Celebrities Used To Flock To This California Desert Town To Experience An Escape From Hollywood
By Natasha Kayes|Published January 19, 2023
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Natasha Kayes
Author
I was born and raised in sunny Southern California and will never tire of the West Coast, although I spent several years living in Southeast Asia, about as far from California as you can get. Wherever I am in the world, I love straying from the beaten path, experiencing local life, and discovering hidden gems - camera in hand. The beach is my happy place and when I am not there (or writing), you will usually find me baking, watching movies, and cuddling my pugs. I have traveled around the country and around the world, and it never, ever gets old. Being able to combine my passion for travel and my love of writing is nothing short of a dream.
At some point, everyone needs a getaway, and this is no less true of the rich and famous. For many who found work, fame, and popularity in tinsel-town, getting away for a break – and some much-needed privacy – meant heading out to this desert town in Southern California, which had once been just a quiet rest stop on the way to Los Angeles.
Between the 1930s and 1950s, Palm Springs became the place for Hollywood A-listers to steal away between shoots and gigs, especially in the winter months.
The gorgeous weather, wide open spaces, and stunning mountain views were obvious draws to this desert town, as was the legendary "two-hour rule." At some point, actors’ contracts started to include a requirement that they had to remain within a two-hour drive of Los Angeles during production. Palm Springs was just close enough to be a Hollywood oasis.
Houses, like the 1937 Miller House, were commissioned by many celebs for use as vacation homes. This type of design, now called Desert Modernism, became very popular.
Bob Hope, the so-called Rat Pack, Nat King Cole, and many others bought or commissioned houses in Palm Springs. Elvis Presley honeymooned with Priscilla Presley in Palm Springs and later owned a home in town.
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So many Hollywood actors had weekend and vacation homes in one neighborhood that it is now known as The Movie Colony. It is here where Twin Palms, the house with the piano-shaped pool, was commissioned by Frank Sinatra in the 1940s. Sinatra lived here for several years before selling it, and now it can be rented for special events.
In the early 1950s, Hollywood producer Jack Wrather and his wife, actress Bonita Granville, had the L’Horizon Hotel built. They wanted a resort where they could host friends and family member, and host they did.
What is now known as the Indian Canyon Golf Resort was once called Canyon Country Club. While staying in Palm Springs during winter, Hollywood celebrities like Bob Hope, Jackie Gleason, and Frank Sinatra could often be found at the club.
In the 1930s, prior to her TV fame, Lucille Ball was photographed at El Mirador Hotel. The photo became iconic for the connection between Hollywood glamour and this desert town.
After marrying Desi Arnaz, the couple regularly spent time in Palm Springs. Desi even played with his orchestra the grand opening of the the Chi Chi Club’s Starlite Room.
Some of the most popular celebrity haunts of the 1940s and 1950s no longer exist, but the legends live on. One such place was Charlie Farrell’s Racquet Club, where Marilyn Monroe was first photographed by pin-up photographer Bruno Bernard and where she was first discovered by a talent agent.
Clark Gable, Dinah Shore, and Lucille Ball were also frequently seen at the Racquet Club.
The Palm Springs Walk of Stars commemorates many of the famous people who have lived in the area. It includes authors, playwrights, former presidents, actors, civic leaders, musicians, and others.
Palm Springs is still a popular escape for Hollywood celebs, with many owning homes and spending a considerable amount of their time there. Did you know about this town’s history as a celebrity retreat? Have you been to Palm Springs yourself? Find out why this California desert town is an awesome getaway, especially during winter, in our previous article on Palm Springs.
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