♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> HELLO AND WELCOME TO "INSIDE LOUISVILLE" WHERE WE INTRODUCE YOU TO THE PEOPLE, PLACES AND THINGS THAT MAKE UP KENTUCKY'S LARGEST CITY.

THIS WEEK WE TAKE YOU INSIDE THE SEELBACH HOTEL.

THE ICONIC HOTEL TURNS 100 YEARS OLD THIS YEAR.

IT IS LOUISVILLE'S OLDEST CONTINUOUSLY OPERATING HOTEL.

THE SEELBACH HAS HOSTED EVERYONE FROM U.S. PRESIDENTS TO OSCAR WINNERS, FAMOUS MUSICIANS AND AUTHORS TO NOTORIOUS GANGSTERS AND PERHAPS EVEN A FEW LINGERING GHOSTS.

TODAY WE TALK TO THE MAN WHO LITERALLY WROTE THE BOOK ON THE SEELBACH HOTEL, HOTEL HISTORIAN LARRY JOHNSON WHO STARTED WORKING THERE MORE THAN 40 YEARS AGO AND HAS DOCUMENTED ITS HISTORY REGULARLY HOSTING TOURS THROUGH THE HOTEL, WHICH IS NOW OFFICIALLY THE SEELBACH HILTON.

TO CELEBRATE IT'S 100th ANNIVERSARY, THE HOTEL RECENTLY REVEALED A NEW SUITE TO HONOR ONE OF ITS MOST CELEBRATED GUESTS, F. SCOTT FITZGERALD, AUTHOR OF THE CLASSIC NOVEL, THE GREAT GATSBY SAID TO BE INSPIRED BY HIS TIME SPENT AT THE SEELBACH.

WE GOT AN INSIDERS LOOK AT THE SUITE FROM THE WOMAN WHO DESIGNED IT TAKING US BACK IN TIME TO THE ROARING 20s.

>> I'M TERRA NELSON DESIGNER OF THE GATSBY SUITE.

WELCOME.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ I MEAN THE SEELBACH OBVIOUSLY HOLDS A LOT OF HISTORY WITH F. SCOTT FITZGERALD, RUMORED TO HAVE STARTED WRITING THE BOOK HERE.

DAISY BUCHANAN'S WEDDING WAS HELD IN THE GRAND BALLROOM WHICH IS AT THE SEELBACH HOTEL.

SO THE SEELBACH ITSELF IS JUST BATHED IN GATSBY HISTORY AND JUST HISTORY FROM THE ERA IN GENERAL WHICH IS REALLY COOL AND FASCINATING TO ME.

I HAD A VISION OF WHAT THE SPACE LOOKED LIKE, WHAT GATSBY'S LIFE WAS LIKE, WHAT DAISY'S LIFE WAS LIKE.

SO WHEN I KNEW THAT I WAS GOING TO DO THIS PROJECT, THE FIRST THING THAT CAME TO MIND WAS THE CEILING.

I KNEW I WANTED A BOLD CHANDELIER.

I KNEW I WANTED THIS BEAUTIFUL LUXURIOUS DRAPING TO REALLY DRAW YOUR EYE UP TO MAKE IT FEEL LIKE YOU WERE BEING BATHED IN LUXURY AS SOON AS YOU WALKED IN THE SUITE.

>> THERE ARE CHALLENGES WITH THE HISTORIC BUILDING.

YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO BE CONSCIENTIOUS OF THE MATERIALS YOU ARE USING.

THERE ARE PLASTER WALLS INSTEAD OF DRYWALL.

ANY TIME YOU ARE WORKING WITH A HISTORICAL BUILDING, IT MAKES IT A LITTLE MORE CHALLENGING BUT ALSO MAKES IT A LITTLE MORE FUN.

WE REALLY WANTED THE GATSBY SIDE TO FEEL OVER THE TOP, ALMOST LIKE OSTENTACIOUS THAT YOU WERE BEING BATHED IF GOLD AND VELVET AND TEXTURE AND LUXURY, BUT YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT ALWAYS THE EASIEST TO FIND PERIOD PIECES SO A LOT OF TIMES YOU HAVE TO RELY ON FINDING REALLY COOL ART DECO PIECES THAT MATCH IN WITH THE OLDER VINTAGE PIECES.

