Ever been on one of those Hollywood tours which seem to be part and parcel of most Los Angeles vacations? I mean, a tour of all the famous landmarks like the Hollywood Sign, Walk of Fame, Universal Studios, the Kodak Theater, and so on.

But these are all dreary and kitschy stops designed to cater to foreigners who stare google-eyed at the things which they see so often in the movies and on television. The real heart and soul of Hollywood lies elsewhere. For that, you need to visit the iconic hotels in Los Angeles which were so much a part of the stars’ lives that their halo effect still lingers over these hotels, even in the afterlife, where these stars are still a big part of said hotels day-to-day operations.

Take for example Marilyn Monroe. Her screen persona has intertwined with her famously chaotic and tragic real life to create an immortal and lasting impact on the Roosevelt Hotel, where she spent an inordinate amount of the most famous part of her much celebrated life.

In fact, the hotel thrives on it. It helps, of course, Stories abound of Marilyn’s ghost dancing alone in the ballroom. Witnesses have sworn they saw her apparition in a full length mirror that used to be in her suite, but has been moved to the foyer near the elevators. Her first floor suite (room no. 229) has been named after her, and is now called the Marilyn Monroe Suite.

Another couple of locations cited as a haunt for Marilyn’s ghost is the Westwood Memorial Cemetery at 1218 Glendon Ave, where she was buried, and also her bungalow in Brentwood (12305 Fifth Helena Drive) where she was found, on August 4, 1962, naked and in a coma after overdosing on sleeping pills. She died the next day.

Not trying to scare you (boo!), but just saying that the real heart of Hollywood, with all its drama and angst and tragedy, can be found in these swanky Hollywood hotels and posh mansions where the stars play out their roles in real life. Walk of fame is fine, but wouldn’t you rather dance with Marilyn Monroe’s ghost?

Photo by Alan Light via flickr (creative commons).

Posted on November 8th, 2008 by Thomas
Filed under: Los Angeles