LMU | LA - Loyola Marymount University

  • LMU home
  • contact
  • mylmu
Burk Papers HomeManuscripts HomeArchives and Special Collections Home


Library > Collections > Archives and Special Collections > Manuscripts > Margaret Tante Burk Papers > Margaret Tante Burk Papers. Series 5: Subseries B. Ambassador Hotel and Cocoanut Grove

Margaret Tante Burk Papers. Series 5: Subseries B. Ambassador Hotel and Cocoanut Grove

Collection 084

 

Series 5. Subseries B. Photographs: Ambassador Hotel and Cocoanut Grove

 

SUBSERIES SIZE: 3 archival document boxes; 4 oversize boxes, 2 items in one map case drawer
SUBSERIES DATES: 1921-1987

 

Series 5 consists of photographs, negatives, and color transparencies of the Ambassador Hotel and the Cocoanut Grove that Margaret Tante Burk collected over her long association with these businesses. The photographs are both black and white and color, and range in size from 3x5 color polaroids to panoramic black and white photographs. Professional photographers such as Darlene Hammond and Irv Antler were responsible for the photographs; besides professional photographers, many of the photographs are personal, shot by such persons as Margaret Tante Burk herself. Loyola Marymount University does not assume copyright responsibility for these photographs or other images and will not reproduce them.

 

Series 5 has been divided into two subseries; this description is for Subseries B. Subseries B contains photographs and transparencies of the grounds, buildings, and facilities of the Ambassador Hotel as well as events held at the Hotel. Photographs include the Hotel's bungalows, courtyards and gardens, rooms, swimming pool, and dining rooms, such as the Venetian Room. The chronological span of the photographs of the layout and grounds of the Hotel reaches from the 1920s to the 1980s, thereby providing an excellent overview of what a luxury hotel looked like in Los Angeles over the course of the twentieth century. In particular the photographs of the Hotel made in the 1940s by Metro–Goldwyn-Mayer (cf. Box 3) document in detail the facilities and operations of a luxury hotel.

 

The photographs of this series also richly document the Cocoanut Grove, the world-famous nightclub that was part of the Ambassador Hotel. These photographs include the interior and exterior of the Grove in its first manifestation from 1921 to 1957, the year of its first remodel, and then its renovation in the early 1970s by Sammy Davis, Jr., among others.

 

This subseries also documents hotel activities, such as employee awards or managerial staff on the job at the Ambassador Hotel.

 