SO WE TRIED TO DO A REALLY GOOD BALANCE OF FINDING VINTAGE PIECES AND REDOING THOSE AND ALSO BRINGING THE FEEL OF A MODERN LUXURY HOTEL BY ADDING IN SOME MORE NEWER ART DECO PIECES.

WE KNEW WE WANTED TO DO A BAR IN THE SUITE AND WE ALSO KNEW THAT WE WANTED IT TO KIND OF HAVE THAT SECRETIVE SPEAK EASY FEEL TO IT, SO WE WANTED TO HIDE IT IN SOMETHING.

AND WE CAME UP WITH A FEW IDEAS BASED ON THE FURNITURE WE COULD GET.

I FOUND THIS AMAZING ART DECO DRESSER ONLINE.

WE FOUND IT IN TENNESSEE.

DROVE A FEW HOURS TO PICK IT UP, BROUGHT IT BACK, SANDED IT DOWN, REFINISHED IT, REDID THE INSIDE AND TURNED IT INTO A COOL LITTLE BAR.

WE KNEW WE WANTED GATSBY TO BE OVER THE TOP AND DARK AND MOODY AND MYSTERIOUS AND DAISY IS MORE OF A DELICATE CHARACTER.

I MEAN SHE HAS RUTHLESS TENDENCIES, I THINK, BUT WE REALLY WANT TO HAVE THE DICHOTOMY OF THE DARK AND THE LIGHT SIDE AND THE SOFTER SIDE.

SO AS YOU MOVE INTO DAISY, IT'S BRIGHT AND AIRY, AND PINKS AND, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE SOME OF THE ASPECTS FROM THE FILM LIKE THE TELEPHONE WHERE IT'S ALWAYS RINGING AND, YOU KNOW, HER HUSBAND'S MISTRESS IS CONSTANTLY CALLING AND YOU HEAR THIS PHONE, SO WE DRAPED IT IN PEARLS FOR DAYS TOE TAKE OVER THAT ASPECT OF THE PHONE.

SO THAT'S ON HER SIDE.

WE HAVE SOME DRIED FLOWERS AND DRIED DAISIES IN THERE THAT JUST ADD TO THE DELICATE NATURE.

AND THE PIECES OF FURNITURE IN THAT SIDE OF THE SUITE ARE MORE 1920s, VICTORIAN ERA PIECES THAT KIND OF LEND TO THAT CLASSIC OLD MONEY SIDE.

THERE ARE A LOT OF DETAILS THAT WE TRY TO ADD IN.

WE HAVE A LOT OF THE GREAT GATSZ BY BOOKS ON THE BOOKSHELVES AS WELL AS OTHER BOOKS BY F. SCOTT FITZGERALD AND WE HAVE SOME EASTER EGGS, THE EAST EGG VERSES THE WEST EGG.

MY FAVORITE FIXTURE IS THE GREEN LIGHT.

IT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE THEMES FROM THE BOOK.

THERE IS ALWAYS THE GREEN LIGHT AT THE END OF THE DOCK THAT GATSBY SEES AT THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BAY AND DRAWING HIM TOWARDS DAISY.

YOU WALK IN THE SUITE AND YOU SEE THE GREEN LIGHT PULLING INTO INTO THAT SIDE.

THAT WAS A VINTAGE FIND WE FOUND THAT WE WERE EXCITED ABOUT.

IT'S LIKE THE SMALL PEOCESES THAT END UP BEING MY PERSONAL FAVORITE.

I DON'T KNOW IF PEOPLE WILL RECOGNIZE IT OR REALIZE WHAT IT IS, BUT THAT WAS ONE OF THE ONES THAT WE WERE PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT.

I WANT PEOPLE TO FEEL LIKE THEY'RE READY TO HAVE A PARTY.

I WANT THEM TO FEEL LIKE THEY WALK IN AND THEY ARE IN THE ORIGINAL SEELBACH HOTEL, IN A ROOM THAT THEY CAN HAVE FUN WITH THEIR FRIENDS, THEY CAN GATHER, HAVE A COCKTAIL AND THEN GO TO THE DAISY SIDE AND RELAX AND HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF PEACE OF QUIET.

