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Great Gossip and Tantalizing TidbitsBY Madelyn MillerWhat becomes a legend most? It starts with a great architect
The Early Days of Prohibition, Gambling & the Odds
Some of the influential guests during these times were heavy gamblers and bookies who would commandeer the phone lines at certain times of the day. Although betting was illegal, card games were popular and prevalent. Employees who stayed after work to serve players often were treated to winnings. Chew on This
Wrigley insisted on a specific tile for the construction in 1930 of what would become the legendary Catalina Pool. This tile was only available on Catalina Island, off the coast of Los Angeles ? and Wrigley just happened to own not only the island itself but the company producing the tile. As it turned out, however, his design idea held water, so to speak. Marilyn Monroe became enamored of the Catalina Pool and frequently swam there. The pool, in fact, came to be intimately identified with the renowned bombshell, yielding added cachet and publicity for the hotel. A White Phoenix Christmas? So where did song-writing maestro Irving Berlin go to soak up inspiration for the penning of his famed "White Christmas"? The sunny clime of Phoenix and the luxurious accommodations of the Arizona Biltmore, of course. He wrote the masterpiece while staying at the resort in 1939, reportedly working into the wee hours of the morning. He told the Arizona Republic at the time: "When I'm working like this, the sunshine is vital to me." Crooners & Troopers
A favorite hangout for celebrities has always been the Aztec Lounge where they would gather around the piano and sing. Bing Crosby, Clark Gable, Spencer Tracy and Ava Gardner were among the stars who have belted out their favorite tunes here. Isn't It romantic? The Arizona Biltmore has long been one of the West's favorite honeymoon spots. And some very famous couples spent their honeymoons here including Ronald and Nancy Reagan, Harpo Marx and his bride, and Carole Lombard and Clark Gable. Joan Crawford, when married to the owner of Pepsi Cola, jokingly refused to accept a Coca Cola when it was delivered to her room. True love? The House of Gable
The resort's first stable manager, C.W. "Doc" Pardee, had had a small role in "Call of the Range," a movie partially filmed at the Biltmore stables. But as Doc saw it, his main role was to please guests, and particularly Clark Gable. Pardee always specially brought in Tennessee Walking Horses for Gable when he came to ride because they were known for their gentle gait and the screen legend suffered from chronic back pain. It Doesn't Get Any Better Than This Tony Bennet has been one of the noted fans of the Arizona Biltmore. And during a stay in 1996, he was quoted as uttering the highest praise for the hotel: "I've been to hotels all over the world and this one is the most beautiful." GREAT GUIDEBOOKSHidden Southwest
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TM
From the beginning in 1929, the Arizona
Biltmore Resort & Spa was destined to become a legend. It was not just the
first resort in the state, staking out virgin territory, but from the outset
did everything in grand scope and style, starting with a design inspired by
the United States? most famous architect, Frank Lloyd Wright. The image and
substance of the new resort invariably would appeal to the rich and famous,
and the Arizona Biltmore overnight, and ever since, became a haven for
actors, politicians and sports stars. A legend was born, that lives to this
day. And as with most legends, anecdotes, tidbits and assorted gossip tell
much of the story. Below are some of the most pertinent and colorful items.
The
McArthur brothers, the original owners and builders of the resort, found an
inventive way to deal with Prohibition. They designed a liquor cabinet that
conveniently converted to a bookcase in case of a raid. Would you like The
Great Gatsby straight or on the rocks? The Men's Smoker, known as the
"mystery room? during Prohibition, was where guests could purchase a "set
up," which included a glass, ice and mixers for bootleg liquor.
When
chewing-gum magnate William Wrigley, Jr. assumed ownership of the hotel in
fall 1929, guests came by invitation only and he easily filled the Biltmore
with glamorous friends and acquaintances who came to see and be seen as well
as enjoy the resort's many pleasures. For guests with children, the hotel's
cottages became family accommodations where the young ones would stay with
their nannies.
The Arizona Biltmore guests have
enjoyed many impromptu concerts in its lounges and lobby by superstars who
normally command huge fees to perform. One of the most famous was in 1978
when Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr. and Liza Minelli were staying at the
hotel. The trio was enjoying drinks and good times in the lobby when they
suddenly broke into song at the piano and wowed the guests with their
repertoire.