BOX/FOLDER     

CONTENT  DATES 
1/1 Rose Room (conference room) early 1960s
1/2 Aerial photographs (12) of Ambassador Hotel and surrounding area. 1 Contact sheet re same undated
1/3 "Ambassador plunge" (hotel swimming pool), including opening day of plunge, 3 black and white photographs, one dated 1937. 5 black and white photographs, 1 color photograph, Ambassador Hotel swimming pool (modern). 1 color negative of swimming pool 1937
1/4 Entrance to French Room; with publicity blurb; interior of Frenchette Room. 2 black and white photographs early 1960s
1/5 Site plan for "Phase III" of Ambassador International undated
1/6 Sunset Room. 5 photographs early 1960s
1/7 Regency Room, Regency Room foyer. 6 black and white photographs early 1960s
1/8 Garden Room early 1960s
1/9 Hotel room. 2 black and white photographs early 1960s
1/10 Dining room. 1 black and white photograph. Dining room with faux beach scene. 1 black and white photograph undated
1/11 "Ambassador Ballroom." 16 black and white photographs. 1 color photograph early 1960s
1/12 Hotel bedrooms. 4 black and white photographs, 2 color photographs early 1960s
1/13 Gold Room. 2 photographs undated
1/14 Convention center foyer undated
1/15 Ambassador Ballroom with Ford car show undated
1/16 Venetian Room. 3 photographs undated
1/17 Ambassador Hotel bungalows. 3 black and white photographs undated
1/18 Ambassador Hotel helicopter pad. 6 black and white photographs. 1 color photograph undated
1/19 Barbershop, Casino Floor; boutiques, flower shops. 5 photographs undated
1/20 Front entrance of Ambassador Hotel. 8 black and white photographs. 3 color photographs undated
1/21 Wedding cake. Punch bowl arrangement undated
1/22 Suite bar and kitchen. 3 photographs undated
1/23 Grove Lounge. 4 photographs undated
1/24 Exhibit room undated
1/25 Street-level photograph of Ambassador Hotel entrance (Wilshire Boulevard). Ambassador Hotel exterior shot, from across Wilshire Boulevard. 3 photographs undated
1/26 Conference room undated
1/27 Garden Room. Colonial Room early 1960s
1/28 Dalphin Court. 2 black and white photographs undated
1/29 Movie theater. 3 photographs. Unidentified stage. 1 black and white photograph. Lounge. 1 black and white photograph undated
1/30 Dalphin Court. 2 black and white photographs undated
1/31 Construction of the new Cocoanut Grove (interior). 4 photographs. 7 photographs of drawings of renovated Cocoanut Grove and Ambassador Hotel undated
1/32 Ambassador Hotel coffee shop probably 1920s
1/33 Wedding chamber undated
1/34 East view of the Ambassador Hotel. 3 photographs undated
1/35 Ambassador Hotel garden/courtyard and back view. 5 photographs undated
1/36 5 4x6 color photographs: grounds, foyer, swimming pool undated
1/37 Ambassador Hotel lobby. 3 photographs. Lily decoration in hotel lobby. 1 photograph undated
1/38 Ambassador Hotel drugstore undated
1/39 Ambassador Hotel "beach," by swimming pool undated
1/40 Ambassador Hotel parking lot 1940s
1/41 Hotel room bedroom and living room. 2 color photographs, 11 black and white photographs undated
1/42 Front view of Ambassdor Hotel 1940s
1/43 Buffet table. Buffet offering. 2 black and white photographs undated
1/44 Ambassador Hotel entrance, with doorman. 2 black and white photographs undated
1/45 Palm trees at Ambassador Hotel undated
1/46 View of Wilshire Boulevard, east, from Kenmore. Wilshire at June Street looking northwest. Wilshire looking east from Wilshire place, near Virgil. Wilshire and La Brea. Copies from Security Pacific National Bank collection. Unidentified Los Angeles street 1930
1/47 Ambassador Hotel golf course probably 1940s
1/48 Buffet and Christmas banquet displays. 2 black and white photographs, 9 color photographs. 1 color negative undated
1/49 Patio dining area. 2 black and white photographs undated
1/50 The Grove. 2 color photographs, 1 color diptych undated
1/51 Embassy Room. 16 black and white photographs, 2 color photographs undated
1/52 Cocoanut Grove neon sign. 2 black and white photographs. Sign for the new Grove. 1 black and white photograph undated
1/53 Three Rolls Royces at entrance to Ambassador Hotel undated
1/54 Boulevard Room. 2 photographs undated
1/55 Presidential Suite undated
1/56 Close-up of front entrance to Ambassador Hotel undated
1/57 Conference room undated
1/58 Dining room(?). 5 black and white photographs undated
1/59 Foyer of hotel bedroom. Living room of suite (color). 3 black and white photographs, living rooms of suites undated
1/60 Front view of Ambassador Hotel. 2 black and white photographs undated
1/61 Front views of early Ambassdor Hotel. 3 black and white photograph 1921-1950
1/62 Front views of Ambassador Hotel. 2 black and white photographs. 1 color photograph. 3 black and white photographic reproductions of drawings of Ambassador Hotel undated