BUT REALLY IT'S JUST CREATING A SPACE THAT PEOPLE NOT ONLY FEEL LIKE ENCOMPASSES GATSBY BUT SOMETHING THAT THEY REMEMBER, THAT THEY GO BACK AND 10 YEARS FROM NOW, THEY SAY DO YOU REMEMBER THAT AMAZING SUITE THAT WE STAYED AT THAT THIS A CHANDELIER AND DRAPING AND FELT LIKE WE WERE BACK IN THE MOVIE.

THERE ARE SO MANY PLACES THAT YOU CAN WALK AND THINK, WOW, F. SCOTT FITZGERALD SAT HERE, TOUCHED THIS, HE WAS IN THIS ROOM.

WHICH IS REALLY NEAT.

HE IS ONE OF THOSE AUTHORS THAT WASN'T APPRECIATED AND RECOGNIZED AS MUCH UNTIL AFTER HE PASSED AWAY.

BUT I DO THINK THAT HE WOULD COME BACK AND THINK THIS WOULD BE A GREAT PLACE TO HAVE A PARTY.

>> WELL ALREADIRY-- LARRY JOHNSON KNOWS ALL THE STORIES OF THE SEELBACH HOTEL, THE HOTEL'S HEALTH OFFICIAL HISTORIAN AND CONCIERGE.

HE WROTE THE BOOK "LOUISVILLE'S GRAND HOTEL" ALL ABOUT THE SEELBACH HOTEL.

TELL US FIRST WITH YOUR HISTORY, YOU STARTED AT THE HOTEL IN 1982?

>> IT'S A FUNNY STORY.

I HAD BEEN LAID OFF FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND I GOT A JOB WORKING ON A MOVIE STRIPES WITH BILL MURRAY AND JOHN CANDY.

I WAS A RUSSIAN SOLDIER IN CZECHLOSLOVAKIA.

AND BETWEEN SHOOTINGS, I WAS STANDING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF A CREEK WATCHING THEM SHOOT AN EXPLOSION SCENE AND I MET A GUY BY THE NAME OF PAT HAMILTON WHO WORKED FOR THE UNEMPLOYMENT OFFICE AND ABOUT TWO WEEKS LATER, HE CALLED ME AND ASKED ME IF I WOULD LIKE TO BE A DORMAN AT THE SEELBACH HOTEL.

I HAD NO IDEA WHAT THE SEELBACH HOTEL WAS, EVEN THOUGH I WAS RAISED IN THE SOUTH END OF LOUISVILLE ON SEELBACH AVENUE.

>> OH WOW.

>> AND THE REST IS HISTORY.

>> THERE ARE SO MANY STORIES ABOUT THE HOTEL.

I WANT TO START WITH THE GREAT GATSBY CONNECTION.

WE SAW THE GATSBY SUITE.

TELL US ABOUT THE F. SCOTT FITZGERALD CONNECTION AND THE SEELBACH WAS REALLY INSPIRATION FOR THIS FAMOUS BOOK.

>> F. SCOTT FITZGERALD WAS STATIONED AT CAMP TAILOR ABOUT SIX MILES FROM DOWNTOWN LOUISVILLE AND HE WAS GOING THROUGH A SIX WEEK TRAINING AND HE WOULD VENTURE INTO LOUISVILLE ON THE WEEKENDS AND HE WOULD GO TO THE RASKELLER WHERE THE YOUNG SOLDIERS HUNG OUT.

IT'S AT EYE TIME WHEN YOU WOULD SEE IN MOVIES YOU WOULD PAY A DIME FOR A TICKET TO DANCE AND GIVE IT TO THE GIRL.

AND THEN VISIT THE BAR THAT WAS CALLED THE STABLES.

UPON OCCASION HE WOULD HAVE TO BE ASKED TO LEAVE FOR BEING A DRUNK.

SOMETIME IN 1921, AFTER HE GOT OUT OF THE SERVICE, HE CAME BACK TO LOUISVILLE, DID RESEARCH AND SUPPOSEDLY HE WOULD SIT AT THE BAR AND WHEN GANGSTERS OR SOME IRREPUTABLE PERSON WOULD WALK IN, HE WOULD WATCH THEM AND THEN WATCH THE GUESTS TO SEE HOW THEY WOULD TAKE IT.

AND THAT'S HOW HE BASED THE CHARACTER OF J. GATSBY.

A LOT OF THE OLDER HISTORIANS BELIEVED HE MODELED THE CHARACTER AFTER OF GEORGE DREAMIS.

