1. George Kirby, Gordon MacRae, Phyllis Diller, Van Johnson, Milton Berle, Paul Anka,
Lofty Dreams from the Beginning
Historic Hotels - 1930
Tony Bennett and Bob Hope were all on one stage at one time or another. There were
three stages where nightly entertainment thrilled Washingtonians – the famed ‘Blue
Room’, on the ‘Terrace’ and in the ‘Marquee Lounge’.
Harry Bralove’s dedication to constructing the “Best Hotel in Washington” seemed difficult in the Politically, the hotel attracted an array of those who lived in the residences within
fall of 1929. When he walked onto the site for the hotel (at the corner of Connecticut and Calvert) the hotel, and those that lived in the neighborhoods nearby. Franklin Delano Roosevelt
had his first Inaugural Ball at the hotel -- special ramps and elevators were installed to
his vision was a grand building that could bring together the Rock Creek Park with the new and
meet his needs. During the Truman presidency, Truman himself could often be found
emerging nearby neighborhoods. It was to be a hotel and a residence from the beginning, and playing poker with the Speaker of the House and with the doorkeeper of the House in
was built both with these intentions and with the unique needs that accompany such lofty goals. one of the many suites throughout the building.
The Depression was not good to owner Bralove; his health failed and he passed
away. His daughter stayed as a resident in the same rooms within the Shoreham until
1973. The rooms were converted shortly after the death of Bralove’s daughter into
multiple suites; it was noted by guests that doors and lights would turn on and off
without explanation within some of the same rooms. Maids reported carts moving by
themselves and strange noises. Today there is one room known as the “Ghost Suite”,
never given to guest unless requested.
The glory days of big name entertainment and politicos are now behind the
Shoreham Hotel – now owned by the Omni Group – but there is one area were this
hotel is supreme, and that is the spectacular gardens. The gardens offer guests a true
respite from the bustle of city life and for a special event, the Gardens at this hotel
are a rare treat indeed. The gardens are filled with waterfalls, fountains, gazebos and
green lawns that are privately tucked into the edge of Rock Creek. Although the hotel
is aged, it is still reminiscent of the past without being worn out by age – embodying
the charm of the classic while creating the new.
Tel +1.202.328.2000
www.OmniHotels.com
A t the time, the nation was struggling with Art Deco and Renaissance as an
inspiration for construction of new buildings and for the attentions of emerging
architects. Architect, Joseph Abel, decided to incorporate both into a building of
eight stories. The design elements were cutting edge – fireproofing, an indoor ice
rink, and high speed elevators. And to keep up with the furniture demands of the
hotel, a virtual furniture ‘factory’ was built in the basement for the hotel’s overwhelm-
ing furniture needs.
The Shoreham opened on October 30, 1930. From the start, the Hotel was a
venue for the finest in entertainment. Rudy Vallee performed on the first evening
the hotel was opened, and there would be many more stars to walk onto the many
stages of the hotel over the coming decades. If it was hip, if it was good – you would
find it at the Shoreham hotel (the hotel’s name was taken from one built in 1889 by
Levi Morton – Vice President under Benjamin Harrison). And with such a legacy,
the Shoreham had to produce a roster of the finest entertainers – Benny Goodman,
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