Culver Hotel
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Culver Hotel is a historical landmark situated in downtown Culver City, California. It was built on the site of Culver City's first movie theater on September 4, 1924, with local headlines announcing: "City packed with visitors for opening of Culver skyscraper." Originally named Hotel Hunt, the six-story building contained the offices of Harry Culver, the founder of Culver City.
The Culver Hotel has appeared in countless films and television programs throughout its history, including Little Rascals, the Laurel and Hardy series, The Wonder Years, 7th Heaven, and Stuart Little 2.
The Culver Hotel has a restaurant, conference room, and bar.
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[edit] Owners
The hotel was originally jointly built by Charles Chaplin and and Harry Culver, the founder of Culver City. Harry Culver's office was on the second floor in a room that, now, looks out to the Sony Plaza building. When John Wayne gave the hotel to the YMCA he did so after having been approached by the Black Panthers who wanted to purchase the hotel. They decided to move to San Fransisco.
Legend has it that Charlie Chaplin sold hotel John Wayne for a dollar during a poker game.
The Culver Hotel was owned by John Wayne for several years before he donated it to the YMCA. There is a "John Wayne" presidential suite in the hotel.
[edit] Residents
Much of the cast of The Wizard of Oz stayed here during filming of the movie in 1939. The hijinks of that period, including the hotel's being taken over by the "Munchkins," were featured in the 1981 movie Under the Rainbow.
The pie-slice-shaped hotel has housed many stars as part-time residents, including Clark Gable, Greta Garbo, Joan Crawford, Red Skelton, Buster Keaton, Douglas Fairbanks, the Rat Pack, and Ronald Reagan.
The hotel was bought by Wei [Abraham] Hu in mid 1997 who has subsequently sold the hotel due to costly legal fees and a slump in business.
The nearby Jazz Bakery has been known to put up world renowned musicians at the Culver Hotel.
[edit] Anecdotes connected with the Culver Hotel
- The hotel was rumored to link to Culver Studios via an underground tunnel. During Prohibition this "secret tunnel" would have been the way to ferry alcohol and women to the studios through the hotel.
- During the 1980's the hotel was in disrepair and was low-income housing. The top floor housed a man who was accused by neighbors of being a drug addict. One night he went naked into the hallway while brandishing a shotgun which frightened everyone back into their rooms. One woman who went back into her room heard a whoosh by her window minutes later. When she looked out of her window she saw the man's crushed naked body on the ground.
- At one time a fire broke out in the elevator and the firemen were too afraid to go into the old hotel to put it out because of the tenants.
[edit] External links
- (English) Official Website
- (English) The Munchkins Return to the Culver Hotel
 The front entrance at night |
 A full view of the Culver Hotel |
 View of the side of the building |
 Statue of Harry Culver, founder of Culver City, outside of the hotel |
 Statue of the MGM Lion in a fountain outside of the hotel |
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