WHETHER THAT IS TRUE OR NOT NOBODY WILL EVER KNOW.

>> YOU MENTIONED THE CATSKELLER AND WHAT AN INCREDIBLE PLAY.

I MEAN THAT COULD YOU GO ON AND ON ABOUT THE ARCHITECTURE AND THE HISTORY OF THAT ROOM ALONE.

>> THE BROTHERS, WHEN THEY CAME FROM GERMANY, THEY WERE YOUNG KIDS, THE FAMILY SETTLED IN CINCINNATI.

AND THEY BUILT THE FIRST PART OF THE SEELBACH HOTEL BETWEEN 1902 TO 1905.

AND WHEN THEY ADDED ON TO IT, THEY WANTED SOMETHING THAT WOULD REMIND THEM OF HOME.

SO THEY BUILT THE RASKELLER.

THE ONLY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THAT ONE AND THE ONE IN GERMANY, IS OURS IS MADE FROM POTTERY FROM CINCINNATI, OHIO.

AND IT WAS THE GRAND PLACE TO BE DURING WORLD WAR I.

IT IS WHERE ALL THE YOUNG SOLDIERS HUNG OUT.

AND THEN DURING THE 30s, IT WAS A BIG BEER GARDEN, GERMAN BEER GARDEN AND IN THE 40S IT WENT TO BEING THE DINNER CLUB.

AND THEN BACK IN THE 50s, IT WENT BACK TO BEING A GERMAN BEER GARDEN FOR A LITTLE PERIOD OF TIME AND 82 AND 83 WE TRIED USING IT AS A JAZZ CLUB AND THE ACUTION TICKS WOULDN'T ALLOW.

SO NOW WE JUST USE IT FOR SPECIAL FUNCTIONS.

WE HAVE HAD EVERYTHING FROM BIRTHDAY PARTIES TO WEDDINGS.

>> IT'S GORGEOUS.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS YOU NOTICE IS THE PELICAN.

WHAT IS THAT?

>> SOMEBODY TOLD HIM THE PELICAN WAS A SYMBOL OF LUCK.

>> LEWIS SEELBACH'S WIFE, HIS WIFE WAS LOUISE SEELBACH AND HE LET IT OUT TO THE PRESS SEVERAL WEEKS AFTER THE HOTEL OPENED THAT HE WAS SO SUPERSTITIOUS ON GRAND OPENING DAY HE HAD A RABBIT'S FOOT IN BOTH POCKETS AND IF SOMEBODY TRIED TO SHAKE HIS HAND, HE WOULD PUT HIS HAND IN THE OTHER POCKET AND HOLD HIS RABBIT'S FOOT.

HE BELIEVED IN EVERY LUCKY CHARM AND PELICANS WERE A SYMBOL OF LUCK.

EFFORTLY THEY WERE BECAUSE THEY HAVE LASTED OVER 100 YEARS.

>> THEY STILL ARE.

ANOTHER ROOM THAT YOU HAVE TO SEE AT THE SEELBACH, IF POSSIBLE, IS THE INSPIRATION FOR DAISY BUCHANAN'S WEDDING.

THAT WAS IN THE BALLROOM.

>> THE GRAND BALL RUM-- BALLROOM GOT ITS NAME THROUGH F. SCOTT FITZGERALD.

IN 1905 WHEN THE HOTEL FIRST OPENED UP, THEY ONLY HAD 150 ROOMS AND THE TOP FLOOR WAS A ROOF TOP GARDEN.

AND THEN IN BETWEEN 1905 TO 1908, THEY ADDED THE SOUTH WING ON AND THEY KEPT A ROOF TOP GARDEN UNTIL AROUND 1912, AND THEN THEY PUT A ROOF OVER THE TOP OF IT AND CALLED IT THE BALLROOM.

IN 1918, F. SCOTT FITZGERALD WAS KICKED OUT OF THE RASKELLER AND OUT OF THE BAR IN SEVERAL OCCASIONS.

IN 1925 HE CAME OUT WITH THE GREAT GATZ GATSBY AND CHAPTER FOUR HE REFERS TO TOM AND DAISY HAVING THEIR RECEPTION AT THE GRAND BALLROOM HOTEL.

>> INCREDIBLE.

