>> VISITING WITH HUELL HOUSER IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE RALPH M. PARSONS FOUNDATION.

>> WELL, HERE WE ARE IN DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES.

I'M STANDING WITH JOE SPENCER WHO WORKS FOR THE LOS ANGELES CONSERVANCY.

HE'S A DOCENT FOR THE CONSERVANCY.

AND JOE IS GETTING READY TO GIVE US A $5 TOUR -- I HOPE FOR THE DISCOUNT FEE OF 50 CENTS.

WE ARE P.B.S., YOU KNOW.

>> YES, I UNDERSTAND THAT MUCH.

>> HE'S GOING TO GIVE THE $5 TOUR OF WHAT IS A TRUE, HISTORIC, DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES LANDMARK, THE GRAND OLD BILTMORE HOTEL.

AND, JOE, THIS HAS BEEN A GRAND HOTEL SINCE IT OPENED IN 1923.

>> IT ALWAYS HAS BEEN.

IT STARTED ACTUALLY AS A THOUGHT BY SOME OF THE LEADING BUSINESSMEN, THE LEADING FATHERS OF TOWN TO BUILD SOMETHING EQUAL TO OR BETTER THAN NEW YORK.

AND A GROUP OF 40 OF THEM GOT TOGETHER, INCLUDING PEOPLE FROM THE MOVIE INDUSTRY, CECIL B. DEMILLE, THE CHANDLER FAMILY OF THE "L.A. TIMES," THE LEADING BANKING FAMILIES.

AND THEY RAISED ABOUT $10 MILLION AND 18 MONTHS LATER WE HAD 1,000 ROOMS WITH 1,000 BATHS HERE IN DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES.

>> A BATHROOM IN EVERY ROOM.

>> A BATHROOM IN EVERY ROOM.

>> CAN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN THAT.

AND WHAT'S WONDERFUL ABOUT IT IS IT HAS SURVIVED.

IT HASN'T BEEN GUTTED.

IT HASN'T BEEN TORN DOWN.

IT HASN'T BEEN REDEVELOPED AND DESTROYED.

IT'S STILL HERE PRETTY MUCH LIKE IT WAS BACK IN 1923.

AND WE'RE GETTING READY TO GO INSIDE AND SEE NOT ONLY SOME OF THE GRAND ROOMS, THE PUBLIC ROOMS THAT WE ALL KNOW ALREADY, BUT YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE US TO SOME PLACES THAT VERY FEW OF US HAVE EVER BEEN TO BEFORE.

>> I'M GOING TO TAKE YOU TO SOME HIDDEN, VERY LARGE ROOMS THAT YOU HAVE NEVER SEEN BEFORE.

>> I SEE YOU KNOW HOW TO PIQUE MY INTEREST, DON'T YOU?

[LAUGHTER] ALL RIGHT, LET'S FIGHT OUR WAY ACROSS THIS TRAFFIC, AND WE'RE GOING TO GO INSIDE THE BEAUTIFUL BILTMORE HOTEL.

COME ON, JOE.

THIS IS GOING TO BE FUN.

OKAY, HERE WE ARE.

NOW, THIS USED TO BE THE LOBBY.

>> YEAH.

IN 1923 WHEN THIS HOTEL OPENED, THIS WAS THE LOBBY OF THE HOTEL ITSELF.

AND IT WAS VERY -- ABOUT THE SAME ORNATENESS YOU SEE RIGHT NOW.

VERY LITTLE HAS BEEN CHANGED EXCEPT THE DESK HAS BEEN TAKEN OUT, AND THE BELLMEN HAVE DISAPPEARED.

OTHER THAN THAT, IT'S THE SAME AS WE SAW WHEN THE HOTEL FIRST OPENED.

>> NOW, WHAT WOULD YOU CALL THIS ARCHITECTURE?

WHAT WERE THEY TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH WITH THIS?

>> IN GENERAL, THE ARCHITECTS WERE TRYING TO COPY ITEMS OUT OF THE MEDITERRANEAN AREA.

WE HAVE A CEILING THAT'S FROM NORTH AFRICA.

WE HAVE GREEK MYTHOLOGY AROUND THE WALLS.

WE HAVE ITALIAN SHIELDS SPREAD ABOUT EVERY TEN FEET.

THE CHANDELIERS THEMSELVES ARE FROM ITALY.

>> BOY, THOSE ARE -- NOW, THOSE ARE ORIGINAL.

>> THOSE ARE ORIGINAL CHANDELIERS, YES AND THE STAIRWAY IN THE BACK THAT WE'RE SEEING WAS COPIED AFTER ONE IN SPAIN.

>> NOW, THIS IS -- THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST STRIKING PARTS OF THE HOTEL, THIS WONDERFUL GRAND STAIRCASE.

LET'S GO UP HERE BECAUSE THIS IS -- THIS IS REALLY NEAT.

THERE'VE BEEN A LOT OF PICTURES MADE UP HERE HAVEN'T THERE, JOE?

