Experience Old Hollywood’s Hidden Oasis:
Palm Springs
Tara Luther
Share this article:
Hollywood began from simple roots and was once a sleepy farm town until the movie makers moved in. Yet, in the span of a decade, humble apple orchards became movie production companies, and actors and starlets had taken over. The early 1920’s was a time of prosperity, and Americans loved to go to the movie theater. By 1929, there were 25,000 cinemas in the country and an average of 100 million Americans went to the movies on a weekly basis.
Stars like Rudolph Valentino, Clara Bow, John Barrymore, Mary Astor, and Charlie Chaplin became household names. Many early actors had “morals” clauses in their contracts, restricting their actions within 100 miles of the studio, and causing them to flee to Palm Springs.
As with many things, the truth is not so scandalous. Often, actors were under contract to stay within driving distance of the studio in the event of reshoots, and due to the proximity of Los Angeles and the relaxing environment, many chose to take up residence in the oasis of Palm Springs. In fact, Palm Springs became known as Hollywood’s Playground.
As more and more actors flocked to the Coachella Valley, a neighborhood of stars was developed in the 1930’s and 1940’s. Termed “The Movie Colony”, the area is named for those who called it home, such as Cary Grant, Dinah Shore, Van Johnson, Tony Curtis, Gloria Swanson, and Jack Benny. Located in central Palm Springs, the neighborhood now consists of four hotels, two parks, and 170 homes (some of which were designed by renowned Modernist architects like E. Stewart Williams, William Cody, and Donald Wexler). Frank Sinatra made the neighborhood “his” in the 1950’s when his Twin Palms Estate became known as party central. He even had a flag adorned with a martini that would be raised to indicate he was in town and the drinks were flowing.
While the times have changed, you can still get a sense of what it was like to be a star in Hollywood’s Playground. Start your day by joining a tour of the former homes of celebrities led by Desert Adventures Jeep Tours. Begin at Frank Sinatra’s party pad, and work your way through the homes of Elizabeth Taylor, Elvis Presley, Debbie Reynolds, Kirk Douglas, Ann Miller, Katherine Hepburn, and Liberace. If a tour isn’t enough to sate your appetite, some homes are for rent.
Next, take a stroll downtown where Palm Springs hosts its own “Walk of Stars”. Three hundred gold stars embed the sidewalks and immortalize notable people who have lived in the Palm Springs area. Or, drive through town and take note of the street signs paying homage to the stars, such as Frank Sinatra Drive, Gene Autry Trail, or Jack Benny Road.
If you’re feeling adventurous, saddle up like a cowboy in a Western movie at Smoke Tree Stables and explore the trails among the palms, just like Cary Grant used to do. Or venture to the outskirts of Palm Springs and hop on the aerial tramway which takes you to the top of Mt. San Jacinto and provides stunning views of the Coachella Valley below.
Less than an hour north of Palm Springs lies Joshua Tree National Park. Reminiscent of Dr. Seuss’ Truffula trees, the park’s namesake yucca tree inhabits a unique landscape that has been a favorite backdrop of filmmakers filled with nature trails among large desert rocks.
Finish your day with a dip in the pool and head out to dinner at any number of famous establishments. Try the risotto with mushrooms at the Purple Room, a supper club with a swanky, 1960’s vibe where the Rat Pack once dined. If you prefer seafood, head to top-rated Copley’s on Palm Canyon, which was once a guesthouse on Cary Grant’s estate, and sample the ahi tacos. Or, check out Melvyn’s, located in the Inglenook Inn, a hotel built in the 1920’s. An homage to old-school continental dining, it was favorited by Frank Sinatra, and you can still order his favorite dish, Steak Diane, prepared tableside.
This September, help us celebrate the 30th anniversary of The International Symposium on Human Identification, which will be held in the Palm Springs Convention Center. Kirk Douglas once said, “If you want to see a star, don’t go to Hollywood. Come to Palm Springs.” It was true in the 1920’s, and it’s still true today. One look at the tranquil sunset over the purple mountains surrounding the valley, and you’ll know why.