I WANT TO YOU TAKE US NEXT TO THE OAK ROOM WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, IF YOU ARE INTO GANGSTERS AND ALL THE STORIES OF AL CAPONE THERE.

THIS IS WHERE HE HUNG OUT, RIGHT?

>> THE OAK ROOM IS ORIGINALLY ADDED ON TO THE HOTEL IN 1908.

AND IT WAS A GENTLEMAN'S BILL YARDS HALL AND GENTLEMAN'S POKER ROOM.

THEY HAD SIX TABLES AND IF YOU VISIT THE ROOM NOW THE CUE RACK STILL STANDS FROM 1908 THERE IS THE POKER ROOM.

THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT DOORS, ESCAPE DOORS AS YOU SAY.

ONE OF THEM LED DOWN TO THE RASKELLER WHICH IMMEDIATELY LED TO SEWER TUNNELS UNDERNEATH THE HOTEL, UNDERNEATH THE CITY AND ALSO TO THE BRICK TUNNEL THAT CONNECTED THE BUILDINGS TOGETHER AND THE OTHER STAIR WELL LED DOWN TO WHERE THE KITCHEN IS NOW AND IN GATSBY'S RESTAURANT, AND IT LED DOWN TO WHAT WAS CALLED THE LITTLE DERBY BAR WHICH USED TO SIT RIGHT NEXT DOOR.

AND IT WAS A LOCAL BAR THAT RAN UP UNTIL THE EARLY 50s.

BUT IT WAS JUST A WAY FOR THE GANGSTERS TO COME.

NOW DURING PROHIBITION, ANYBODY COULD PLAY CARDS.

IT DIDN'T HAVE TO BE GANGSTERS BUT IF THE POLICE CAME IN DOWN STAIRS THERE, WAS A BUTTON IN THE LOBBY SOMEBODY WOULD PUSH THE BUTTON AND THE DOORS GOING INTO THE POKER ROOM WERE SPRING LOADED, WOULD AUTOMATICALLY CLOSE AND THAT TOLD THE GENTLEMEN COULD GET THEIR MONEY OFF THE TABLE.

IF IT WAS GANGSTERS, AL CAPONE OR SCHULTZ, THEY WOULD HAVE WENT DOWN THE STAIRS OUTSIDE THE RASKELLER AND WENT THROUGH THE TUNNELS.

THEY COULD GET AWAY EASY.

>> WOW.

SO MY QUESTION IS THOSE TUNNELS STILL EXIST?

>> JUST TO THE END OF THE HOTEL.

THEY WERE BOXED OFF.

THE BRICK TUNNEL THAT WENT DOWN THE STREET AT ONE TIME IT WAS BRICKED OFF IN 1941 BECAUSE THEY WITH PUT IN A STEAM MANUFACTURING SYSTEM.

AND THEN THE SEWER TUNNELS, AS THEY WERE BUILDING THESE SKY SCRAPERS LIKE THE TOWERS ACROSS THE STREET, TOOK OUT TROLLEY TRACKS AND SO FORTH.

THEY HAD TO CLOSE THOSE OFF AND I DO HAVE PICTURES OF THEM ON MY PHONE THOUGH.

>> WOW, VERY COOL.

>> I WAS DOWN THERE TWO YEARS AGO AND I TOOK PICTURES OF THEM.

>> INCREDIBLE!

AND THEN THE SEELBACH SUITE, WHICH IS ORIGINAL, MUCH OF IT, WELL MUCH OF THE HOTEL IS STILL ORIGINAL, RIGHT?

>> THE SEELBACH SUITE, THE PARLOR IS ORIGINAL.

THE TWO INCH SLAT HARDWOOD FLOOR, 23-FOOT VAULTED SIELGS, THE STAINED GLASS WINDOWS, IF YOU LOOK REAL CLOSE, WILL YOU SEE THE WIRE MESH THAT WENT BETWEEN THE SECTIONS OF GLASS TO HOLD THE STAINED GLASS TOGETHER.

THE FIREPLACE IS ORIGINAL.

THE WOODWORK AROUND THE WALLS, A LOT OF THAT IS ORIGINAL AND YOU CAN LOOK AT THE FLOOR AND SEE WHERE SOME OF THE FLOOR HAD TO BE REPLACED.

IT'S BLONDER THAN SOME OF THE OTHER FLOOR.

