Los Angeles’ Alexandria Hotel in the Silent Film Era

Enjoy a haunted history presentation and short films showcase co-presented by the American Cinematheque and the Art Deco Society of Los Angeles. Films include “Ramona” (1910, 17 min. Dir. D.W. Griffith), “A Film Johnnie” (1914, 15 min. Dir. George Nichols) and“Teddy at the Throttle” (1917, 18 min. Dir. Clarence G. Badger).

The Hotel Alexandria in 1907.

The Hotel Alexandria opened downtown in 1906 to become Los Angeles’ first five-star hotel. In its heyday, it was the first social center for film stars, producers and directors arriving to Los Angeles from the East Coast. The Alexandria’s “Million Dollar Carpet” was legendary for the motion picture deals made on it by the early film industry moguls. Negotiations for the formation of United Artists (celebrating its centennial this year) transpired in the Alexandria. The hotel also served as a film location as early as 1915.

No other Los Angeles hotel could rival the Alexandria for fun, excitement and luxury until 1921, when the Ambassador Hotel opened. After the Biltmore became the new downtown luxury hotel when it opened in 1923, the Alexandria began to fall on hard times. Much of its history had been forgotten until Craig Owens, author of Haunted by History Vol. 1, pieced together a comprehensive history of its forgotten stories and legends. Owens’ illustrated presentation includes tales of wild parties, backroom deals, strange deaths and, of course, ghosts. The presentation will be followed by silent shorts made by luminaries who frequented the Alexandria Hotel.

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