>> WE HAVE SHOT OVER 70 FILMS, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY HUNDREDS OF TELEVISION EPISODES IN THIS HOTEL AT THIS AREA.

>> RIGHT HERE.

>> RIGHT HERE.

>> SO THIS HAS BEEN IN MOVIES, SUPPOSEDLY FROM FRANCE, FROM -- >> FRANCE.

IT'S SUPPOSED TO PICTURE PLACES IN FRANCE AND IN ALL PARTS OF EUROPE.

ALL DONE IN DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES.

SEGMENTS FOR "BUGSY," SEGMENTS FOR "THE WAY WE WERE," AND OTHER FILMS OF THAT NATURE ALL WERE FILMED HERE, AND SUPPOSEDLY DEPICTED SOMETHING 3,000 MILES AWAY.

>> WELL, IT'S CERTAINLY ORNATE.

THIS IS THE ORIGINAL CLOCK, THE ORIGINAL ENTRANCEWAY HERE.

AND WE'RE GOING TO WHAT WAS THE ORIGINAL LOBBY AND GO INTO ANOTHER INTERESTING PART OF THE HOTEL AS FAR AS HISTORY IS CONCERNED.

NOW, JOE, THIS IS INTERESTING BECAUSE NOW THIS IS JUST A HUGE, BEAUTIFUL KIND OF A WALKWAY HERE, BUT YOU TOLD ME ORIGINALLY THIS WAS USED AS SOMETHING ELSE.

>> THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN KNOWN AS THE GALLERY, BUT AT THE TIME THE HOTEL OPENED, SINCE THE LOBBY WAS FAIRLY SMALL -- YOU NOTICED THAT -- ALL THE SEATING FOR THE GUESTS AND THEIR GUESTS WAS UP HERE IN THIS AREA OF ABOUT 350 FEET IN LENGTH.

AND THERE WERE SEATS, COUCHES, CHAIRS.

AND THE GUESTS WHO WERE OF KNOWN QUALITY OR ELITE PEOPLE WOULD SIT HERE WAITING FOR -- >> THIS IS WHERE YOU WOULD MEET PEOPLE.

>> THIS IS WHERE YOU WOULD MEET PEOPLE, RIGHT.

>> AND IT GOES ALL THE WAY DOWN HERE, AND OF COURSE WE HAVE IT GOING ALL THE WAY DOWN HERE.

IT'S STILL THIS WONDERFUL GRAND SPACE THAT GIVES YOU A SENSE OF -- I DON'T KNOW.

THERE'S A LOT OF -- >> THE ROOM HAS BEEN BROUGHT BACK TO WHAT IT WAS ORIGINALLY WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE CHAIRS AND COUCHES.

THE CEILING, THE WALLS, EVERYTHING IS ORIGINAL.

>> NOW WE'RE GETTING INTO WHAT IS TODAY THE LOBBY.

BUT THIS USED TO BE -- WAS THIS SKYLIGHT ALWAYS UP THERE?

>> THIS SKYLIGHT WAS ALWAYS UP THERE FROM THE BEGINNING.

THIS IS THE ORIGINAL MUSIC ROOM OF THE HOTEL.

THEY USED TO HAVE TEA DANCES HERE, A FORM OF ENTERTAINMENT OF -- IT TOOK PLACE IN THE AFTERNOONS.

PEOPLE WOULD GET ALL DRESSED UP, WOULD COME DOWN HERE AND DANCE ALL AFTERNOON.

IT GOT SO POPULAR THEY USED OVERFLOW ROOMS TO HANDLE -- PEOPLE WOULD COME DOWN TO HEAR HARRY JAMES.

>> REALLY?

>> YES, THIS WAS A VERY POPULAR ROOM.

>> WAS THIS A HOLLYWOOD HOTEL?

WAS THIS -- >> THIS HOTEL -- >> WHAT WAS THIS?

>> THIS HOTEL WAS THE MAIN HOTEL OF LOS ANGELES.

IT WASN'T JUST A HOLLYWOOD HOTEL.

EVERY HOLLYWOOD STAR WHO CAME INTO TOWN ON A TEMPORARY BASIS OR BEFORE HE OR SHE GOT PERMANENT HOUSING WOULD STAY HERE AT THIS HOTEL.

ROYALTY WOULD STAY AT THIS HOTEL.

IT WASN'T JUST KNOWN AS A DOWNTOWN HOTEL, IT WAS LOS ANGELES'S HOTEL.

>> REALLY?

>> YES.

THAT WAS THE MAJOR PART -- MAJOR IMPORTANCE OF THIS HOTEL WAS THE FACT IT REPRESENTED THE ENTIRE AREA.

>> SO THIS WAS BEFORE THE AMBASSADOR, BEFORE -- >> THIS WAS BEFORE THE AMBASSADOR, AND IT WAS MUCH MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE AMBASSADOR.

>> REALLY?

>> THIS WAS THE PLACE TO BE.

