los Angeles hotspot appears in breathtaking images showing couples dancing beneath artificial palm trees and twinkling lights.

Celebrity photographers documented stars like Rudolph Valentino and Joan Crawford at their regular tables. The bandstand, featuring orchestras in white dinner jackets, takes center stage in many shots.

A remarkable series of photographs from 1923 shows the hotel’s grand ballroom transformed for a Hollywood-themed charity gala, with movie sets recreated inside and guests dressed as their favorite film characters – a perfect glimpse into how these hotels became playgrounds for creative expression during Prohibition.

Hotel Figueroa’s Feminist Origins

Groundbreaking for its time, Hotel Figueroa opened in 1926 as a women-only establishment. Remarkable photographs show the YWCA-backed hotel’s grand opening, with female executives cutting ribbons and women checking in without male chaperones – a revolutionary concept.

The Spanish Colonial architecture appears in stunning detail, with tile fountains and wrought-iron balconies captured in warm sepia tones. Interior shots reveal reading rooms and social spaces designed specifically for professional women.

A particularly powerful image from 1928 shows the hotel hosting the International Association of Women Police convention, with female officers from around the world gathered in the courtyard – evidence of how these hotels served not just as luxury accommodations but as centers for social progress.