SANTA MONICA HISTORY MUSEUM
Cultural Center • Research Library • Photo Archives
Established 1975
Keeping History Alive
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Contact:
Louise Gabriel, President/CEO
& Founder
Eddie Guerboian, Chair
Bill Krenn
310-506-6589
bill.krenn@pepperdine.edu
Readers Fine Jewelers
Mary Ann Powell, Vice-Chair
Pacific Park - Santa Monica Pier
Becky Upchurch, Secretary
For Immediate Release
Santa Monica Bay Woman’s Club
John Bohn, Treasurer
The Bradmore Group
Judi Barker
Barker Hangar - SM Air Center
Ricardo Bandini Johnson
Bandini Foundation
Richard Lawrence
National Bank of California
Andrew Thomas
Downtown Santa Monica Inc.
“Life at the Miramar” Exhibit Set To Open June 18 At
The New Santa Monica History Museum
Rare Photographs, Documents and Artifacts Depict Life and Times at Santa Monica’s
Landmark Hotel and Attraction from the Late 1800s up to the Present
EX-OFFICIO
Kristina Andresen
Andresen Associates, AIA
Bill Krenn
Director of Public Relations
Pepperdine University
James Parr, Jr.
Certified Public Accountant
Susan Gabriel Potter
Bob Gabriel Co. - Insurance
Bob Gabriel
Honorary Posthumous
John E. Gilmore
Honorary Posthumous
STAFF
Mary Pat Cooney
Operations Manager
Dr. Andrea Engstrom
Director of Development &
Image Archives Manager
Ricardo Bandini Johnson
History Consultant
Marc Wanamaker
Film Consultant
Museum Address:
1350 7th Street
Santa Monica, California 90401
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 3059
Santa Monica, California 90408
Telephone: (310) 395-2290
Fax: (310) 395-2298
www.santamonicahistory.org
Non-profit 501(c)3
Tax ID 95-3019-295
SANTA MONICA, CALIF. (June 7, 2011) – Residents of Santa Monica as well as
visitors to the historic, picturesque seaside community will get a rare “inside glimpse” of
what life was like in the area over a century ago when a fascinating new exhibit, “Life at
the Miramar,” opens at the Santa Monica History Museum on Saturday, June 18.
The exhibit, sponsored by Fairmont Miramar Hotel and MSD Capital, L.P., was
designed by Anna Lisa DeBois, Ricardo Bandini Johnson, Ho Nguyen and Robert Baxter.
It will be open
to the public Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12 noon to 8:00 p.m. and on Wednesdays,
Fridays and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the museum’s new location on the
Santa Monica Public Library campus, 1350 Seventh Street, Santa Monica. The exhibit is
scheduled to run for several weeks. The museum is closed Sunday and Monday.
Through a collection of rarely-seen and original photographs, documents and
artifacts, the public will be able to experience the rich tapestry of the early Miramar Hotel
and the charms and attractions that it held both inside and outside its grounds for its earliest
visitors and guests.
That hotel – which residents know today as the Fairmont Miramar Hotel &
Bungalows located at 101 Wilshire Boulevard in Santa Monica – traces its beginnings
back more than a century. The early Miramar Hotel had a colorful and storied history that
is revealed in the exhibit through the lenses of different photographers, as well as in the
memorabilia and written words on display.
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Originally built in 1889 as the private residence of Santa Monica co-founder Senator John P. Jones and
his wife, Georgia, the Miramar was the center of activities and social gatherings for Senator Jones’ family and
prominent guests who vacationed there. They included many notable writers, artists and public figures such as
Susan B. Anthony and Mark Twain.
Following Senator Jones’ death, the home was converted into the Miramar Hotel in 1921. It changed
hands several times over the years, undergoing numerous renovations and design changes, often reflecting the
life and lifestyles of the rich and famous from past eras. During the “Roaring Twenties,” the Miramar became
a favorite getaway for members of Hollywood’s movie colonies, and its popularity with stars and starlets
continued for years afterwards.
Betty Grable, the poster girl for a generation of young G.I.’s during World War II, was the featured
vocalist of Joe Whidden’s big band at the Miramar Lounge in 1932. In the 1940s, the Miramar hosted
celebrities such as Randolph Scott and Dick Van Dyke.
The 1950s continued to see a steady stream of actors, writers and others flocking to the hotel, many
of them returning time and again to enjoy the property’s amenities and oceanfront views. Frequent visitors
to the Miramar included Susan Hayward and Anthony Quinn, among others. Other notables, including Lana
Turner, were married at the Miramar.
In more recent years, prominent guests have included President John F. Kennedy, Jodie Foster and
Robert Downey, Jr.
The Miramar also has long been a favorite locale for movie shoots, including “Dallas,” “Dynasty” and
“That Touch Of Mink.”
Today, the hotel basks in its ranking as one of the premier luxury hotels in the country, renowned for
combining historic elegance with modern appointments.
For more information on the exhibit, call 310-395-2290. For museum information, visit: www.
santamonicahistory.org.
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