>> NOW WE HAVE WALKED DOWN TWO FLIGHTS OF STAIRS BECAUSE JOE IS TAKING ME TO A PLACE THAT I HAVE NEVER BEEN TO BEFORE IN THIS HOTEL.

IT'S KIND OF HIDDEN, ISN'T IT?

>> IT IS HIDDEN.

VERY FEW PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT IT.

IN FACT I VERY RARELY TAKE TOURS DOWN HERE BECAUSE IT'S SO HARD TO GET TO, BUT IT'S ONE OF THE LOVELIEST PLACES IN THE HOTEL.

>> AND THIS IS QUITE AMAZING.

I HAD NO IDEA THIS WAS DOWN HERE.

THIS IS THE POOL.

>> THIS IS THE -- THIS IS THE HEALTH CLUB ACTUALLY.

IT'S MORE THAN JUST A POOL, HEAVY EQUIPMENT AROUND THE SIDES.

IT'S BEEN CONSTANTLY RENOVATED.

THE CHAIRS DUPLICATE THOSE FOUND ON THE QUEEN MARY.

>> OH MY.

>> THE TILE IS FROM ITALY OR FROM -- ACTUALLY, IT REPRESENTS ITALY.

>> BOY, THIS IS AMAZING.

YOU REALLY FEEL LIKE YOU'RE IN THE 1920'S, THE 1930'S, WHEN YOU'RE IN HERE.

THIS PLACE LITERALLY -- TIME HAS STOOD STILL IN HERE.

>> ONE OF THE MAJOR FILMS THAT WAS DONE HERE WAS "BUGSY," WHICH TOOK PLACE IN THE 1920'S, FILMED IN THIS AREA.

>> BOY, THIS IS SOMETHING.

I WANT LUIS TO GET A SHOT OF THIS.

LOOK AT THIS TILE OVER HERE, LUIS, ON THE SIDES OF THE WALL HERE.

THIS IS SPECTACULAR ORIGINAL TILE THAT'S BEEN HERE SINCE?

>> SINCE 1926.

>> WOW.

THIS IS JUST BEAUTIFUL.

AND THESE ARE THE CHAIRS THAT ARE JUST LIKE THE ONES?

>> ON THE QUEEN MARY.

>> ON THE QUEEN MARY.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> AND THIS, I GUESS, BACK WHEN IT ORIGINALLY OPENED WAS FOR MEN ONLY, RIGHT?

>> IT WAS FOR MEN ONLY, AND EVEN NOW IT'S A SEMIPRIVATE CLUB.

ANYONE IN THE AREA CAN JOIN, BUT IT REQUIRES AN ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP PLUS A MONTHLY FEE.

HOWEVER, GUESTS OF THE HOTEL THEMSELVES CAN GO HERE FOR A FEE, SO IT'S OPEN IN THAT RESPECT.

>> WELL, I'M GOING TO HAVE TO CHECK IN THE HOTEL SO I CAN COME DOWN AND USE THE POOL.

[LAUGHTER] OKAY, THE TOUR CONTINUES.

NOW WE'VE COME UP TO THE 11TH FLOOR, TO THE TOP FLOOR OF THE HOTEL.

I GUESS THIS IS WHERE THE RICH PEOPLE STAY, ISN'T IT, JOE?

>> YEAH, THIS IS WHERE THE WEALTHY PEOPLE -- WE HAVE ALL OF OUR MAJOR SUITES UP ON THIS FLOOR.

>> OKAY.

NOW, YOU'RE TAKING US TO NOT JUST ANY OLD MAJOR SUITE THOUGH, ARE YOU?

>> NO.

WE'RE TAKING YOU TO THE PRESIDENTIAL SUITE WHERE EVERY PRESIDENT SINCE HERBERT HOOVER HAS STAYED AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER.

>> OKAY, THIS IS ABOUT AS CLOSE TO A PRESIDENTIAL SUITE AS I'M EVER GOING TO GET.

AND WE PICKED UP THESE TWO LADIES HERE BECAUSE YOU'RE ON THE BOARD OF THE CONSERVANCY, RIGHT?

>> YES.

>> AND WANTED TO COME ALONG JUST TO?

>> ACTUALLY, TO SEE JOE IN ACTION AND TO SEE THE PRESIDENTIAL SUITE.

>> YOU'VE NEVER BEEN IN IT EITHER?

>> NEVER BEEN IN IT EITHER.

>> YOU'VE NEVER BEEN IN EITHER?

>> NEVER BEEN IN IT.

>> ALL RIGHT, LET'S PUT THE KEY IN THE DOOR AND IN WE GO.

CLINTON ISN'T IN HERE, IS HE?

>> I DON'T KNOW WHO'S IN HERE NOW.

[LAUGHTER] >> WELL -- >> WE MIGHT BE EMBARRASSED.

>> WHO IS -- >> OR THEY MIGHT BE EMBARRASSED.

>> WHO -- OH, MY GOSH.

LOOK AT THIS.

OH.

NOW, THIS IS MODERN.

