The legendary Beverly Hills Hotel was opened on May 12, 1912 and it immediately became a movie star magnet. Paul Williams was one of the original architects who worked on the lush property. Through the years just about every celebrity patronized the Fountain Coffee Shop and the Polo Lounge. The pool area, with its private cabanas, was used for weddings, power lunches, and film locations. When the Beatles came to town the pool was opened at night so they could have a private swim. In the late 80’s the Sultan of Brunei bought the hotel and everyone was afraid he would update the beloved decor. Happily, he renovated in a tasteful way that maintained the original spirit of the glamorous hotel. We’re glad it’s still around.
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Love the coffee shop and Polo Lounge. When I worked for a film trade magazine in the mid-80s, our boss would take us there for special lunches. Loved sitting in the patio — I seem to recall that they had a great crab salad. 🙂
Sultan of Brunei – Held Sex Slaves
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hassanal_Bolkiah
In 1997, former Miss USA Shannon Marketic filed a lawsuit against the ruling family of Brunei for $90 million.[9] In the case, Marketic alleged that she and 6 other young women were paid $127,200 each for a modeling job in Brunei (whereas on the ABC news program 20/20, Marketic said she was supposed to provide “intellectual conversations” with visiting guests of the royal family). These other women include former Miss Teen USA and future Miss USA Brandi Sherwood, who was invited along by Shannon, and Miss United Kingdom runner up Paula Bradbury.
Marketic maintained that she and Stephanie Granton were held as “sex slaves” at the Sultan’s palace and were “intimidated and coerced into performing physically and morally repulsive acts of prostitution.”[10] They were allegedly expected to dance at nightly parties during which they were groped and grabbed by men, one of whom was the Sultan’s son, Prince Azim. During the dances Marketic was also allegedly abused verbally with comments made about her bare breasts.[11] The women were often told to go with a man to have “tea” with him, and then had sex with him.[12] In her interview on 20/20, Marketic said that after 32 days, she had a letter sent to the US Embassy; shortly afterwards, she was paid $10,000 by the ruling family and flown back to the United States.[9] The case was thrown out due to the immunity of the ruling family as heads of state
Aww, janet, happy birthday!!!!
Really, these dumbs blondes were paid 120,000 and thought they were getting paid for talking?! This really confirms dumbe and blonde. Good, they got fucked and were paid for practically being a hooker on the street.
An old girlfriend of mine years ago right out of high school took one of “those” modeling jobs somewhere in the Mid East back in the early eighties. We all knew what the gig was back then even though she seemed oblivious.
Saw her once after she came back looking all confused and sheepish. No idea what became of her. Tragic. Chewed up and spit out.
But really, can’t throw rocks too hard at the Arabs for that. Hollywood anyone?!
Stupid is as stupid does.
“Stupid is as stupid does.”
Patrick, I have had my stupid moments over and over again in life. They never stop as long as there is breathe in our lungs. We ALL do stupid things and make dumb decisions. We are human.
I have daughters, granddaughters and great granddaughters. Futhermore, I have a wife, a mean sister (lol) and lots of wonderful friends that are women. I wouldn’t want anything like that to ever happen to one of them or one of yours…..or anyone else for that matter.
Those “stupid” or “dumb” girls or guys didn’t and don’t deserve to be brutalized.
Some of those kids (and it is boys too) that want to get into modeling or show business so bad that they are afraid to pass up opportunities.
Just because someone isn’t smart enough or savvy enough to know that they are being manipulated, doesn’t make it right.
Walt, you are so right! Just because someone isn’t street smart or wise to the ways of the world, doesn’t mean they deserve to be raped and brutalized. That’s like saying a woman “has it coming” because of the way she’s dressed. This is America and women do thankfully have rights now days. It’s a damn shame thse pigs got away with treating our women like their personal slaves! They should have been held accountable. Btw, where were the women’s rights groups on these issues?!
The Beverly Hills Hotel is one of the great joys of my life. The service, the respect, the staff, and the cocoon of excellence permeates the entire complex daily. For many years, my life, loves, and career have centered around this lovely paradise. From Polo Lounge biz meetings, swimming in the pool, or working the annual Night of 100 Stars Oscar Party,the Beverly Hills Hotel is the greatest. Congratulations on the 1st 100 Years.
Edward Lozzi, Beverly Hills PR Executive
Wipe the peanut butter off your faces and sit up straight kids. Mr. Lozzi is public relations royality in the entertainment world. Plus, he won an Irwin several years back.
$127,000 seems like an extremely small amount to get for whatever they were hired for. $127,000 is like $1.27 to the Sultan.
Agreed Walt on every point you make.
Once a person is eighteen they are allowed to make adult choices that will affect them for the rest of their lives even though their brains are not fully developed until around the age of twenty five. Predatory opportunists take advantage of this fact in many different aspects.
Take the military for instance.
True and if they thought they were going for “intellectual” conversations they should know better. The same, unfortunately, is true with most on the American Idol type shows,,,,they just cant make it in the big leagues and will be singing at Disney World for minimum wage and later in the street for handouts. It comes down to their parents steering their life in a better direction. You dont see muslim women at the Sultan’s hangouts because their parents would kill them afterward. No different than the poor parents who turned their kids over to PERVERT Michael Jackson in return for some small amount of money.
By Edward Lozzi
On April 6, 2012 at
“The Beverly Hills Hotel is one of the great joys of my life. The service, the respect, the staff, and the cocoon of excellence permeates the entire complex daily. For many years, my life, loves, and career have centered around this lovely paradise. From Polo Lounge biz meetings, swimming in the pool, or working the annual Night of 100 Stars Oscar Party,the Beverly Hills Hotel is the greatest. Congratulations on the 1st 100 Years.”
Edward Lozzi, Beverly Hills PR Executive
Looks like Ed managed to link to his site and has him a nice new wig and a story placement with JC! All we are missing is Joe Peschi and Robert De Niro!
go there together with your wife instead of buying a new car because who really gives a shit about the car?
The great thing about the Polo Lounge is all the wonderful high end hookers that work there!
Surviving 100 year and a sultan- I guess some hotels have all the luck. I guess I’ll just have to make room for the Polo Lounge next time I use http://myhollywoodvacation.com/tour-search-results?p=157