Although the Oscars are a world-famous spectacle, the first time the ceremony took place it was much simpler but not lacking in glamour. The chosen setting was the Hollywood Roosevelt hotel, a few meters from the current Dolby Theater in Los Angeles, on May 16, 1929. There were 270 people who gathered in the Blossom ballroom for dinner. Five dollars cost admission.
The awards ceremony lasted only 15 minutes, not the current four hours, and there were almost no images. Al Jolson and Douglas Fairbanks became the presenters of the gala and distributed 13 statuettes, best actor going to Emil Jannings and best actress to Janet Gaynor. And although 95 years have passed since those first awards were presented, the Roosevelt Hotel remains a legend, especially during Oscar week when they prepare a gala dinner to follow the ceremony live.
This emblematic establishment opened its doors on May 15, 1927, and since then it has welcomed the most famous people of Hollywood’s golden age, such as Marilyn Monroe, Charlie Chaplin and Clark Gable, among many others. There was no party or stay that did not end at the Roosevelt. Its fame has continued over time, so some ‘celebrities’ can still be seen in its pool.
It preserves the original Spanish neocolonial architecture, but was renovated in 2016 with rooms designed by Yabu Pushelberg.
It has 299 rooms and suites, so guests can choose from a variety of accommodations ranging from sixties-style poolside cabanas, with bronze mirrors and oak floors to remind you of bygone eras. The Marilyn Suite commemorates the time the actress lived in the hotel. Or they can stay in more modern rooms, in the Tower, with shades of gray and rich details of blue and khaki, marble bathrooms and four-poster beds. The Gable Penthouse Suite
It also has a swimming pool whose bottom shows a mural painted in 1988 by the famous British artist David Hockney. There you can taste a delicious cocktail from the Tropicana Bar. And under the lush palm trees outside is the elegant Rosy Café restaurant. Inside Library Bar there is no cocktail menu, guests can customize their drinks, the bartender simply creates a unique mix based on individual preferences. The Spare Room is a drinking room reminiscent of the 1920s, elegant and sophisticated atmosphere. Delicious burgers are also offered under towering Murano glass chandeliers at 25 Degrees, and in a corner of the lobby is the Shirley Brasserie with a wood-burning grill.
A place included in the list of the 25 best historic hotels in the United States.