THIS ISN'T -- >> WELL, IT'S BEEN REMODELED A NUMBER OF TIMES, AND NOW IT'S BASICALLY IN A BLAND CONDITION TO NOT OFFEND ANYBODY WHO RENTS THE PLACE FOR $2,000 A NIGHT.

>> OH, BOY.

>> SO, YEAH.

THAT'S WHY, HUELL, YOU'RE NOT STAYING HERE.

[LAUGHTER] >> WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND HERE IS THE DINING ROOM.

>> THE WHOLE DINING ROOM.

>> OH, MY GOSH.

LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THIS.

THIS IS LIKE A -- THIS IS A FULL KITCHEN WITH A BREAKFAST NOOK OVER HERE AND -- OH, MY GOSH.

THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF -- WHAT IS THIS OVER HERE?

THIS IS A -- OH, MY GOSH.

THIS -- I THOUGHT THE WHOLE THING WAS ON THIS FLOOR.

>> NO.

ACTUALLY IT'S 4600 FEET ON TWO FLOORS.

ALL OF THE BEDROOMS ARE DOWN BELOW US.

>> SO WE'VE GOT TO GO DOWNSTAIRS TO SEE WHERE THE PRESIDENT SLEEPS.

4600 SQUARE FEET AND -- OKAY, HERE'S -- AH, WE FOUND YOU ALL IN HERE.

HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE IN THE LAP OF LUXURY?

>> I JUST MADE MYSELF AT HOME RIGHT AWAY.

IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG AT ALL TO ADJUST.

I'M VERY ADAPTABLE.

>> WOW, THIS IS AMAZING.

NOW, EVERY PRESIDENT.

SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT F.D.R.

>> HERBERT HOOVER, F.D.R., TRUMAN, AND ALL THE SUCCEEDING PRESIDENTS BEYOND THAT, ALL UP TO AND INCLUDING CLINTON.

>> REALLY?

>> HAVE STAYED HERE AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER.

>> SO IT'S KIND OF A TRADITION THAT IF THEY'RE IN TOWN, THE BILTMORE HAS GOT TO GET THEM HERE FOR AT LEAST ONE NIGHT SO THAT THIS TRADITION CONTINUES.

>> WELL, IT'S NOT A TRADITION AS MUCH AS A VERY POPULAR, GOOD PLACE, SECURITY CONSCIOUS.

THEY CAN STAY HERE.

THEY HAVE COMFORT.

IT'S LIKE A HOME.

IT'S ACTUALLY THE SIZE OF A SMALL HOME.

>> YEAH.

>> SO THAT'S WHY THE PRESIDENTS STAY HERE.

>> COME ON, LADIES, WE'VE GOT TWO MORE ROOMS TO LOOK -- IT'S THREE BEDROOMS, RIGHT?

>> THREE BEDROOMS.

>> THIS IS AMAZING.

THIS IS LIKE A -- WELL, IT IS LIKE A -- LIKE A LITTLE HOUSE.

>> IT'S BIGGER THAN MY HOUSE.

[LAUGHTER] >> IT'S BIGGER THAN MY HOUSE, TOO.

WELL, I'M STILL KIND OF SURPRISED THAT IT'S SO MODERN.

>> WELL, THAT PART OF IT IS BROUGHT UP TO KEEP PACE WITH THE TYPE OF PEOPLE WHO LEASE IT OR RENT IT.

>> YEAH.

>> MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO DO USE THIS ROOM FOR OFFICIAL BUSINESS OR SOCIAL BUSINESS ARE MODERN PEOPLE.

THEY DON'T WANT TO GO BACK -- >> YEAH, THEY'RE NOT PRESIDENTS.

>> THEY'RE NOT -- WELL, THEY'RE PRESIDENTS.

>> WHAT ARE YOU ALL LOOKING AT IN HERE?

>> SEEING WHO THE NEIGHBORS ARE.

[LAUGHTER] >> THIS IS A HUGE BATHROOM, TOO.

VERY NICE.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO TO THE LAST BEDROOM SO WE CAN SAY WE'VE BEEN IN EVERY SINGLE ROOM OF THE PRESIDENTIAL SUITE.

HOW MUCH DOES THIS GO FOR A NIGHT?

>> ABOUT $2,000.

>> $2,000 A NIGHT.

I SURE HOPE THAT THEY GET GOOD USE OUT OF IT 'CAUSE -- YEAH, THIS IS GREAT.

>> YOU CAN HAVE LOTS OF GUESTS HERE.

>> YEAH, THIS IS WONDERFUL.

WELL, WAS IT WHAT YOU EXPECTED?

>> IT'S HUGE.

>> YEAH.

>> IT'S DEFINITELY ENORMOUS.

>> YEAH.

>> IT'S DEFINITELY ENORMOUS.

>> NOW, DO YOU JUST WANT US TO LEAVE YOU HERE FOR A WHILE SO YOU CAN JUST KIND OF -- >> YEAH, I THINK MAYBE.

>> I'D LIKE TO JUST CHECK IN.

[LAUGHTER] >> WELL, WE'RE CHECKING OUT.

