Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel

The Roosevelt was built during Hollywood's transition from silent films to talkies, and its Spanish Colonial Revival architecture reflected the glamour and optimism of the era. The hotel's investors included some of Hollywood's most powerful figures, ensuring it would become the place to see and be seen.

The hotel's pool, the first in Hollywood, became legendary when young starlet Carole Lombard learned to swim there. The Cinegrill nightclub drew the biggest names in entertainment. The hotel's suites and rooms hosted extended stays by stars like Clark Gable, Carole Lombard, and Marilyn Monroe. Some of these celebrities formed such strong attachments to the Roosevelt that their spirits reportedly remain bound to the building where they experienced some of their happiest—and sometimes most tragic—moments.

Like much of Hollywood, the Roosevelt experienced decline in the 1960s and 1970s as the entertainment industry changed and the neighborhood deteriorated. The hotel's glory faded, and by the 1980s, it had fallen into disrepair. However, a major restoration in the 1980s and subsequent renovations have returned the hotel to its former grandeur.

Interestingly, many paranormal investigators believe that renovation and restoration work can stir up spiritual energy. Staff members report that ghostly activity at the Roosevelt increased dramatically during and after the restoration work, as if the spirits of the hotel's golden age were awakened by the building's return to its 1920s splendor.

Perhaps the most famous ghost at the Hollywood Roosevelt is Marilyn Monroe, who lived at the hotel for two years early in her career when she was still Norma Jean Baker, an aspiring model and actress. During her stay, she posed for her first magazine shoot at the hotel's pool and spent countless hours in front of a full-length mirror in a suite on the lower level.

That mirror, now displayed near the hotel's elevator on the lower level, is said to be one of the most actively haunted objects in Hollywood. Guests and staff regularly report:

• Seeing Marilyn Monroe's reflection appear in the mirror, often looking over their shoulder
• The image of a blonde woman in 1950s attire standing behind them
• Feeling a presence watching them when they pass the mirror
• Cold spots and temperature drops near the mirror
• The scent of Chanel No. 5 perfume (Marilyn's signature fragrance)
• Cameras malfunctioning or producing strange results when photographing the mirror

Guests on Ghost City Tours' Ghosts of Hollywood Tour frequently report seeing unusual reflections in the mirror, and many have captured photographs with unexplained orbs, shadows, or what appears to be a blonde woman's face. One guest reported seeing a full apparition of Marilyn Monroe in the mirror, complete with her platinum blonde hair and red lipstick, who smiled at them before fading away.

Room 928 (sometimes reported as 929 or 930, as room numbers have changed during renovations) is considered one of the most haunted hotel rooms in America. The room was a favorite of actor Montgomery Clift, who stayed there for three months in 1952 while filming 'From Here to Eternity.'

Clift, a method actor known for his intense preparation and troubled personal life, spent long hours in the room rehearsing his bugle-playing scenes for the film. He would practice the bugle repeatedly, sometimes late into the night. Tragically, Clift's life spiraled after a near-fatal car accident in 1956 left him with chronic pain and led to substance abuse. He died in 1966 at age 45.

Guests who stay in Room 928 report:

• The sound of a bugle playing in the middle of the night
• Cold spots concentrated near the closet and bathroom
• The sensation of someone sitting on the bed
• Unexplained touching or tapping on shoulders
• Items moved or rearranged overnight
• The strong scent of cologne
• Lights and electronics turning on and off
• A feeling of being watched, particularly from the closet area
• Some guests report seeing a shadowy male figure pacing the room, as if rehearsing lines

Housekeeping staff often refuse to enter the room alone, and some have reported seeing a man's silhouette in the bathroom or feeling an unseen presence brush past them. The room is so famously haunted that some guests specifically request it, hoping for a paranormal encounter, while others insist on being moved after experiencing unexplained phenomena.

The Roosevelt's pool area is haunted by the spirit of a young girl, estimated to be around 5-7 years old, who drowned there in the 1930s or 1940s. Witnesses describe her as having dark curly hair and wearing a blue or pink dress from the 1930s era.

Pool area encounters include:

• A little girl giggling or playing when no children are present
• The sensation of wet, small handprints appearing on mirrors and glass
• Pool toys or furniture moving on their own
• The sound of splashing when the pool is still
• Guests reporting a child tugging on their clothing or holding their hand
• Security cameras capturing orbs and strange light anomalies around the pool at night
• Some guests report seeing the little girl's reflection in the pool water, looking up at them

The child's spirit seems playful rather than frightening, and many witnesses describe feeling sadness rather than fear when encountering her. Staff members report that she seems to be looking for someone—perhaps her parents—and appears most frequently during the evening hours around sunset.