1/63 Interior of Cocoanut Grove. 3 black and white photographs undated
1/64 Entrance to the new Grove. 2 5x7 black and white photographs undated
1/65 Cocoanut Grove, interior. 2 color photographs. 11 black and white photographs 1920s-1957
1/66 Interior and exterior of Ambassador Hotel and the Grove. 19 color photographs undated
1/67 Bungalow patio; patio with buffet; living room; bedroom 1969
1/68 Employees dining hall(?) undated
1/69 Dining areas of Ambassador Hotel. 5 black and white photographs undated
1/70 Helicopter landing at pad at Ambassador Hotel. From folder: "Astros and Aeros." Dirigible race at Los Angeles Aviation Meet (1910). Negatives of photographs of Ambassador Hotel 1910 (of original)
1/71 Public relations photographs of Ambassador Hotel and facilities. 21 black and white photographs probably 1970s
1/72 Ambassador Hotel exteriors, grounds, rooms, facilities, activities. Negatives undated
1/73 Grove entrance. Color negatives. undated
1/74 Grove entrance, advertising, and front sign. Freddy Martin and his Cocoanut Grove orchestra. Billboard advertising Cocoanut Grove. Publicity blurb for New Year's Eve celebration at the Grove undated
2/1 Car show on grounds of Ambassador Hotel. 1953
2/2 Easter party on north lawn 1950s
2/3 Campfire Girls' conference, Ambassador Hotel. Dolly Dunham coordinator undated
2/4 Boxing exhibition on the grounds of the Ambassador Hotel. Margaret Tante Burk (right) undated
2/5 Exhibit booths for conventions. 2 color photographs. 3 black and white photograph. Persian rug bazaar undated
2/6 The "Palm Bar", with Jim Rychley, Cesar Sandoval, Carl Ezell and their awards. 1 4x6 black and white photograph. "Down Under" bar; with bartenders, hostesses and entertainer. 2 5x7 black and white photograph undated
2/7 American Legion banquet for Marshal Ferdinand Foch 1921
2/8 Reed Hixon, director of gift shows (right), Hugh Wiley, president of Ambassador Hotel 1971
2/9 Margaret Tante Burk (left), with art exhibitors undated
2/10 (right) Hugh Wiley, president of Ambassador Hotel, with unidentified woman undated
2/11 (left-right) Jerry Johnson, president of Sight and Sound Enterprises; Jimmy Henderson, orchestra leader; John Mace, Ambassador Hotel general manager. Promotional photograph for re-opening of the Grove undated
2/12 John Mace (right), Ambassador Hotel general manager with unidentified man, in front of Ambassador Hotel seal. 2 black and white photographs. John Mace (right), with unidentified man, in front of Ambassador Hotel entrance. 1 black and white photograph undated
2/13 Hugh Wiley, president of Ambassador Hotel, with unidentified hotel employee. Hugh Wiley with unidentified person. Man with awards certificate undated
2/14 Hotel buffet line, with guests. 2 black and white photographs undated
2/15 Hotel guests in hotel coffee shop undated
2/16 Hotel guests checking in and at poolside. 4 black and white photographs undated
2/17 Unidentified hotel function. 2 black and white photographs undated
2/18 Hugh Wiley, president of Ambassador Hotel (right), Anne-Marie Bennstrom, director of the Ambassador/Sanctuary. Wiley and Bennstrom poolside. undated
2/19 "Farmer's Daughters" finalist, with assistant vice president undated
2/20 Hotel guests checking in. undated
2/21 First banquet at Ambassador Hotel. Los Angeles Realty Board. Reproduction, 2 copies. Formal ball at Ambassador. "Plantation Night" at Ambassador 1921 (of original)
2/22 Car show on grounds of Ambassador Hotel. 3 black and white photographs. 1 color photograph undated
2/23 Publicity photograph for remodeling of Cocanut Grove in 1957 1957
2/24 Christmas party for children 1986
2/25 Headdress ball at Cocoanut Grove 1956
2/26 Margaret Tante Burk (center) with Ambassador Hotel shuttle cart. 2 black and white photographs. Burk at functions on hotel grounds. 3 black and white photographs 1974
2/27 Animal rights protestors at Ambassador Hotel. 2 photographs. Performers dressed as animals at Grove. 1 black and white photograph undated
2/28 Lions Club International. 3 black and white photographs undated
2/29 Advertising photograph for Gus Arnheim and his orchestra at Ambassador Hotel neon sign. Volkswagen promotional stunt. 1920s
2/30 Hotel restaurant 1970s
2/31 Japanese women at Ambassador Hotel for event undated
2/32 Easter egg hunt on grounds of Ambassador Hotel. 5 black and white photographs undated
2/33 Christmas party for children undated
2/34 "League of American Women for the Return of Femininity" event at Ambassador Hotel. 1 black and white photograph. 1 color photograph 1978
2/35 The gardener at the Ambassador Hotel receiving an award from the city undated
