Haunted Knickerbocker Hotel
One of Hollywood’s Vintage Luxury Apartment Hotels
Hotel Knickerbocker served as a temporary home to Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, Rudolph Valentino, Three Stooges, Francis Farmer and some still live there in spirit.
Built in 1925, the Knickerbocker Hotel was opened as a luxury apartment building and later became a hotel. Like the Hollywood Roosevelt, it was built to accommodate celebrities and workers in the newly created rising movie industry. Expenses were not spared. The crystal chandelier in the hotel lobby cost over $120,000 in the 1920s, which was very expensive back then.
The Knickerbocker later became a hotel and closed in 1971. After that, it became a senior citizen’s retirement building and the beautiful art deco Renaissance Revival bar was sealed off. In the early 1990s, the bar re-opened as the All-Star Theatre Café & Speakeasy and attracted a newer generation of movie stars such as Sandra Bullock and Leonard DiCaprio. Unfortunately, the lease was not renewed on the café and it was permanently closed.
Famous Guests at the Knickerbocker Hotel
The Renaissance Revival bar was a popular spot for celebrities. Silent screen star Rudolph Valentino was known to ride his horse down from the hills and dance the tango to the live music in this bar. Marilyn Monroe used to sneak through the kitchen in order to meet up with Joe Dimaggio. They ended up spending their honeymoon at the Knickerbocker.
When making movies, Elvis Presley liked to stay in Suite 1016. In fact, the song “Heartbreak Hotel” was written about the Knickerbocker by Hoyt Axton’s mother. Some of his publicity shots were taken inside the hotel.
Frances Farmer, who had a brilliant career in the 1930s and 1940s, turned to alcohol and drugs. She was arrested at the Knickerbocker after getting into a fight and dragged out half-naked. She was taken to a sanitarium where she was abused and eventually given a lobotomy.
Famous film director D.W. Griffith died of a stroke in 1948. He was living on the 10th floor and collapsed in the lobby under the art deco chandelier. He had turned to alcohol and Hollywood disowned him. Later, he was remembered as a brilliant director and, in 1999, a plaque honoring Griffith was placed in the lobby at the Knickerbocker.
Irene Gibbons, who designed costumes for famous actresses such as Judy Garland, Elizabeth Taylor and Marlene Dietrich, committed suicide at the Knickerbocker in 1962. She went into a deep depression after the death of actor Gary Cooper, whom she loved.
Bess Houdini, widow of Harry Houdini, conducted annual séances on Halloween night on the rooftop of the Knickerbocker. She did this for 10 years until 1936. During the first séance, thunder and lightning began. It was believed that this storm was limited to the top of the hotel and was not seen anywhere else in the Hollywood.
Hauntings at the Knickerbocker Hotel
The ghost of Rudolph Valentino has been seen accompanying Marilyn Monroe in various places at the Knickerbocker. The spirit of Marilyn Monroe has been spotted in the ladies washroom.
Employees have seen the apparition of a man wandering the hotel dressed in clothing that would have been worn in the 1940s.
Strange happenings such as lights turning off and on or objects moving on their own have been witnessed. There have been reports of ceiling fans being tossed across the room.
As with many hotels built in the golden age of Hollywood, the Knickerbocker has been the site of tragedies and celebrations. With many celebrities who stayed at the hotel over the years, it is understandable that many spirits choose to remain there.
