How Chateau Marmont Became Chateau Marmont

At the intersection of Marmont Lane and Sunset Boulevard stands the legendary Chateau Marmont, which for nearly a century has been what journalist Stinson Carter called "the place on the planet with the highest percentage of iconic personalities, essentially a private club for celebrities." Its success lies not only in its masterful architectural work and shabby chic interior choices, with its lush garden, vaulted columns, and sloping roofs, but also in the sense of familial hospitality within its walls, the simplicity of its services, and that occasionally decadent allure. All elements that have contributed to making it a historic place without equal, a legend where reality blends with the plausible. Rumors abound: the stories surrounding Chateau Marmont sometimes repeat themselves, other times they contradict each other. Like the one about Led Zeppelin racing motorcycles through the hallways, or Jim Morrison falling from a window—or maybe a balcony. In a subtle peekaboo dance relying on the unwritten "no photo" policy—which led to the eviction of reality show star Jenn Hoffman for tweeting about a guest's inappropriate behavior—the happenings at Chateau Marmont are widely documented in media images and videos, and everyone, like on a movie set, wants a role. Whether as a protagonist or an extra.

It all began in 1926 when lawyer and real estate developer Fred Horowitz purchased two acres of land in a rapidly expanding Hollywood, just a few kilometers from Beverly Hills, which was already becoming the neighborhood of the star system. Inspired by photographs of Château d'Amboise, one of Mary Stuart's residences in the Loire Valley, Horowitz commissioned architect Arnold Weitzman in 1929 to build what was then the largest apartment complex in the area. Standing seven stories tall, Chateau Marmont was designed to be Los Angeles' first earthquake-resistant building. The early days were tough, and just months after its opening, America faced the Black Tuesday of October 1929, following the Wall Street crash that triggered the Great Depression. In this scenario, Horowitz was forced to sell the castle to Albert Smith, who transformed it into the legendary hotel that, untouched by fleeting trends, has been etched into a collective legendary vision. Over the years, changes in ownership have not affected the authenticity of the place, which has become a "home away from home" for artists, writers, celebrities, and actors, free to express themselves away from the judgmental chaos of frenetic Hollywood.

In the 1930s, La La Land saw the implementation of the Hays Code, a form of censorship imposed by Hollywood Studios that prohibited interracial relationships, sex scenes, and nudity in films. Despite this strict law, away from prying eyes, the secluded hotel "has hosted a saga of glory, intrigue, and disgrace, against a backdrop of turbulent cycles of decline, renewal, and reinvention", establishing itself over time as a hidden oasis, a suspension from the world where one could unleash their creativity and imagination. A refuge, with thick walls and discreet staff, perfect for checking in and not leaving until one was ready to face reality. The possibilities are endless in the bohemian mecca of celebrities, an A-list retreat to isolate oneself and take a break, perhaps after partying (like in the case of the party hosted by Jay-Z and Beyoncé after last year's Oscars in the hotel's garage). Chateau Marmont is a fluid space permeated with creative energy, which is why Sofia Coppola chose to film Somewhere here, a movie that won her the Golden Lion in Venice.

Its history as a haven for celebrities is immortalized in the Chateau Marmont Hollywood Handbook, an official account of the hotel's history curated by its owner, André Balazs, collecting testimonies from past guests like Greta Garbo and Grace Kelly. However, it is not only a happy refuge but also the scene of Hollywood industry tragedies. In 1982, singer John Belushi was found dead in his room at 33 due to an overdose, and more than twenty years later, in 2004, Helmut Newton lost control of his car while leaving the hotel's garage and fatally crashed. "If you're going to get into trouble, do it at Chateau Marmont" became a famous phrase (spoken by film producer Harry Cohn to Glenn Ford) and vividly represents a transitional space for experimentation for those seeking refuge from the public and sometimes from themselves, a bubble in which to escape the consequences of one's actions. Like the anecdote from the book The Castle on Sunset: Life, Death, Love, Art, and Scandal at Hollywood’s Chateau Marmont, which tells of Bette Davis falling asleep in her bungalow with a lit cigarette in 1958, causing a fire that required Lou Jacobi to save her and evacuate the entire hotel. A legend of glory, decadence, fantasy, and exclusivity that comes to life in its velvet lounge, the bar next to the hall, the softly lit bedrooms, leaving an enduring impression on both those who have been there and those who can only imagine it.