>> YEAH, WE'RE LEAVING.

BYE.

>> SO COME ON, LET'S ALL GO OUT TOGETHER, AND WE'LL GO BACK UP -- >> NO, YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO BACK UP IF YOU DON'T WANT TO.

>> OH, WE CAN GO OUT THIS -- >> YEAH, WE HAVE A -- WE HAVE A SECRET HIDEAWAY OUT.

>> OH, MY GOSH.

SO THIS -- >> DO YOU WANT TO SEE THE LIQUOR HIDEAWAYS?

>> I DIDN'T SHOW HIM.

WE HAVE SOME LIQUOR HIDEAWAYS UPSTAIRS, SECRET COMPARTMENTS WHERE THEY USED TO STASH -- >> HOW DID YOU KNOW ABOUT THE LIQUOR HIDEAWAYS?

>> SOMEHOW IT'S THE FIRST THING WE DISCOVERED.

[LAUGHTER] >> WELL, THAT'S ANOTHER STORY.

>> THAT'S ANOTHER STORY, YEAH.

SHE KNOWS ALL THE LIQUOR HIDEAWAYS.

>> WE'RE GOING OUT, AND THIS WOULD BE ON THE 10TH FLOOR.

>> YOU'RE ON THE 10TH FLOOR, CORRECT.

>> OKAY, COME ON, LADIES.

I'M GETTING YOU ALL OUT OF HERE.

I DON'T TRUST YOU ALL IN HERE.

COME ON, JOE.

JOE, SO MANY INTERESTING THINGS HAVE HAPPENED AT THIS HOTEL.

I REMEMBER SEEING THE PICTURE OF THE GERMAN -- THE BIG AIRSHIP, THE GRAF ZEPPELIN.

>> THE GRAF ZEPPELIN CAME -- >> HOVERING UP OVER THE HOTEL.

>> ON ITS ROUND-THE-WORLD TRIP IN 1929, IT MADE A STOP NEAR THE HOTEL.

IT HOVERED ABOVE THE HOTEL THEN LET ITS PASSENGERS AND CREW OUT TO STAY HERE A FEW NIGHTS, EAT HERE.

AND THEN THEY RESTOCKED THE ZEPPELIN FOR ITS CONTINUING VOYAGE AROUND THE WORLD.

>> THAT'S AMAZING.

AND YOU COULD TELL US 500 STORIES LIKE THAT, COULDN'T YOU?

>> I'M SURE I COULD.

I'M SURE I'D KEEP YOU BUSY.

>> ALL RIGHT, THE PEOPLE ON BOARD THE GRAF ZEPPELIN ATE HERE, AND THAT'S OUR CUE TO GO TO THIS PLACE THAT I HAVE NEVER BEEN BEFORE, RIGHT OFF THE ORIGINAL LOBBY HERE.

AND TELL US THE SIGNIFICANCE OF WHAT'S BEHIND THIS DOOR MARKED "PRIVATE."

>> THIS IS WHERE THE PEOPLE FROM THE GRAF ZEPPELIN WERE CATERED TO.

THIS IS THE KITCHEN, 25,000 SQUARE FEET.

>> WAIT A MINUTE, WAIT A MINUTE.

25,000?

>> 25,000 SQUARE FEET OF KITCHEN.

>> NOW, WE'RE RIGHT BELOW -- OH, MY GOSH.

LOOK AT THIS.

THIS RUNS THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE HOTEL, DOESN'T IT?

>> IT RUNS DIRECTLY UNDER THE GALLERY THAT WE HAD SEEN BEFORE.

IT RUNS THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE HOTEL AND IS SUBDIVIDED INTO MANY AREAS EACH SPECIALIZING IN PASTRIES OR PASTA -- >> OH, MY GOSH.

LOOK AT THIS.

>> -- OR THE GENERAL COOKING.

>> LOOK AT THIS.

OH, MY GOSH.

LOOK AT THIS.

THIS JUST GOES ON AND ON AND ON.

>> IT EMPLOYS ABOUT 150 PEOPLE.

IT'S BASICALLY A FACTORY TO PROVIDE FOOD.

IT HAS TWO CONVEYER BELTS TO ASSEMBLE DISHES FOR THE VARIOUS EVENTS LIKE THE ONE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TONIGHT.

>> DID YOU TELL ME THAT THIS WAS THE LARGEST KITCHEN IN LOS ANGELES?

>> I BELIEVE IT STILL IS THE LARGEST KITCHEN IN LOS ANGELES.

>> YOU'RE WORKING IN A VERY BIG KITCHEN HERE.

>> YES, WE ARE WORKING IN A VERY BIG KITCHEN OVER HERE.

[LAUGHTER] >> WHAT DID YOU THINK THE FIRST TIME YOU WALKED IN HERE AND SAW ALL OF THIS?

>> OH, I WAS SURPRISED ABOUT THE KITCHEN.

>> YEAH.

>> VERY BIG.

>> NOW, DO YOU ALWAYS WORK IN THIS ONE AREA, OR DO YOU WORK ALL OVER THE PLACE?

