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Community Corner

Century Plaza Hotel Celebrates 45th Anniversary

This favorite venue for presidential stays as well as fundraisers and Hollywood parties opened on June 1, 1966.

A Century City landmark that has hosted a parade of celebrities, dignitaries and world leaders including several sitting presidents celebrated its 45th anniversary Wednesday.

Built on the site of the 20th Century Fox movie ranch, the Century Plaza, now under Hyatt management, debuted as the “World’s Most Beautiful Hotel” on June 1, 1966.

“That’s one of the things that makes this hotel special—the people who have passed through here,” said general manager David Horowitz. “You meet political figures, Hollywood stars, corporate people—it runs the gamut.”

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In 1969, President Nixon hosted a “Dinner of the Century” at the hotel to honor the Apollo 11 astronauts, and President Reagan spent so much time at the Century Plaza that it was dubbed “The Western White House.” 

“We haven’t gotten Barack Obama to stay here yet, but he has worked out at our Equinox Fitness Club,” Horowitz said. “We were also the host hotel for Obama’s winning presidential election night and we had about 5,000 people here that night. The hotel was bursting at the seams with people celebrating. It was amazing.”

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The Century Plaza does many Hollywood events as well as hundreds of fundraisers every year, Horowitz said.

Doorman James Lee, 66, started out at the hotel as a parking attendant 43 years ago when he was in college and decided to stay because the money was good and it was a nice place to work.

“I get to meet lots of different people from all walks of life, so on the whole, I’ve had a wonderful time here,” Lee said.

Lee has also seen a lot of interesting things, from the shortest man in the world, who was 14 inches tall, to Vietnam War protests, to Whoopi Goldberg arriving at a fundraiser done up as a car hood ornament.

“She was riding on the hood of a limousine and she was all painted out in silver, so I was pretty surprised to see that,” Lee said.

Over the years, Lee has collected autographs for his wife, whom he describes as an “autograph hound.” He has snagged signatures from a slew of celebrities including James Garner, Danny DeVito, Gregory Peck and Clark Gable.

“She has quite a collection now,” he said.

While many things have changed at the Century Plaza, one thing has remained the same: the hotel’s ballroom.

“It’s an incredible venue for events because we have three tiers so that people in the back can see, and we also have a stage,” Horowitz said. “So that’s one of the iconic things we have that has stayed the same over the years.”

There is also one employee who has worked for the hotel since it opened in 1966.

“Leo Vigil is one of our service waiters and one of the reasons he doesn’t retire is because he just loves being around people,” Horowitz said. “He’s somewhere north of 70 years old, but he still comes here every morning.”

To celebrate its 45th sapphire anniversary, the Century Plaza is offering special room rates and drink prices. Breeze Restaurant, the hotel’s signature eatery, is serving 1960s inspired specials and desserts.

For more information, call the hotel at 310-228-1234 or visit www.centuryplaza.hyatt.com.

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