2/36 Unidentified Ambassador Hotel groups and employees. 3 photographs. Entrance to Cocoanut Grove. 1 color photograph undated
2/37 Exhibit booths on Ambassador Hotel grounds; 2 black and white photographs and plan for layout of exhibit booths. "R.P.W.D.A." exhibit tent on hotel grounds 1940s
2/38 Jurors for Charles Manson trial at Ambassador Hotel. 4 13x9 photographs 1970 or 1971
2/39 Press conferences at the Ambassador Hotel undated
2/40 Hugh Wiley, president of Ambassador Hotel, with Native American group. Contact sheet. Negative undated
2/41 Marching band in front of Ambassador Hotel before 1970
2/42 John Mace (center), Ambassador Hotel general manager, with hotel guests at dinner table. Margaret Tante Burk on hotel groudns with guest. 2 black and white photographs undated
2/43 Hugh Wiley, president of Ambassador Hotel, with patent engineer testing oil location device. Bill Bush receiving Gold Circle Award (with Rudy Vallee) undated
2/44 Equestrian event on Ambassador Hotel grounds. Scottish dinner at Ambassador Hotel. Bill undated
2/45 Ambassador Hotel mailroom 1988
2/46 Owen Sloan, Towyna Tacmas, Margaret Tante Burk, others. Senior Citizens contest undated
2/47 Unidentified persons, events at Ambassador Hotel. 55 color transparencies. Ronald Reagan press conference at Ambassador Hotel. 19 color transparencies. 7 color transparencies of promotional material for Judy Garland appearance at the Grove. Ambassador Hotel dinner re Marines Corps founding. 11 color transparencies 1979-1981
2/48 2 Ektachrome transparencies: Ambassador Hotel flower bed; entrance to the Grove. 27 color transparencies of Ambassador Hotel exteriors, grounds, rooms, facilities. 12 2.75 x 2.75 color transparencies of Ambassador Hotel exteriors,grounds, rooms, facilities undated
3/1 MGM Art Department photograph album of Ambassador Hotel: banquet rooms, hallways, vault, foyer 1951
3/2 "US-Hotels--Calif. Los Angeles--Ambassador (Ambassador Hotel 1941)." Inscription on verso of cover: "20 8x10 stills Shot by Loca. Dept. Negs. Sent to Research." MGM Art Department photograph album of Ambassador Hotel; includes exteriors of grounds, facilities, neighborhood 1941
3/3 "US-Hotels--Calif. Los Angeles--Ambassador." MGM Art Department photograph album of Ambassador Hotel; includes floor plans, exteriors of grounds of Hotel. 2 loose black and white photographs 1927-1940
3/4 28 photographs of the lobby, dining room, kitchen exterior, storefront, Cocoanut Grove entrance undated
3/5 13 photographs of lobby, room interiors, exterior façade, walkways, storefront undated
3/6 9 color photographs of exterior walkways and gardens, and interior lounge area undated
3/7 8 x 10 sepia photograph of H.L. Johnson parachuting onto the grounds of the Ambassador undated
3/8 3 x 3/12 photograph of Ambassador Hotel, 5 x 7 black and white photograph of construction work done at the Ambassador undated
3/9 6 8 x 10 black and white photographs of the exterior and interior of Cocoanut Grove. Also, a letter to a photographer who provided photographs of Gloria Swanson undated
3/10 Color photographs of banquest at Cocoanut Grove. Color transparencies from slide box labelled "Ambassador Exterior Shots" undated
1ov/1 Mounted photographs of Ambassador Hotel swimming pool and Cocoanut Grove, by Research Department of MGM. 10 photographs 1948
1ov/2 Aerial view of Ambassador Hotel. Exterior photographs of Ambassador Hotel; 5 black and white photographs. undated
1ov/3-5 Interior photographs of the Cocoanut Grove and the Grove. 14 black and white photographs, 1 color photograph undated
1ov/6 Enlarged photostatic copy of Los Angeles Times article on the opening of the Ambassador Hotel 1921 (of original)
2ov/1 12x 20 photographs. Armistice fashion review (1926). Variety Clubs of Southern California … banquet; 2 photographs (1948). A. T. banquet (1929). Harvest Festival agents banquet (1950). Presidential tribute dinner: Harry S. Truman (1948) 1926-1950
2ov/2 10x20 photographs. Rupert Hughes testimonial dinner; 3 photographs (1950). Delphian Chapters Assembly (1949). Teamsters No. 42 Dinner re Dave Beck (1947). Los Angeles Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women (1949). National Schools Christmas Party; 2 photographs (1949). 1949-1950
2ov/3 10x 20 photographs. Vice-President Alben W. Barkley luncheon (Cocanut Grove; 1949). President Harry S. Truman and Vice-president Alben W. Barkley tribute dinner (1948). Independent paint dealers officers installation (1949). Frigidaire Corporation sales convention (Cocanut Grove; 1948). Southern California Pharmaceutical Association (1950) 1948-1950
2ov/4 10x20 photographs. Senator Jack Tenney testimonial dinner (1949). Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Second Annual Awards Dinner (1950). American Public Power Association Sixth Annual Banquet (1949) 1949-1950
