The Alexandria Hotel: the Troubled Heart of Los Angeles' Social Scene

Built in the elegant Beaux-Arts architectural style, the Alexandria Hotel in downtown Los Angeles boasts towering facade, ornate cornices, and a grand entrance fitting for one of LA’s most luxurious residences. Over the years it’s attracted glamorous stars of stage and screen such as Fred Astaire, Charlie Chaplin, Joan Crawford, Clark Gable, and Greta Garbo, and has been the centerpiece of downtown LA for over a century. 



Nicknamed ‘the Alex’, The Alexandria sits alongside the Cecil and the Biltmore as one of LA’s most famous – or infamous – hotels. Its troubled past dates all the way back to its construction in 1906, when two men fell to their deaths. From that day on, it seems like the place was jinxed.

The Heart of Los Angeles' Social Scene 

The hotel's Palm Court was a much-loved hotspot on LA’s social scene throughout the roaring twenties. During WWII the grand skylight was painted black, and the once inviting lobby became a temporary home to shellshocked U.S. soldiers. In 1960, the Palm Court even became a boxing ring – with fans paying $1 to see sparring heroes Jose Becerra and Raymundo “Battling” Torres in pre-fight training. 

From genteel evenings of fine dining, socializing and dancing, to boxing, helping the war effort, and even hosting Presidential speeches – the Alexandria has seen a lot. Through it all, though, an uneasy sense of sadness has hung in the air. 

A History of Tragedy and Suicide 

One of the most notable incidents to befall the Alexandria concerns a certain Adele Fairchild, a middle-aged woman from San Francisco. After visiting an LA drugstore the previous evening, Fairchild checked in to the Alexandria Hotel under an alias. She overdosed on the cocktail of barbiturates she’d bought, and was found some hours later semi-conscious on her bedroom floor. Hotel staff summoned a doctor, who arrived at the scene all too late. “I want to die. I want to die – so much”, she said. Fairchild eventually got her wish as she slipped further into unconsciousness, finally free of an apparently unhappy marriage and disastrous affair. 



Another tragic event was the suicide of Mrs. H. L. Boyden, from Lancaster, Ohio. She registered at the hotel a couple of weeks before, without luggage. After growing despondent at her lack of money and friends, she swallowed a fatal dose of opium tablets. When she was finally found, an unsigned poem lay by her dead body, shedding light on her sorry situation. 

The Lady in Black Haunts the Alexandria Hotel 

The Alexandria Hotel has also inspired many ghost stories over the years, though one stands out among all others – The Lady in Black. Sightings of this troubling spirit were first reported following the hotel’s remodeling in the 1970s, though her identity remains a mystery. 

The Lady in Black has been seen gliding around the hotel’s corridors, wearing a crown of barbed wire, with tears of blood running down her cheeks. She’s mainly seen floating through the corridors, almost as if she were searching for something or lost in mourning. 



Former guests in the Alexandria Hotel have also reported being disturbed by the elevators, which seemed to have a mind of their own. The elevators would take people to the wrong floor, or to places they seemingly wanted them to go to, like the most haunted 9th floor or the dark, dusty ballroom. Guests have complained of an uneasy feeling on their journey through the hotel, as the elevator would stop and the doors glide open, even though nobody was there. 

The Alexandria Hotel is an iconic destination in Los Angeles that has stood the test of time. These unexplained sightings and mysterious happenings have made it a popular place for those interested in the paranormal, and it features on our Los Angeles Hauntings bus tour. Aside from the supernatural, though, the Alexandria’s rich history and elegant grandeur make it a must-visit destination for anyone interested in delving into LA’s colorful past. 

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