>> I WORK AROUND ALL OVER.

>> YEAH.

>> OH, YES.

UH-HUH.

>> WELL, NICE TO MEET YOU.

WHAT'S YOUR NAME?

>> MY NAME IS MARIA.

>> NICE TO MEET YOU, MARIA.

>> NICE TO MEET YOU.

>> SHE'S ONE OF THE HOW MANY PEOPLE WHO WORK HERE?

>> 150 PEOPLE WORK IN THIS -- >> 150 PEOPLE?

>> YEAH.

>> WHERE IS EVERYBODY?

THEY'RE NOT 150 PEOPLE HERE NOW.

>> OH, WELL IN EVERY DEPARTMENT.

>> IT'S ALSO 24-HOUR SHIFTS.

>> I GOTCHA.

OKAY, WE'RE BACK IN THE GALLERY.

AND, JOE, THESE CEILINGS ARE ABSOLUTELY AMAZING AND ORIGINAL.

>> ALL OF THE PUBLIC CEILINGS IN THIS HOTEL WERE DONE UNDER THE DIRECTION OF GIOVANNI SPIRALDI.

SPIRALDI WAS A GENTLEMAN THEY WANTED TO DO THE ARTWORK IN THE HOTEL.

HE WAS KNOWN FOR WORKING IN THE VATICAN.

HE DID THE BLUE ROOM IN OUR WHITE HOUSE.

AND HE'D PERSONALLY LAY ON HIS BACK IN MANY CASES TO PAINT THESE CEILINGS.

>> WOW, JUST SPECTACULAR STUFF.

AND NOW WE'RE GOING INTO THE CRYSTAL ROOM.

OH, GOSH, WE'RE GETTING THE DOOR OPEN FOR US.

>> ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTELY.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> HEY, THERE.

>> WHAT IS YOUR POSITION HERE?

>> I'M THE BANQUET CAPTAIN.

>> AH, OKAY.

AND WE'RE GETTING READY TO HAVE A BANQUET, AREN'T WE?

>> YES, A BIG ONE TONIGHT.

>> IT'S GOING TO BE A BIG ONE.

LOOK AT THIS.

THEY'RE GETTING READY FOR THE BANQUET TONIGHT TO CELEBRATE THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE OPENING OF THE HOTEL.

AND, JOE, THIS ROOM IS PROBABLY THE MOST FAMOUS ROOM IN THE HOTEL.

>> THIS ROOM WAS THE LARGEST BALLROOM EVER BUILT ON THE WEST COAST.

IT'S THE MOST FAMOUS ROOM IN THE HOTEL BECAUSE OF ITS BEAUTY AND ITS HISTORY.

IT WAS THE PLACE WHERE THE FIRST MEETING OF THE ACADEMY OF MOTION PICTURE ARTS AND SCIENCES WAS HELD.

IT WAS A PLACE WHERE "ROCKY III" WAS FILMED IN A PRIZE RINK AT THE FAR END OF THE ROOM.

IT WAS A PLACE WHERE MANY MOTION PICTURES AND MANY PRIME EVENTS HAVE TAKEN PLACE OVER TIME.

>> YEAH, BECAUSE THIS WAS PROBABLY THE ROOM WHERE ALL THE BIG CIVIC AFFAIRS, FUNCTIONS, LUNCHEONS, DINNERS WERE HELD BACK IN THE 20'S, THE 30'S, THE 40'S.

I'VE SEEN PICTURES OF THIS ROOM JUST PACKED, AND LOTS OF BLACK-TIE FUNCTIONS HERE.

>> THIS ROOM IS NOT ONLY USED FOR BLACK-TIE FUNCTIONS, IT'S USED FOR CONFERENCES.

THEY'LL SET IT UP AS AN AUDITORIUM.

IT'LL HAVE A THOUSAND SEATS IN IT TO LISTEN TO A SPEAKER.

THEY'LL SET IT UP FOR DINNER.

THEY'LL SET IT UP FOR A WEDDING WITH AN AISLE DOWN THE CENTER.

>> AND LOOK AT THIS CEILING AND THESE CHANDELIERS.

AND THIS CEILING WAS DONE BY THE SAME ARTIST FROM ITALY?

>> THIS CEILING IS ONE OF HIS PRIME WORKS.

GIOVANNI SPIRALDI, HE -- IT WAS THE LAST THING HE DID AND THE MOST BEAUTIFUL CEILING IN THE ENTIRE HOTEL.

>> AND THIS HAS BEEN RESTORED?

>> IT'S BEEN RESTORED TWICE.

ONCE HE CAME BACK IN 1947 TO HELP RESTORE IT, AND THEN AFTER HE DIED IN 1985, IN A MAJOR RESTORATION OF THE HOTEL, IT WAS REDONE AGAIN BY THE SON OF ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO WORKED ON THE ORIGINAL.

>> WELL, WE'VE GOT TO -- YOU GETTING EVERYTHING READY?

