arrowhead springs hotel

Arrowhead springs was an oasis of hot and cold mineral-rich waters, in the foothills 7 miles north of Meadowbrook.

It had been the site of a hotel & spa (in various forms) since 1885.

By the 1930's it was a popular getaway spot for the Hollywood elite. A forest fire destroyed the main hotel structure in November 1938.

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• The resort's movie-industry owners committed to rebuild. Construction of the hotel provided some badly-needed local jobs during the Great Depression (Meadowbrook resident Henry Orantes de León, 175 east King street, was part of the labor force).

• Pioneering African-American architect Paul Revere Williams designed the luxurious new building.

• A star-studded December 1939 opening was broadcast over CBS radio.

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• During World War II, the facility would be temporarily taken over by the United States Navy. It served as a convalescent hospital for wounded sailors and marines until 1946.

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1908 ^ Arrowhead Springs Hotel site, in the foothills above San Bernardino

1929 ^ Arrowhead Springs Resort...stone arch by Arthur B. Benton...sign changed at later date

^ Sculpture (atop left side of arch) by Joseph Leland Roop, who was a stop-motion-animation pioneer

^ Paul Revere Williams' 1939 hotel, with arrowhead-shaped swimming pool that was added in 1957

^ Paul Revere Williams' 1939 Arrowhead Springs Esther Williams Pool

December 1939 ^ actress Vivian Gaye with director Ernst Lubitsch

December 1939 ^ Carla & Arturo Toscanini, Edward G Robinson, Samuel L Goldwin

1939 ^ Arrowhead Springs Hotel interior by Dorothy Draper

hear a clip from CALIFORNIA HERE I COME

December 16, 1939 ^ Al Jolson sings California Here I Come at opening of Arrowhead Springs Hotel

December 16, 1939 ^ Actress Ruby Keeler dancing with Al Jolson at opening of Arrowhead Springs Hotel

hear a clip from COMES LOVE

December 16, 1939 ^ Judy Garland sings Comes Love at opening of Arrowhead Springs Hotel

c. 1939 ^ comedian Jimmy Durante ^

c.1941 ^ Ziegfield Girls try to pull Robert Z Leonard (director of 'Ziegfield Girl') into the pool at the Arrowhead Springs Hotel

see a clip of the Esther Williams Pool at the Arrowhead Springs Hotel

c.1942 ^ Filmed by Pedro Serramalera Olivé (actor Bruce Cabot appears briefly in the foreground)

c.1945 ^ 'Arrowhead Springs Hospl' sign for Navy Convalescent Hospital

Link to related page:

∞ 175 E KING ST / ORANTES DE LEON