YOU TAKE A LEFT OFF THE MAIN DOOR AND GO DOWN A LITTLE HALLWAY THAT HAS A CONNECTING DOOR INTO THE BEDROOM.

BEFORE 1982, IT WAS A TWO BEDROOM SUITE WITH CONNECTING DOORS GOING INTO EACH ROOM.

BUT IT WASN'T LIKE LEWIS SEELBACH WOULD TAKE THE ROOMS OFF MARKET.

HE HAD OUTSIDE ENTRANCES INTO BOTH ROOMS SO HE WOULD RENT EACH ROOM.

THE PARLOR WAS HIS OFFICE FROM 1908 UNTIL THE TIME OF HIS DEATH IN 1925.

>> SO TELL ME ABOUT THE BROTHERS WHO CREATED THIS HOTEL.

>> THEY CAME FROM GERMANY.

THEY CAME AS YOUNG KIDS THE PARENTS WERE AFRAID OF THE WAR AND AFRAID THEIR SONS, THEY HAD THREE SONS, AFRAID THEY WOULD GET KILLED IN THE WAR.

SO THEY MOVED TO SINCE, OHIO.

WHILE THEY SETTLED IN CINCINNATI, WE DON'T KNOW.

BUT THEY LIVED THERE AND WHEN LEWIS TURNED 17, HE DECIDED HE WANTED TO GET AWAY FROM THE BIG CITY OF CINCINNATI AND HE MOVED DOWNRIVER TO LOUISVILLE AND GOT A JOB WORKING AT THE GAULT HOUSE, THE ORIGINAL GAULT HOUSE AND LEARNED EVERYTHING HE COULD ABOUT THE RESTAURANT BUSINESS, BAR BUSINESS, AND SO FORTH.

1874 AT THE AGE OF 22 HE LEFT THERE AND OPENED UP HIS OWN BAR AND GRILL AT THE CORNER OF 10th AND MAIN AND CALLED IT THE EUROPEAN BAR AND GRILL.

1879 HIS BROTHER ON THE OWE MOVED TO LOUISVILLE.

THEY GOT AN INVESTOR.

PURCHASED A BUILDING ON THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF 6th AND MAIN AND OPENED ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF THE EUROPEAN SEELBACH BAR AND GRILL.

OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS THEY OPENED THE WHOLE THING UP AND CALLED IT THE EUROPEAN SEELBACH HOTEL.

IF YOU GO TO THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF 6th AND MAIN TODAY AT THE FRONT DOOR OF THE BUILDING THERE IS A WHITE STONE IN THE SIDEWALK.

IT HAS A SUITCASE AND UNDER THE SUITCASE IT SAYS EUROPEAN SEELBACH HOTEL.

>> REALLY?

>> YEAH.

>> WOW.

THAT IS AMAZING.

OKAY, SO TELL US ABOUT SOME OF THE FAME YOUS GUESTS HERE THAT HAVE STAYED AT THE SEELBACH.

IT GOES WAY BEYOND F. SCOTT FITZGERALD.

>> WE HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE OVER THE YEARS, NOT ONLY GUESTS, PRESIDENTS.

WE HAVE HAD NINE DIFFERENT PRESIDENTS.

EIGHT OF THEM SPENT THE NIGHT.

WE HAVE HAD WILSON, TAFT, ROOSEVELT, JOHNSON, CARTER, WARREN G. HARDING, BUT ON THE CELEBRITY SIDE, ON A VIDEO I DO FOR THE HOTEL, I SAY BOY GEORGE WAS MY FAVORITE CELEBRITY.

THE ONLY REASON WHY IS BECAUSE WHEN THEY DID THE VIDEO, I ONLY HAD A MATTER OF LIKE 15 SECONDS TO NAME SOMEBODY.

BOY GEORGE,-- AT THAT TIME BOY JORNG AND THE LEAD SINGER FOR ALABAMA AND TONY BENNETT WERE MY FAVORITE SINGERS, EVEN THOUGH THROUGH THE YEARS, NOW I WASN'T THERE WHEN THEY HAD ELVIS PRESLEY BUT HE HAD BEEN IN THE HOTEL.

ROLLING STONES STAYED AT THE HOTEL.

AND THEY, THE THREE THAT I MENTIONED WERE MY FAVORITES UP UNTIL 2019.

