Anyone who lives in Los Angeles can tell you that despite the city’s reputation as the promised land of the entertainment industry, there’s a darkness that looms over the town like a dense fog. For every new restaurant that pops up, there’s a bar or hotel that seems to radiate a sad evil from its insides. One of those places is the Chateau Marmont, a hotel that caters to those members of the celebrity elite who either want to block out the outside world, or get up to no good without being surrounded by cameras. There’s such a wealth of Chateau Marmont stories that you could almost build a secret history of Hollywood with them, and we’ll tell you some of the best tales on this list of the insane things that really happened at the Chateau Marmont.
The famous people at Chateau Marmont range from actors to musicians and even photographers. While you’re probably aware of at least one of the Chateau Marmont deaths, but there are definitely more than coked out comedians hanging out in the hotel. Modern Chateau Marmont celebrities are a special brand of star, they long for the golden age of Hollywood when you could have a drink (or a speedball) in private, and when you could still drive a motorcycle through a hotel without anyone batting an eye. The stories of famous people at the Chateau Marmont are anything but your normal Hollywood gossip, and the craziest stories are all here for your reading pleasure.
http://www.ranker.com/list/crazy-chateau-marmont-stories/jacob-shelton,
F. Scott Fitzgerald Had a Heart Attack in Front of the Hotel
There are varying reports on where exactly this story took place - some say the lobby, while others say in front of the hotel. But in the late '30s, after suffering a myriad of losses in Hollywood, F. Scott Fitzgerald had a heart attack somewhere on the grounds of the hotel after suffering yet another blow to his career.
James Dean Jumped Through One of the Windows
While auditioning with Natalie Wood for what would be his break out part in Rebel Without a Cause, James Dean jumped through a window to impress director Nicholas Ray. The stunt must have worked, because the rest is history.
Howard Hughes Spied on Women Sitting Poolside
Out of all the stories about celebrities in the Chateau, this is one of the strangest and more than likely embellished. Allegedly, whenever he stayed in Los Angeles, Howard Hughes would rent Room 64, a two bedroom penthouse, with the perfect view for spying on starlets lounging at the pool.
Helmut Newton Crashed His Car Into the Hotel and Died
Aside from John Belushi, the only other life that the Chateau has definitely claimed is that of famed photographer Helmut Newton, who lost control of his car while leaving the hotel in 2004 and slammed into a wall. He died later that day at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
Jim Morrison May Have Fallen Off the Roof
It was the beginning of the end for Jim Morrison when he stayed at the Chateau Marmont. One harrowing story that's seen a few different versions is of Morrison either climbing onto a roof, or onto his terrace and trying to swing into his room, only to slip and fall on his back, injuring himself in the process. The singer claimed that his time spent at the hotel used up "eight of my nine lives."
John Belushi Died of a Drug Overdose in Bungalow 3
Perhaps the most famous, and unfortunate, tale that ever took place in the Chateau Marmont is that of John Belushi's death. According to a court report, Belushi was mixing heroin and cocaine (a combo known as a speed ball) on the night of death and died in his sleep.
Jean Harlow Had an Affair With Clark Gable
In classic Hollywood style, Jean Harlow (of Hell's Angels and Saratoga fame) had a wild affair with Clark Gable at the hotel in 1933, while she was supposed to be on her honeymoon with cinematographer Harold Rosson (her third husband). After that affair ended, she would allegedly leave messages at the front desk, saying, “Gone fishing,” when she went on the hunt for men to bed.
Lindsay Lohan Charged $46,000 to Her Room
If the stories on this list tell you anything, it's that it's really hard to get banned from the Chateau Marmont - unless you're Lindsay Lohan. In 2012, the troubled actress ran up a $46,000 bill at the hotel for everything from her standard room fee to cigarettes and even Architectural Digest.
Britney Spears Smeared Food on Her Face
We all remember the strange days of 2007, when Britney Spears was smack dab in the middle of a psychotic breakdown. Even though her head shaving gets most of the attention, one episode that deserves discussion is a meal at the Chateau Marmont where the "Toxic" singer reportedly began to smear food on her face until she was ejected from the restaurant.
John Bonham Drove a Motorcycle Through the Lobby
Much like every Led Zeppelin story, this tale has been repeated so many times that it's impossible to separate fact from fiction. Allegedly, Zep's drummer, John Bonham, drove a Harley (his 25th birthday present) through the hallway of the hotel.