The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood, California opened on May 15, 1927. It is one of the oldest hotels in the Los Angeles area that is still in operation today. It sits right on Hollywood Blvd, across the street from Grauman’s Chinese Theatre (also known as TLC Chinese Theatre). If you want to feel like you’re at the center of the universe where everything is happening, the Roosevelt Hotel is your place. If you ever stay there, chances are that you’ll see a celebrity at some point since it’s a popular hotel for the stars.
With so much history and such an incredible guest list, it’s no surprise that the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel is a hotspot for paranormal activity. Living in Hollywood can be energizing and draining at the same time, as well as dynamic and volatile.
Glitz and Glam
If you’re a fan of “Old Hollywood” and the glitz and glam of the 1920s and 1930s, the Roosevelt is a landmark. Shirley Temple learned how to do her famous stairstep dance on the stairs. Marilyn Monroe lived at the hotel for two years and did her first photo shoot by the pool. While filming the 1952 film, “From Here to Eternity”, Montgomery Clift lived at the Roosevelt for three months. And finally, Errol Flynn may or may not have created the famous recipe for his bootleg gin in the barbershop tub. My personal favorite, Charlie Chaplin, also stayed at the hotel numerous times along with Clark Gable…swoon.
Alright, let’s dive into the ghost stories!
Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe will forever be an icon. Even decades after her tragic passing, people still obsess over her. Her spirit has been seen by multitudes of guests of the Hollywood Roosevelt.
Marilyn lived at the hotel for two years, and she did one of her first photoshoots at the pool. From my understanding, she lived in Room 1200. It’s one of the largest suites at the Roosevelt. There used to be a tall mirror that hung in the room, but now it hangs in one of the hallways in the mezzanine by the lobby. That mirror is reported to be haunted by Marilyn, as well as Room 1200. According to legend, the reason why the mirror was moved out of the room was that people would see her reflection instead of their own!
Mystery Phone Calls
This is probably one of the most unsettling stories from the Hollywood Roosevelt. At one point, the Roosevelt became apartments for a period of time before being converted back into a hotel. Perhaps some of the residents there decided to not leave? At night, receptionists have reported getting phone calls from hotel rooms that don’t have any guests. All they hear on the other end is giggling.
Montgomery Clift
Montgomery Clift called the hotel home for three months while filming the 1953 movie, “From Here to Eternity.” He stayed in Room 928, according to legend. Sadly, in 1956m he got into a car accident and he had to get plastic surgery to repair his face. But he never recovered physically nor emotionally. He passed away in 1966 from a heart attack.
Legend says that he is a playful ghost at the Roosevelt. He apparently likes to tap people on the shoulder and play his bugle, just as he did in “From Here to Eternity.” Batteries have also been known to drain when Mr. Clift is around.
Caroline
Caroline has been spotted around the Roosevelt and the pool area. Legend says that Caroline and her brother drowned in the pool while their father was out running errands. Since then, Caroline likes to make phone calls from the hotel lobby phone, play in the jacuzzi with her brother, and ask guests where her mother and father are.
Other Ghostly Experiences
There are other ghost stories associated with the Roosevelt Hotel like the sound of a typewriter coming from unoccupied rooms. A man dressed in white and 1930s attire has been seen by the piano near the Blossom Room. As you approach him, he seems to disappear. The ghosts of Errol Flynn and Carole Lombard have been sighted at the hotel along with Carmen Miranda, Humphrey Bogart, and Betty Grable.
My Personal Experiences
The fifth and final ghost story is my own personal experiences at the Roosevelt.
I have an extensive history with the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel that started in 2011. I went to an event there back in August 2011. As soon as I walked through those doors, I felt something compelling and just plain strange. Sure, Hollywood itself is pretty strange. But, this was spooky.
Then, a year later, I ended up staying at the Roosevelt on an impromptu trip to Hollywood. I was with a friend at the time, and the stay was fairly uneventful. Maybe some odd footsteps here and there, but that’s it. I saw a few shadows out of the corner of my eye, but I try to brush it off as explainable.
A few years later, I found myself a regular guest at the Roosevelt. Mainly, it was because my former boss was living there for a few months during a transitional phase of his life. Because sometimes my drive took more than two hours, he frequently booked a room for me. I think in the span of three months, I stayed for several weeks in the hotel.
I often went to the mirror that is famously known for being a hotspot for Marilyn Monroe’s ghost. While I didn’t see her full-on, sometimes I caught sight of a shadow as I was turning around. I also had an alarming amount of nightmares during my stay at the Roosevelt. I often heard knocking at my door, but no one announced themselves, and no one was there when I looked through the peephole. It made me feel pretty uncomfortable at times, but I’ve never felt unwelcomed during my stay.