>> YES, WE ARE, SIR.

>> HOW DO YOU FEEL WORKING IN A ROOM LIKE THIS?

>> OH, IT'S GREAT.

>> YEAH.

>> YEAH, WE HAVE A LOT OF FUN HERE.

>> OKAY, YOU'RE GETTING ALL OF THE SPOTS OFF THE GLASSES?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

WE GOT TO, OTHERWISE THE BOSS GET ON ME RIGHT AWAY.

>> 'CAUSE THIS IS GOING TO BE MY TABLE TONIGHT, I KNOW.

>> OH, IS THAT YOUR TABLE?

>> YEAH.

WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS WE'RE GOING TO CUT THE CAMERA OFF RIGHT NOW, AND GOING TO PUT ON OUR BLACK TIES, AND GET READY TO COME BACK DOWN TO THIS VERY ROOM FOR THIS HISTORIC ANNIVERSARY DINNER -- BLACK-TIE DINNER -- CELEBRATING 75 YEARS OF THIS HOTEL.

>> YOU KNOW, THERE WAS ONE DISAPPOINTMENT AT THIS TABLE.

I EXPECTED THE GOLD SERVICE.

WHEN THEY REDID -- WHEN THEY REDID THE HOTEL, THEY DISCOVERED A COMPLETE GOLD SERVICE FOR THIS ROOM.

AND THEY'VE USED IT FROM TIME TO TIME.

HOWEVER, IT'S NOT EXTENSIVE ENOUGH TO SERVICE ALL OF US TONIGHT, SO THEY WENT BACK TO THE BASICS.

>> OH, WOW.

>> BUT IT WAS GOING TO BE GOLD ORIGINALLY, BUT WE HAD TOO MANY PEOPLE COMING TONIGHT.

>> WELL, IT'S GOING TO BE A BIG NIGHT TONIGHT.

IT'S TIME FOR US TO GO UPSTAIRS, NOT TO THE PRESIDENTIAL SUITE, BUT TO A MUCH SMALLER ROOM THAT WE'VE GOTTEN FOR THE EVENING TO CHANGE INTO OUR EVENING ATTIRE.

AND THE NEXT TIME YOU SEE THIS ROOM, IT'S GOING TO BE FILLED WITH VERY ELEGANT PEOPLE GETTING READY TO ENJOY A VERY ELEGANT AND HISTORIC EVENING.

[MUSIC] WELL, HERE WE ARE.

WE'RE BACK.

WE'VE CHANGED INTO OUR BLACK TIE, AND I'M STANDING HERE WITH ROGER PIGOSI.

>> THAT'S IT.

>> YOU ARE THE EXECUTIVE CHEF, AND WE ARE RECREATING THE WONDERFUL OPENING NIGHT BANQUET THAT OCCURRED IN THIS VERY ROOM 75 YEARS AGO.

>> EXACTLY.

>> AND NOT ONLY ARE WE RECREATING THE EVENT, WE'RE RECREATING THE MEAL, THE ACTUAL MEAL THEY HAD.

>> YEAH, UH-HUH.

THIS IS IT, THE ACTUAL MEAL.

AND THE TWO COURSES THAT WE'VE CHOSEN TO SHOW ARE AS AUTHENTIC AS WE COULD TELL BASED ON THE MENU THAT WE FOUND IN OUR ARCHIVES.

>> ALL RIGHT, SHOW THIS FIRST ONE TO LUIS HERE SO HE CAN GET A GOOD LOOK.

>> WELL, WE HAVE JUST SERVED A GREAT TOMATO BISQUE WITH CHICKEN CANNELS AND FRESH SPINACH, AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THE MENU SAYS.

AND I WOULD EVEN GUESS THAT OUR PRESENTATION IS PRETTY CLOSE.

I JUST DON'T -- >> HOLD IT DOWN HERE SO HE CAN SEE IT 'CAUSE THAT IS ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL.

>> AND YOU TASTED SOME BACK THERE?

>> OH, IT'S GREAT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND HERE IS THE MAIN COURSE.

NOW, WHAT HAVE WE GOT HERE ON THE MAIN COURSE?

>> THIS IS -- WE'RE DOING FRESH LOIN OF LAMB, AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT IT SAID.

IT ALSO SAID SEASONAL VEGETABLES, SO I HAVE TO THINK IT'S THE SAME TIME OF YEAR.

WE'RE VERY CLOSE ON THE VEGETABLES.

THE POTATO DESCRIPTION WAS MORE LIKE A SCALLOPED POTATO.

I WASN'T THRILLED WITH THAT.

I REALLY THOUGHT THAT THE ROASTED GARLIC MASHED POTATO WITH ROSEMARY MIGHT BE MORE OF SOMETHING THAT WE'D WANT TO DO TODAY.

>> AND THE PRESENTATION IS PROBABLY A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

THIS LOOKS LIKE A PRESENTATION FOR CALIFORNIA CUISINE RATHER THAN MAYBE KIND OF THE MEAT-AND-POTATOES LOOK THIS MIGHT HAVE HAD 75 YEARS AGO.

