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Building History

G.S. Holmes, also the proprietor of The Knutsford Hotel in Salt Lake City, UT, ran the hotel early in its history. The Angelus opened on 12/27/1901.

A brief mention of the hotel in The Western Architect of 01/1906 stated: "A hotel which has attracted considerable attention from visitors to the Pacific Coast is the Angelus at Los Angeles, California, designed by John Parkinson, architect. A notable feature of the exterior design is the fire escape balconies, which are differently treated than those of most hotels in that they are evidently designed both as to form and location, and thus add to the general attractiveness of the exterior rather than, as is usual, detracted from it and creating the impression that they are not only an after thought, but erected under protest against a wise but inconvenient fire ordinance.... The banquet hall of this hotel is given prominence in illustration...for its massive simplicity...." (See "Illustrations," The Western Architect, vol. 9, no. 1, 01/1906, p. 14.)

Ownership changed hands in 1904.

In about 1905, a branch of the Commercial National Bank operated on the first floor of the Hotel Angelus.

Building Notes

The Angelus consisted of two, eight-story blocks separated by a central light court, set on top of a rectangular base containing lobby, dining room, meeting areas and other shared facilities. According to promotional literature, construction cost $800,000, of which the owners spent a quarter on furnishings and equipment. A Turkish-themed room was in use in the hotel's early days. The Architectural League of the Pacific Coast staged its Second Annual Convention at the Angelus Hotel, on 04/10-13/1912; Los Angeles architect Alfred F. Rosenheim served as President of the League at that time.

Alteration

When first announced in 1901, the Angelus was to be the tallest hotel in Los Angeles, CA, at 7 stories. Plans for the enlargement of the Angelus Hotel were announced in 1904 and 1907. In 1904, the press reported that the hotel would attain 9 stories in height.

Demolition

The Angelus Hotel was razed in 05/1956. In 2024, a parking lot stood on a portion of the site.

PCAD id: 10238