AND 2019 WE HAD A ROCK GROUP CHECK IN AT 2:00 IN THE MORNING.

I GOT TO WORK AT 8:00 AND ONE OF THE GUYS IS SITTING IN THE LOBBY WAITING FOR ME.

WANTING A TOUR OF THE HOTEL.

I RECOGNIZED HIM AS SOON AS I SAW HIM.

I GET UP, SHOW HIM AROUND THE HOTEL.

HE TELLS ME, HE SAYS, YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE THE REST OF THE BAND BEFORE LUNCH TIME, WE GOT A 2:00 SOUND CHECK AT THE YOUNG CENTER.

HE WAS RIGHT.

I HAD THE REST OF THEM.

NEXT DAY AFTER THEIR CONCERT, THEY COME DOWNSTAIRS FOR BREAKFAST.

I SAID I'VE GOT A FAVOR TO ASK OF YOU GUYS.

I SAID I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE MY PICTURE TAKEN WITH YOU GUYS ON THE STEPS.

AND THE PAIN GUY SAYS I THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING TO ASK FOR TICKETS TO THE SHOW.

I DIDN'T WANT TICKETS TO THE CONCERT.

HE SAID WHAT DO YOU MEAN.

I SAID I LIKE SOME OF YOUR MUSIC JUST NOT ALL OF YOUR MUSIC.

HE SAID OKAY.

WHY DO YOU WANT OUR PICTURE IF YOU DON'T LIKE OUR MUSIC.

I SAID WELL, I WROTE A BOOK ABOUT THE HOTEL.

HE SAID I KNOW.

WE'VE GOT A COPY OF IT.

IF I DECIDE TO WRITE MORE STORIES AND I WANT TO PUT IN A STORY ABOUT YOU GUYS, WHAT BETTER WAY TO PROVE IT THAN TO HAVE A PICTURE WITH YOU.

SO THEY STOPPED AND I GOT A PICTURE ON MY PHONE WITH ME AND THEM I.

LOOKS PRETTY FUNNY.

HERE I AM SOLID GRAY HEADED WITH FOUR GUYS THAT GOT LONG DARK HAIR.

YOU KNOW.

>> WHO ARE THEY?

>> IT WAS A GROUP CALLED KISS.

>> THAT'S AMAZING.

ONE OF THE MOST TALKED ABOUT GUESTS IS THE LADY IN BLUE.

KIND OF THE MOST FAMOUS GHOST STORY OF THE HOTEL, RIGHT?

>> HER NAME THAT WAS GIVEN WAS PATRICIA WILSON.

SHE WAS 24 YEARS OLD.

AND THEY FOUND HER BODY ON TOP OF THE SERVICE EL HAVE IT-- ON TOP OF THE SERVICE ELEVATOR, AND FOR YEARS PEOPLE JUST THOUGHT SHE HAD COMMITTED SUICIDE.

SUPPOSEDLY THERE WAS A STORY GOING AROUND ABOUT AN EXHUSBAND KILLED IN A CAR WRECK AND I FOUND OUT IN 2014 THAT SHE WAS ACTUALLY MURDERED, WHO MURDERED HER AND WHY.

AND IN ORDER TO KNOW THE FULL STORY, YOU NEED TO COME TO THE SEELBACH HOTEL AND GO ON ONE OF MY TOURS.

>> WOW.

AND THERE ARE SOME VERY INTERESTING TWISTS AND TURNS WITH THIS STORY.

>> THERE IS.

SHE IS BURIED AT EVERGREEN CEMETERY.

AND SHE GETS BLUE AND WHITE FLOWERS AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR, SOMETIMES TWICE A YEAR.

AND SO, SHE HAS BEEN PART OF MY FAMILY FOR A LONG TIME.

>> SO TELL US ABOUT HER GHOST.

WHAT ARE THE SIGHTINGS OF HER?

WHAT DO WE MEADE TO LOOK FOR IF WE ARE SAYING THERE, WHAT DO WE NEED TO LOOK FOR?

>> JAMES SCOTT, A COOK, AND ALSO HOUSEKEEPER BY THE NAME OF SHARON WHITE.

JAMES SAW HER ON THE MEZZANINE LEVEL WALKING INTO THE NORTH ELEVATOR AND THE DOORS WERE CLOSED.

SHE WALKED THROUGH THE DOORS.