>> EXACTLY.

A LITTLE MORE CONTEMPORARY PRESENTATION.

>> WELL, DO YOU THINK THAT WE'RE PULLING IT OFF PRETTY MUCH THE WAY IT WAS 75 YEARS AGO?

>> SO FAR I THINK WE'VE NAILED THEM.

[LAUGHTER] >> NOW, JOHNNY, WHAT KIND OF MUSIC WOULD THEY HAVE DANCED TO, LISTENED TO, ON THIS NIGHT 75 YEARS AGO?

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, IN 1923 WHEN THEY OPENED THE HOTEL, THEY HAD SEVEN ORCHESTRAS PLAYING HERE IN DIFFERENT ROOMS BECAUSE THEY HAD SO MANY PEOPLE TO ACCOMMODATE.

BUT THE MOST FAMOUS BAND THEY BROUGHT DOWN WAS FROM SAN FRANCISCO, AND THAT WAS ART HICKMAN'S ORCHESTRA WHO WAS VERY FAMOUS AT THAT TIME.

HE WROTE "ROSE ROOM."

AND HE HAD HIS PIANIST LEAD THE BAND.

HIS PIANIST WAS EARL BURTONETT.

AND THEN ART HICKMAN HAD TO GO BACK TO SAN FRANCISCO AFTER THE HOTEL OPENED, AND SO HE LEFT -- HE LEFT HIS PIANIST DOWN HERE TO LEAD THE BAND, AND IT WAS A VERY SUCCESSFUL BAND.

AND IN -- WELL, THAT WAS JUST ABOUT THE TIME THAT RADIO STARTED, AND SOON THEY WERE BROADCASTING NIGHTLY HERE DURING THE WEEK, SIX NIGHTS A WEEK.

>> FROM THE BILTMORE HOTEL.

>> FROM THE BILTMORE HOTEL FROM 10 TO MIDNIGHT.

AND IT WAS -- EARL BURTONETT AND HIS HOTEL BILTMORE ORCHESTRA WERE A HOUSEHOLD NAME.

AND THE SINGING TRIO, THE BILTMORE TRIO, WERE JUST HOUSEHOLD NAMES AT THAT TIME.

>> WOULD THIS HAVE BEEN -- >> IT WAS A WONDERFUL BAND.

>> -- A FOX TROT?

WOULD IT HAVE BEEN -- WHAT WOULD IT -- >> FOX TROTS WERE VERY POPULAR, AND THEY RANGED IN TEMPO.

AND THERE WERE -- WALTZES WERE VERY POPULAR.

>> WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO PLAY FOR US TONIGHT?

>> WELL, I'M GOING TO PLAY A HOT FOX TROT THAT WAS ACTUALLY INTRODUCED BY EARL BURTONETT AND THE LOS ANGELES BILTMORE ORCHESTRA IN AN EARLY SOUND FILM FROM 1930 THAT WAS SHOT AT THE RIVIERA COUNTRY CLUB IN 1929, RELEASED IN 1930.

>> BOY, YOU'VE GOT YOUR HISTORY, DON'T YOU?

>> IT WAS A GREAT BAND, WONDERFUL MUSIC.

AND SO I'M THRILLED THAT YOU'RE GOING TO LET ME DO THIS.

>> YEAH.

AND LET'S -- AND THIS MUSIC WILL BE ECHOING THROUGHOUT THE CRYSTAL BALLROOM JUST LIKE IT DID.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THEY HAD NO MICROPHONES IN THOSE DAYS, YOU KNOW.

THEY -- THE ROOMS -- BALLROOMS WERE BUILT TO ACOUSTICALLY ENHANCE THE SOUND OF ACOUSTIC INSTRUMENTS.

>> ALL RIGHT, LET'S HEAR IT.

>> SO HERE WE GO.

>> LET'S HEAR IT.

>> OKAY, GUYS, HERE WE GO.

ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR.

[MUSIC] >> ON THE EVENING OF OCTOBER 2, 1923, THE BILTMORE HOTEL CELEBRATED ITS GRAND OPENING WITH A BLACK-TIE GALA AFFAIR ATTENDED BY THE LEADERSHIP OF OUR CITY, MEN AND WOMEN BURSTING WITH CIVIC PRIDE.

EXACTLY 75 YEARS LATER, OCTOBER 2, 1998, THE LOS ANGELES CONSERVANCY AND ITS MANY FRIENDS GATHERED ONCE AGAIN IN THE BILTMORE'S CRYSTAL BALLROOM TO CELEBRATE THE ANNIVERSARY OF THIS GRAND HOTEL, THIS HOTEL WHICH CONTINUES TO PLAY SUCH AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE LIFE OF OUR CITY.

CAPTIONING EQUIPMENT DONATED BY LLOYD RIGLER AND PERFORMED BY RAPIDTEXT, NEWPORT BEACH, CA.

>> VISITING WITH HUELL HOUSER IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE RALPH M. PARSONS FOUNDATION.