2ov/5 10X20 photographs. National Terrazzo and Mosaic Association Annual Convention Banquet (1950). Texaco 25 Year Service Club Service Award Dinner (1950). Ford Dealers' Operation Profit Luncheon (1950). Electrolux Sales Meeting Southern California Salesmen (1949). Building Contractors Association of California Special Dinner Meeting Honoring Rodney M. Lockwood (1949) 1949-1950
2ov/6 10x20 photographs. Institute of Aeronautical Sciences Annual Summer Meeting Dinner (1949). Institute of Aeronautical Sciences Annual Summer Meeting Dinner (1950). Los Angeles Times Award of Merit Sixth Annual National Sports Awards Dinner (1948). Women's Breakfast Club Annual Christmas Party for the Salvation Army Day Nursery (1949). Electrolux Corporation Southern California Sales Conference (1951). 1948-1951
2ov/7 10x20 photographs. Los Angeles Times Award of Merit 7th Annual National Sports Awards Dinner (1949). Women's Breakfast Club Annual Christmas Party for the Salvation Army Day Nursery (1949). Employees Christmas Party given by Mr. Stanley (1951). Lumbermen's Annual Meeting and Trade Show Hawaiian Dinner Dance (1951) 1949, 1951
2ov/8 10x20 photographs. International Stewards and Caterers' Association 48th Annual Convention Installation of 1950-51 Officers (1950). Alumni Association College of Medical Evangelists Women's Auxiliary Luncheon (1950). Sailer Coach Association Demer Luncheon and Sales Clinic (1949). California State Chapter of the American Academy of General Practice First Annual Banquet (1949) 1949-1950
2ov/9 10x20 photographs. Paramount Pictures National Sales Conference (1950). Greater Los Angeles Chapter of the National Safety Council Industrial Safety Contest Award Dinner (1950). Hudson Motor Car Company event (undated). Los Angeles Unit of the Superior Sleeprite Company dinner(1947). California State Hotel Association luncheon (1951). 1947-1951
2ov/10 10x20 photographs. Testimonial dinner for Herschel Blewett Auto Editor Herald Express and Lynn Rogers Auto Editor L.A. Times (1948). Institute of Aeronautical Sciences Annual Summer Meeting Dinner (1948). Manager and Department Heads Ambassador Hotel (1921). Los Angeles Realty Board banquet (1920). ABA Formal Ball (1921). 1920-1921, 1948
2ov/11 10x20 photographs. Merchants and Manufacturers Association of Los Angeles Annual Banquet (1921). American Legion Banquet to Marshal Ferdinand Foch (1921). Motion Picture Industry Dinner to Will H. Hays (1922). Washington Birthday Night Party (1922). Merchants and Manufacturers Association Annual Banquet (1922-1923) 1921-1923
2ov/12 10x20 photographs. Los Angeles Gas and Electric Corporation Old Guard Banquet (1924). Abe Lymans Farewell (1925). Los Angeles Automobile Trades Association and National Automotive Equipment Association Meeting (1926). Pacific International Photographers Association Third Annual Convention Banquet (1927). Colonel Charles A. Lindberg banquet (1927)  
2ov/13 10x20 photographs. Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet (1926). Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet (1928). Pacific Coast Section AAPG-SEPM-SEG Annual Luncheon (1949). Association of Western Hospitals banquet (1951). Untitled (undated). 1926-1951
2ov/14 10x20 photographs. Oldsmobile Banquet (undated). Empty Ballroom (Undated). Academy Awards (1940). Art Hickman Orchestra opening night (undated; 2 copies). 1940
2ov/15 10x20 photographs. Tuesday Evening Venetian Night (undated). Cocoanut Grove (undated). Banquet (undated). Untitled (undated). undated
3ov 80 black and white photographs of Ambassador Hotel grounds, facilities, rooms, and Cocoanut Grove celebrities and facilities. Separated from photograph album by unknown person. Photocopies of photographs by unknown person. 1940s
4ov/1 10x20 photographs. So. Calif. Radio and Electrical Appliance Associationn. Firestone Tires and Rubber Company Testimonial Banquet honoring Governor Culbert L. Olson. National Office Machine Dealers Association 16 x 20 aerial view of Ambassodor looking southeast 1942-1950
4ov/2 10 x 20 photographs. Business Management Council. Nationall Associationn of Music Merchants. Texaco Twenty-Five Year Service Club. The Writers (First Annual) Cramp! 1921-1951
Map case Mounted photographic reproduction of Los Angeles Times article on opening of Ambassador Hotel. Damaged undated
Map case Panoramic photograph of Ambassador Hotel. RESTRICTED: Fragile undated

 

  • Telephone 310.338.2788
  • School 1 LMU Drive, Los Angeles, California 90045
  • Email Contact

  • Employment at LMU
  • Emergency Info
  • Copyright + Privacy
  • LMU Site Index
  • Library Site Map
  • Campus Maps

© 2012 Loyola Marymount University