What could be scarier than a haunted hotel? You check it for a little R&R and suddenly, there is a spirit in your room!
I’ve already talked about the Stanley Hotel, where the movie The Shining was filmed and the Farnsworth House Inn, where founded Confederate soldiers were taken during the Civil War. I’ve also blogged about The Hotel Chelsea in NYC where many celebs either died, committed suicide, or were murdered.
Let’s go back to the west coast for the Roosevelt Hollywood hotel. Located in the heart of Hollywood, the Roosevelt was first opened in 1927. It was financed in part by then-royalty of Hollywood – Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford and Louis B. Mayer. It was a lavish hotel, costing $2.5 million to build. That would work out to about $32 million in today’s money.
The Roosevelt is twelve stories high and has 300 rooms. But, much like the famous Hotel California line, it seems that for some, they can check out any time they like, but they can never leave.
Marilyn Monroe lived there for two years before she became famous. She lived in Suite 229, which overlooked the pool. Her room had a mirror, which has since been moved to storage. That may be because several visitors reported seeing Marilyn’s spirit in the mirror. Some have even seen a ghostly version of her dancing in the hotel’s ballroom.
If that isn’t enough to send shivers up your spine, how about another ghostly celeb story? Montgomery Clift, the handsome, yet tormented actor, also lived at the Roosevelt while filming From Here to Eternity. He was in room 928 and many have reported seeing his ghost walk the hallways, playing his bugle.
Psychic Peter James visited the Roosevelt in 1992. He felt the ghost of Clift in room 928 and sensed Marilyn’s spirit in the Tropicana Bar. But, he also felt the presence of Humphrey Bogart near an elevator. The spirit of Carmen Miranda was felt in the hallway of the third floor and in the Blossom Ballroom, James felt the presence of Betty Grable and Edward Arnold.