Numerous guests and staff have reported encounters with a well-dressed man in a dark suit from the 1920s or 1930s era, seen primarily in the hotel's lobby, Blossom Ballroom, and hallways on the upper floors. His identity remains unknown, though many speculate he could be one of several possibilities:

• A film executive or producer who frequented the hotel during its early years
• Someone who died at the hotel under mysterious circumstances
• A spirit attached to the building from its construction or early operation

Witnesses describe:

• A tall man, approximately 6 feet, in his 40s or 50s
• Wearing an old-fashioned dark suit, sometimes with a fedora hat
• Walking purposefully through the lobby as if heading to a meeting
• Disappearing when approached or called to
• Sometimes carrying what appears to be a briefcase or papers
• Occasionally seen standing at the registration desk as if checking in

One night manager reported seeing the man in the lobby after hours, walking toward the Blossom Ballroom. When the manager followed to investigate, the room was empty and locked. Security camera footage from that night showed a dark shadow passing through the lobby, but no clear human figure.

The Blossom Room (now the Blossom Ballroom), site of the first Academy Awards ceremony in 1929, experiences its own paranormal activity. This grand ballroom has hosted countless celebrations, parties, and industry events over the decades, and the concentrated emotional energy seems to have created lasting impressions.

Reported phenomena include:

• The sound of a 1920s jazz band playing when the room is empty
• Glasses clinking and party conversation heard through closed doors
• Cold spots moving through the room as if ghostly guests are mingling
• The scent of vintage perfumes and cigarette smoke from the era before smoking bans
• Applause and cheering heard late at night
• Shadowy figures in formal 1920s-1930s attire appearing along the walls
• Some report seeing what appears to be an awards ceremony or party replaying like a psychic recording

Event staff setting up for functions report feeling watched and occasionally seeing well-dressed figures from the corner of their eyes, only to find the room empty when they turn to look directly.

Ghost City Tours' Ghosts of Hollywood Tour regularly stops at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, and our tour guests have reported numerous paranormal encounters:

• Marilyn's Mirror: Countless guests have photographed the mirror and captured unexplained orbs, light anomalies, and shadowy figures. Several guests have reported seeing a blonde woman's reflection appear behind them in the mirror, matching descriptions of Marilyn Monroe.

• Lobby Encounters: Tour participants have reported sudden cold spots in the lobby, the sensation of being touched or brushed past by unseen presences, and electromagnetic field meter spikes indicating spirit activity.

• Photographic Evidence: Guest photos frequently show orbs, light streaks, and shadowy figures throughout the hotel, particularly near the mirror, in the lobby, and around the pool area.

• Personal Experiences: Guests with psychic sensitivity report feeling overwhelming emotions in certain areas—sadness near the pool, anxiety in the hallways, and a sense of excitement and celebration in the Blossom Ballroom area.

• Electronic Anomalies: Tour guests regularly experience camera malfunctions, battery drains, and phones acting strangely when inside the hotel, classic signs of paranormal activity.

One tour guest reported: 'I was skeptical until I saw her in the mirror—clear as day. A blonde woman in a white dress, smiling at me. When I turned around, no one was there. My hands were shaking so much I could barely take a picture.'

Beyond the most famous hauntings, the Roosevelt Hotel is home to numerous other reported spirits:

• Carole Lombard: The actress who learned to swim in the Roosevelt pool is occasionally reported near the pool area, though sightings are less frequent than other spirits.

• Errol Flynn: The swashbuckling actor who famously partied at the Roosevelt has been reported in the bar areas, sometimes accompanied by the scent of tobacco and alcohol.

• Betty Grable: The pin-up star is said to appear in hallways, wearing vintage 1940s attire.

• Various unnamed spirits: Staff and guests report numerous other apparitions throughout the hotel—men and women in vintage clothing from various eras, sometimes appearing as full-bodied apparitions, other times as shadows or transparent figures.

The sheer number of reported hauntings has led paranormal investigators to classify the Hollywood Roosevelt as one of the most actively haunted hotels in the United States.

The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel remains an operating luxury hotel, and guests are welcome to book rooms and experience its historic grandeur—and possibly its ghosts. The hotel's public areas, including the lobby and the famous Marilyn Monroe mirror, are accessible to visitors.

For those interested in the paranormal:

• Join Ghost City Tours' Ghosts of Hollywood Tour, which stops at the Roosevelt and provides detailed ghost stories and history
• Request Room 928 (or current equivalent) if you want to possibly experience Montgomery Clift's ghost
• Visit the lobby and Marilyn Monroe's mirror, particularly during evening hours when activity is most frequently reported
• The pool area can be viewed by hotel guests
• The hotel bar and restaurant offer opportunities to soak in the historic atmosphere

Tips for paranormal investigation:

• Bring a camera—the hotel is known for producing interesting photographic anomalies
• Early morning (2-4 AM) and twilight hours see the most activity
• EMF meters and digital recorders have captured evidence throughout the building
• Be respectful—these are believed to be the spirits of real people who loved this hotel

The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel stands as a bridge between Hollywood's glamorous past and its commercial present, where the ghosts of the golden age continue to walk the halls, forever bound to the place where they achieved fame, found love, or experienced the magic of Hollywood at its peak.