Professional Documents
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Hotel
California
Hollywood insiders spill their secrets
and never-before-told tales about
L.A.’s hottest hideout. | By Sam Wasson |
Harlow image by Photofest; Somewhere image by Merrick Morton, courtesy of Focus Features; McLaren photo by Getty Images; Newley image by John Colao
Paul Schrader (writer/director,
American Gigolo): In the early
days, I had to sleep on the sofa next
to the air conditioning because the
AC was so bad. There was a kind of
odor to the place, too.
“It’s the
home from the gym in his sweat Paris party. It was my treat every Newley: I used to hear about
adulterer’s suit, and I thanked him for a photo year—Helmut’s Christmas present Leonardo DiCaprio and what he
haven... the he had given me, and we got out to me—to sit next to [director] Billy would get up to with his friends. He
and I left. A few hours later I came Wilder, on his good side, because he and his entourage were like a pack
husband would back and his car had crashed. There could only hear out of one ear. of wolves with the young girls.
move out, stay was the car with flowers around it.
Freeman: Billy Wilder said that Kahn: When I first came in the
at the Chateau, Jan Sharp (producer, Wide when he first got to L.A. he was so ’60s, if you went to a party and
have an affair Sargasso Sea): Every year Helmut broke he had to live in the lounge decided you had too much to drink,
and [his wife] June would come of the ladies’ bathroom in the you could call the Chateau garage
and then come and throw a party. We used to call Chateau’s lobby. It’s become a part and they’d send a car with two
back home.” it “The Festival of Helmut and of Hollywood folklore and it may drivers to pick you up and drive
Photo by Idris Erba
June.” Men wore black-tie and we even be true. your car back. I know some writers
–Paul Schrader all got dressed up as if it were a continued on page xxx...