AND SHARON, THE SAME THING ON THE EIGHTH FLOOR.

ABOUT 20 MINUTES APART.

AND NOBODY KNEW EXCEPT A LADY WALKING THROUGH AN ELEVATOR UNTIL 1992 AND A GENTLEMAN WHO WORKED FOR ME HAD JUST GRADUATED FROM U OF L. HEARD THE STORY AND RESEARCHED AND FOUND A NEWSPAPER ARTICLE FROM 1936 AND IT WAS THE STORY OF PATRICIA WILSON FALLING TO HER DEATH ON THE SERVICE ELEVATOR; AS TOLD BY THE LADY THAT RAN THE BOARDING HOUSE WHERE SHE LIVED.

AND SHE JUST HAS BEEN PART OF THE HOTEL FOR ALL THESE YEARS.

NOW THERE HAVE BEEN PEOPLE THAT SAY THEY WALK DOWN THE EIGHTH FLOOR LATE AT NIGHT, AND THEY WILL FEEL A COOL BREEZE BLOW BY THEM OR FEEL SOMETHING TOUCHING THEIR HAIR.

MY OPINION OF THAT IS I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH BOURBON THEY DRANK BEFORE THEY GOT THERE.

>> THAT'S TRUE.

HAVE YOU TO TAKE AT THAT TIME INTO ACCOUNT.

HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A GHOST?

AT THE SEELBACH?

>> I WISH I WOULD.

ESPECIALLY PATRICIA.

YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAY, SHE HAS BEEN PART OF MY FAMILY.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK IT IS ABOUT THE SEELBACH THAT HAS ALLOWED IT TO SURVIVE ALL OF THESE YEARS?

I MEAN IT HAS BEEN THROUGH THE DEPRESSION, THE GREAT FLOODS, YOU KNOW, SO MANY THINGS.

HOW HAS IT LASTED 100 YEARS?

>> I THINK IT'S THE PEOPLE THAT WORK THERE.

AND THE GUESTS.

YOU KNOW, I HAD A TOUR THIS PAST WEEKEND, AND SOMEBODY ASKED ME WHO WAS MY FAVORITE GUEST EVER TO COME TO THE HOTEL.

AND THEY WERE THINKING THAT I WAS GOING TO SAY EITHER A PRESIDENT OR A CELEBRITY.

AND I HAD 10 PEOPLE ON THE TOUR AND I CIRCLED, I POINTED TO ALL OF THEM.

THE GUESTS HAVE HELPED ME SURVIVE, HELPED THE HOTEL SURVIVE.

AND WHEN THEY COME AND ENJOY IT, THEY GO OUT AND THEY TELL THEIR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS ABOUT IT.

SO, FIRST IT'S THE EMPLOYEES, BECAUSE WE ARE ALL LIKE A FAMILY.

AND THEN IT'S THE GUESTS THAT COME THERE.

>> THAT'S AN INCREDIBLE PIECE OF HISTORY RIGHT HERE IN LOUISVILLE.

WHAT DO YOU SEE FOR THE FUTURE OF THE SEELBACH HOTEL?

DO YOU THINK IT WILL STILL BE HERE 100 MORE YEARS?

>> >> I THINK IT WILL.

I DON'T SEE ANY REASON WHY NOT.

IT'S IN A GREAT LOCATION.

I DON'T SEE ANYTHING HAPPENING TO THE LOCATION.

THEY BUILT EVERYWHERE ELSE IN DOWN DOWN LOUISVILLE AND FINALLY WISED UP IN THE REMODELING AND KEEPING A LOT OF THE OLD AS THEY'RE DOING WITH NEW LOU.

SO I THINK WE WILL STILL BE HERE.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> DON'T FORGET YOU CAN WATCH AND SHARE THIS EPISODE ANY TIME AT ket.org/"INSIDE LOUISVILLE" AND IF YOU WANT TO SEE MORE OF THE GATSBY SUITE AND SOME OF THE OTHER HAUNTS AT THE STORIED HOTEL, WE HAVE THE INSIDE SCOOP FOR YOU ON INSTAGRAM.

GIVE US A FOLLOW AT KET IN LOU.

THANKS FOR SPENDING A LITTLE TIME GETTING TO KNOW LOUISVILLE.

I HOPE WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.

UNTIL THEN, MAKE IT A GREAT WEEK.

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